Cheteshwar Pujara said Kolkata Knight Riders’ lack of clarity over choosing Ajinkya Rahane or Venkatesh Iyer as captain before IPL 2025 created confusion among the players.
Cheteshwar Pujara pointed out the lack of clarity in Kolkata Knight Riders’ leadership plans before IPL 2025. He highlighted that confusion between selecting Ajinkya Rahane or Venkatesh Iyer as captain unsettled the players ahead of the season.
Rahane had an excellent domestic run, leading Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title and finishing as the tournament’s highest run-scorer. However, picking Rahane, whose last T20I appearance came nine years ago, was seen as a major gamble. The franchise had secured him at his base price of ₹1.5 crore after he initially went unsold in the auction. Kolkata Knight Riders had also raised expectations by spending ₹23.75 crore, the third-highest bid at the IPL 2025 mega auction, to re-sign Venkatesh Iyer. Many believed he would lead the side.
Pujara suggested that delayed decision-making on captaincy can impact team morale, as clear leadership is crucial for a strong start in a highly competitive tournament.
“They didn’t have clarity with their captainship. When the season started, it was Ajinkya Rahane or Venkatesh Iyer. When you have uncertainty before the start of the season and if you don’t have clarity about the important decisions that you need to make as a leader, then it also plays on the other players’ minds,” Pujara said on ESPNCricinfo.
However, rain disrupted Kolkata’s match against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens on April 26. Punjab posted 201/4, with Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya scoring brilliant fifties. Kolkata managed 7/0 in one over before strong winds, debris, and heavy rain halted play at 9:35 pm. Ground staff quickly covered the pitch, but continuous rain left no chance for a restart. Both teams shared one point each. Punjab Kings moved up to fourth in the standings, while Kolkata Knight Riders remained in seventh position.
