Captainy infight in KKR!! Cheteshwar Pujara sends shockwaves

Veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has boldly suggested that the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, found themselves in trouble even before the start of the ongoing IPL 2025 season.

Pujara pointed out that KKR had no clear captaincy plan, which sparked confusion in the dressing room, and it has been eventually impacting their performance in the ongoing season.

After parting ways with their IPL 2024 winning captain, Shreyas Iyer, Kolkata Knight Riders spent INR 23.75 crore to bring back Venkatesh Iyer at the mega auction, making everyone believe that the third costliest player of this season is going to lead the defending champions this season.

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Cheteshwar Pujara and Aaron Finch expose KKR’s captaincy confusion' impact on their IPL show

But to everyone’s shock, the defending champions have handed over the captaincy to Ajinkya Rahane just before the start of the ongoing IPL 2025. They had signed Rahane at his base price of INR 1.50 crore after he went unsold initially at the mega auction last year.

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KKR favored Rahane’s experience both as a batter and captain, but his T20 record is not that impressive. And Pujara said that the lack of clarity around leadership created doubts and tension, making it harder for the KKR squad to settle into a rhythm.

And the impact is visible, as the Kolkata Knight Riders are struggling to deliver in the ongoing IPL 2025. They are currently sitting on the seventh spot in the points table with only seven points from nine games. Notably, they shared points with PBKS after their home game was washed out.

They didn't have clarity with their captainship: Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo, “They didn't have clarity with their captainship. When the season started, whether 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. If you don't know who your leader is, there are a lot of questions going around in the dressing room.”

Meanwhile, former Australian captain Aaron Finch said that if KKR had retained Shreyas Iyer, things could have been very different. The former Kolkata opener has noted that having a stable captain at the core would have helped shape a stronger, more united squad at the auction table itself.

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Aaron Finch blames poor planning for KKR's IPL 2025 struggles

Aaron Finch said during the same discussion, “When you're going to the auction table, if you've got a clear understanding of who your captain is, then you can work with him. You obviously have retained him; he is a part of your group and you can understand how he would want to use certain players and get a better understanding of how he would want the squad to be.”

Notably, Kolkata Knight Riders will face Delhi Capitals in their next IPL 2025 game on April 29 at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi. The Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals side is currently sitting in the second spot, only behind Gujarat Titans in the points table, but both teams have an equal 12 points.