After missing the 2023 season due to a back ailment, Shreyas Iyer will captain the Kolkata Knight Riders again in the 2024 Indian Premier League. For the 2024 IPL, KKR’s vice captain is Nitish Rana, who filled in as captain during the previous season.
Prior to the 2022 Indian Premier League, KKR acquired Iyer for INR 12.25 crore, or roughly USD 1.5 million. Under Iyer’s leadership, the team finished seventh with six wins and eight losses. He was forced to miss the World Test Championship final that summer as well as the IPL in April 2023 due to a back issue. In the IPL 2023, Knight Riders, captained by Rana, had six victories and eight losses, finishing seventh once more.
Iyer said in a statement, “I think the previous season presented us with several challenges, including my absence due to injury.” “Nitish performed admirably, not just covering for me but also demonstrating excellent leadership. That KKR has picked him vice captain makes me very happy. It will undoubtedly make the leadership group stronger.”
Since Iyer was captain of KKR, a lot has happened to the team. Previously leading the team under coach Brendon McCullum, he will now work alongside Gautam Gambhir, the new team mentor, and Chandrakant Pandit. Gambhir led KKR to their only two IPL championships, which they achieved in 2012 and 2014.
Iyer had earlier worked briefly with Gambhir at the Delhi Daredevils and with Pandit in the Mumbai state setup during his formative years. Midway through the 2018 season, Iyer took over as captain of the Delhi Daredevils, making his debut in the IPL.
Prior to the December 19 IPL player auction, KKR has released 12 players, including Lockie Ferguson, Shardul Thakur, and Umesh Yadav. They can spend INR 32.7 crore out of their money.
“Shreyas’ injury kept him out of the IPL in 2023, which was regrettable. “We are thrilled to have him back leading as captain,” KKR CEO Venky Mysore stated. “His character is evident in the manner he has persevered in healing from his injuries and the form he has shown.
“We are also appreciative that Nitish consented to fill Shreyas’s shoes for the previous season, and he performed an excellent job. Without a doubt, Nitish, as vice captain, would do everything in his power to help Shreyas and #TeamKKR.”
