"So Far, He Has Been An Amazing Leader": Venkatesh Iyer On Ajinkya Rahane Leading KKR

As Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) gear up for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer is excited to play under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane. With Shreyas Iyer moving to Punjab Kings (PBKS), Rahane will take charge of the side, and according to Venkatesh, his influence is already being felt in the squad. "So far, he has been an amazing leader of the group. He has taken the initiative to make conversations with all of us and try to gel with the team. We are talking about someone who has led India across formats and captained IPL teams before. He has a great head on his shoulders, remains composed under pressure, and has been a stalwart of the game. He has scored runs everywhere. For me, it's going to be a great learning experience, and I am quite excited to play under him," Iyer told ANI.

Venkatesh, who has been a part of KKR for a few years, now steps into the role of vice-captain. When asked about his preparation for the added responsibility, he said, "There is no specific preparation for it. I have always carried myself as a leader, so it's not entirely new to me. I have put in the hard yards in both batting and bowling. More than anything, it's about mindset--if you have accepted the role and are willing to take on the responsibility, half the job is already done. Our preparation has been good, and we have a strong group of players. I'm really excited and looking forward to the season."

Despite stepping into a leadership role, Venkatesh revealed that he hasn't had specific conversations with former KKR captain Shreyas Iyer or mentor Gautam Gambhir about guiding the team.

"I haven't spoken to them directly about it. Last season, when I was with the team, they were around, but I have