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IPL Champions KKR Kick Off Pre-Season Camp In Mumbai; Title Defense On The Charge

Kaushik Kashyap

Venkatesh Iyer will play for KKR in IPL 2025. [Source - KKR_Xtra/X]Venkatesh Iyer will play for KKR in IPL 2025. [Source - KKR_Xtra/X]

The IPL craze is gaining momentum as defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) started their preparation ahead of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League on Saturday. With less than a month left for the cash-rich league to begin its proceedings, KKR have set-up a week-long pre-season camp in Thane, Mumbai for their Indian contingent.

The camp has been specially organised for the players who are currently not playing any domestic cricket. Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer and Ramandeep Singh are some of the renowned names who are also part of this camp and are training in the presence of Head Coach Chandrakant Pandit.

The main purpose behind this early preparation is to get the players back in rhythm and come well together ahead of what will be a two-month long tournament.

The three times champions will kick-off their campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Eden Gardens on March 22. They will have another preparatory camp in Kolkata before the season begins, starting from March 12 when most of their foreign players will be available after the conclusion of the Champions Trophy.

Who Will Be The Captain?

After winning their third title last year, KKR have managed to retain the core group with most of their first team XI set to play for them in the forthcoming season. However, they could not get a hold on their skipper Shreyas Iyer who will be playing for Punjab Kings this year.

Having said that the team is yet to announce their captain and sees Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer as potential options. Rahane, who was also part of the franchise in the past, has vast experience in this regard right from international cricket to IPL cricket. 

Meanwhile, KKR would also want to have someone like Venkatesh to be the face of the franchise and captain the side after literally breaking the bank (23.75 CR) for him in the Mega Auction last November.