KKR Captains in IPL Over the Years (2008-2025) – Updated List of Kolkata Knight Riders Leadership

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is one of the most successful teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with three titles to their name. After winning championships in 2012 and 2014, they claimed their third title last season and now enter the 2025 season as defending champions.

Over the years, KKR has seen several captains leading the team, each striving to deliver for the fans. The franchise had a shaky start, finishing in the bottom half of the table during the initial seasons. From 2008 to 2010, the team was captained by former India skipper Sourav Ganguly and former New Zealand player Brendon McCullum. In those seasons, KKR finished sixth, eighth, and sixth, respectively.

The turning point came in 2011 when Gautam Gambhir took over as captain. Under Gambhir’s leadership, KKR qualified for the playoffs for the first time that year. During that season, South African legend Jacques Kallis also led the team in two games in Gambhir’s absence. In 2012, Gambhir guided KKR to their maiden IPL title. 

Although they had a disappointing season in 2013, finishing seventh, KKR bounced back in 2014 to win their second title. However, the team failed to defend the championship in 2015 and exited the playoffs in the following two seasons. Gambhir’s tenure as captain ended in 2017.

From 2018 to 2020, former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik took charge, leading the team to the playoffs only once. England’s ODI World Cup-winning captain, Eoin Morgan, led KKR in 2021 and took the team to the finals as runners-up. In recent years, the captaincy was shared between Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana. Shreyas Iyer capped off his stint by leading KKR to their third title in 2024.

With Iyer not retained and re-acquired in the auction, KKR now faces the task of appointing a new skipper to defend their title. Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane could be a strong candidate, given his extensive captaincy experience in domestic and international cricket. However, KKR’s massive ₹23.75 crore investment in Venkatesh Iyer suggests he might also be in the running for the leadership role. 

Here are the KKR captains in IPL over the years from 2008 to 2025 (Updated List)

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