Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has announced that Shreyas Iyer will return as captain for the 2024 IPL season, with Nitish Rana serving as his deputy. Iyer expressed gratitude for Rana's commendable leadership during his absence due to injury in the previous season, acknowledging Rana's role as vice-captain to strengthen the leadership group. Rana took over as captain for IPL 2023 when Iyer was sidelined due to a back injury. Despite Iyer's recovery for India's Asia Cup campaign and subsequent ODIs against Australia, Rana led KKR to a seventh-place finish in the points table. Iyer's return follows a successful comeback, contributing significantly to India's T20I series win against Australia and participating in the ongoing all-format tour in South Africa. Both Iyer and Rana were retained by KKR ahead of the IPL 2024 auction, where the team aims to fill 12 slots with a purse of INR 32.7 crores.
Key Points:
1. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have announced that Shreyas Iyer will return as the captain for the 2024 IPL season, with Nitish Rana serving as his deputy.
2. Shreyas Iyer expressed his delight at the appointment, acknowledging the challenges faced by the team in the previous season and commending Nitish Rana for his leadership during Iyer's absence.
3. Nitish Rana had served as KKR's captain for IPL 2023 due to Iyer's injury. Under Rana's leadership, KKR finished in seventh place on the points table.
4. Shreyas Iyer, recovering from a back injury, returned to India's campaign in the Asia Cup and played a crucial role in the ODI World Cup, amassing 530 runs in 11 matches at an average of 66.25.
5. Iyer recently participated in India's 4-1 T20I series win against Australia and is currently part of an all-format tour in South Africa.
6. KKR CEO Venky Mysore expressed gratitude for Nitish Rana's role as captain in the previous season and stated that Rana, as Vice Captain, will support Shreyas Iyer for the benefit of the team.
7. Both Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana were among the 12 players retained by KKR ahead of the IPL 2024 player auction scheduled for December 19 in Dubai.
8. KKR aims to fill 12 slots, including four overseas players, with a purse of INR 32.7 crores in the upcoming auction.
9. In IPL 2022 under Iyer's leadership, KKR finished in seventh place, and in IPL 2021, they reached the playoffs and finished as runners-up.
10. Shreyas Iyer's return as captain adds experience and leadership to the team, with hopes of a successful performance in the upcoming IPL season.
(With Agency Inputs)
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