"Not overthinking about captaincy" - KKR star on franchise not naming captain for IPL 2025 yet

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Rinku Singh is not focussing on the captaincy talks surrounding the franchise. The defending IPL champions let go of Shreyas Iyer, who led them to victory last season, and are yet to announce a captain for the next season.

Ajinkya Rahane is reportedly at the top of the potential captaincy list after his stellar Syed Mushtaq Ali 2024 season, while Venkatesh Iyer is also an option. Rinku, meanwhile, has been named captain of the Uttar Pradesh side for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25.

With Rinku Singh now set to lead his state, KKR could look at the 27-year-old as a long-term option. Talking to ESPNCricinfo, Rinku clarified he was not thinking about captaining his IPL side at the moment.

"I am not thinking too much about the captaincy of KKR in the new IPL season. I am focused on my plans for Uttar Pradesh, as I want my team to regain the trophy we had won for the first time in 2015-16," he stated.

While veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar led Uttar Pradesh in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where they lost in the quarter-final, Rinku Singh now takes over as skipper for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Notably, this is the first time that Rinku will lead a state team at the senior level.

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Is Rinku Singh a good choice for KKR captaincy?

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders have a tough and crucial decision to make heading into the IPL 2025 season. It is still uncertain as to who will lead their side.

While Ajinkya Rahane appears as a viable choice, KKR might want to groom a leader keeping the future in mind. Rinku Singh has been a part of the franchise since 2018 and would know the team environment inside out. He was also among their top retentions going into the recent auction.

Before being appointed Uttar Pradesh captain, Rinku recently led Meerut Mavericks in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League this year. He had a successful run as the Mavericks clinched the title as well.

"It was a big opportunity for me to lead Meerut Mavericks in the UPT20 League, and I am happy that I could deliver. I really enjoyed captaincy as it allowed me to learn many things," Rinku told ESPN.