In what could be a possible litmus test, two of Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) top captaincy options for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season will clash in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT ) between Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh, scheduled for December 15.

Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane, who play for MP and Mumbai respectively, are the two favorites for the leadership role with the defending champions.

Notably, Ajinkya Rahane is currently in stellar form and is the leading run-scorer in SMAT with 432 runs in 8 games. He also scored a fierce 98 in the semi-final clash against Baroda to help Mumbai qualify for their second SMAT final.

On the other hand, Venkatesh Iyer also scored consistently in MP’s middle order, amassing 213 runs in 7 games at a stellar average of 70.

ALSO READ: ‘It’s just A’: Ajinkya Rahane reveals the secret behind becoming a T20 monster ahead of IPL 2025

Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer in the ring for KKR captaincy

Kolkata Knight Riders bought Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer in the IPL 2025 auction. Although the KKR management decided to go broke for Venkatesh, securing him for INR 23.75 crore, Rahane’s late addition to the auction for INR 1.5 crore rupees made the decision of choosing his next patron an intriguing one.

While Venkatesh was part of the championship-winning KKR team, Rahane also plied his trade earlier with the three-time IPL winners in the 2022 season.

Given Venkatesh’s high price tag, it is understood that the franchise sees him as a future investment and would hand him more responsibilities. However, Rahane’s inclusion also suggests that the KKR management is looking at the dynamic right-hander apart from his batting skills.

Additionally, Rahane has previous captaincy experience, having led the Indian team, Mumbai in Ranji Trophy and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

For more updates, follow CricXtasy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram and YouTube.