No such talks have taken place yet: Ajinkya Rahane on possibility of leading KKR

With Shreyas Iyer having moved to Punjab Kings (PBKS), the captaincy position at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has opened up. Ajinkya Rahane recently led Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final and, more recently, led Mumbai to yet another semi-final in the Ranji Trophy. 

However, the veteran Mumbai batter, who was bought at the auction for INR 1.5 crore, has claimed that no talks have taken place between him and the franchise over leading the team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. "No such talks have taken place yet," Rahane said on February 11 (Tuesday). 

"If it happens, you’ll probably know before me!" he said with a smile," asserting that he is ready to take up the role if the opportunity arises.

Rahane, who has scored 437 runs at 39.72 this season, says he still has a lot of cricket left in him and will continue to work hard to return to the Test side. But for now, he says he is focused on the ongoing Ranji Trophy campaign.

"There's still cricket left in me," Rahane, who scored a century in the Ranji quarter-final against Haryana, said after Mumbai's 152-run win in Kolkata. 

"Domestic cricket has given me everything, and my passion for the game remains strong. I respect Test cricket and will always give my best."

Rahane further believes that the BCCI's mandate asking international players to return to domestic cricket is the right call.

"We all came through domestic cricket, and playing here gives us valuable game time. The BCCI has made a great decision, and I believe this rule is helping Indian cricket grow," he said