"Everyone on same page...": KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane ahead of IPL 2025 opener

Ahead of the IPL 2025 Kolkata Knight Ridersnewlyappointed skipper Ajinkya Rahane expressed happiness on his return to the franchise and said that with everyone being on the same page the title defence will be a great oneThe starstudded squad of the Kolkata Knight Riders were presented to their doting fans on the stage of the Knights Unplugged 20 event held at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan on WednesdayThe Knights will begin their IPL 2025 campaign with a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB on March 22A sea of over 5000 passionate fans gathered in purple and gold to witness their cricketing heroes up close igniting an atmosphere of excitement ahead of the new season Adding to the spectacle KKRs three championship trophies were showcased a testament to the teams legacyThe event also featured interactive activities further immersing fans in the Knight Riders spirit as they geared up to rally behind their team for another thrilling campaignKey figures of KKR namely Ajinkya Rahane Venkatesh Iyer Chandrakant Pandit and DJ Bravo shared their thoughts ahead of their IPL 2025 campaignAlso ReadTeam India to get Rs 58 crore cash reward from BCCI for Champions Trophy 2025 victoryVenky Mysore the Chief Executive Officer CEO of Kolkata Knight Riders KKR thanked the fans for their unconditional support It is really an honour to be part of this franchise It gives me goosebumps to see the love and support we receive I do not think theres another city like Kolkata when Eden Gardens fills with purple and gold their chants for KKR and favourite players truly lift the entire teamAjinkya Rahane returning as captain stated It is great to be back with KKR and an honour to lead this wonderful franchise with its rich history We have a very good team this year For us its about keeping it simple we have been practicing really well and everyone is on the same page It is going to be a great season for usIn the IPL Rahane donned the KKR jersey in the 2022 edition in which he garnered 133 runs in seven matches In the 2024 mega auction KKR acquired the services of Rahane for Rs 15 crores This came after two solid seasons with Chennai Super Kings CSK scoring 568 runs in 23 innings at an average of 2582 and a strike rate of over 147 with two halfcenturies He won the title with Men in Yellow in 2023Vicecaptain Venkatesh Iyer expressed It is an honour to be called a key player for this franchise with such rich history and legacy The franchise has shown tremendous trust in me and gave me the big break in my life Theres a lot of gratitude and it is my duty to pay them back I hope this journey continues for a very long timeHead coach Chandrakant Pandit reflected This threeyear journey has been really amazing Winning the trophy has always been special The title win last year belongs not only to the players but to the entire franchise including those working behind the scenes the owners and especially the fans whose support helps maintain our healthy atmosphereDwayne Bravo joining as mentor added We are looking forward to this season winning lots of games and hopefully defending our trophy It is a great honour to be part of this setup Knight Riders is hugely respected worldwide and having captained Knight Riders in Trinidad where we had great success joining was an easy decision when the opportunity came from Venky sirAt the event the team also unveiled a collection for their fans which includes the retro black and gold jerseyWith ANI Inputs