Ajinkya Rahane Creates IPL History: First Indian to Captain Three Different Teams

Ajinkya Rahane, the senior Indian batsman and captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025, made history on, by becoming the first Indian player to lead three different teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Rahane achieved this milestone as he led KKR in the opening match of IPL 2025 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. This match marked his 26th game as an IPL captain.

Ajinkya Rahane’s IPL Captaincy Journey

Rahane has had prior captaincy stints with two other IPL franchises:

• Rising Pune Supergiant (IPL 2017) – Captained one match.
• Rajasthan Royals (IPL 2018 & 2019) – Led the team in 24 matches.
• Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL 2025) – Became KKR captain in the current season.

With this achievement, Rahane joins an elite list of players who have captained three different IPL teams.

Other Players Who Have Led Three IPL Teams

Before Rahane, only three players had achieved this feat:

Kumar Sangakkara

• Punjab Kings (2010) – 13 matches
• Deccan Chargers – 25 matches
• Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013) – 9 matches

Mahela Jayawardene

• Punjab Kings (2010) – 1 match
• Kochi Tuskers Kerala (2011) – 13 matches
• Delhi Capitals (2012-2013) – 16 matches

Steve Smith

• Pune Warriors India (2012) – 1 match
• Rising Pune Super Giants – 15 matches
• Rajasthan Royals – 27 matches

With Rahane’s inclusion, the list of players leading three different IPL franchises grows to four.

Shreyas Iyer to Join the Elite List

Another Indian batsman, Shreyas Iyer, will join this exclusive club on March 25, 2025, when he takes the field as the captain of Punjab Kings. Iyer has previously captained:

• Delhi Capitals – 41 matches across three seasons
• Kolkata Knight Riders – 29 matches across IPL 2022 & 2024
• Punjab Kings – Set to captain the team in IPL 2025

Iyer was acquired by Punjab Kings for Rs 26.75 crore during the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, making him one of the most expensive buys in IPL history.

Shreyas Iyer’s Record-Breaking Captaincy

• Iyer is the only captain in IPL history to lead two different franchises to the final.
• In IPL 2025, he aims to become the first captain to win the IPL title with two different teams.
• His leadership experience and consistency make him one of the most sought-after captains in the league.

Summary of the News

Aspect	Details
Why in News?	Ajinkya Rahane became the first Indian to captain three different IPL teams.
Teams Rahane Captained	Rising Pune Supergiant (1 match), Rajasthan Royals (24 matches), Kolkata Knight Riders (1 match in IPL 2025).
Other Players to Captain 3 IPL Teams	Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Steve Smith.
Shreyas Iyer’s Upcoming Achievement	Will become the fifth player to captain three different IPL teams on March 25, 2025, with Punjab Kings.
Iyer’s Past Captaincy	Delhi Capitals (41 matches), Kolkata Knight Riders (29 matches), Punjab Kings (starting IPL 2025).
Iyer’s IPL 2025 Goal	Aims to become the first captain to win an IPL title with two different teams.