• Source:JND
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KKR vs RCB IPL 2025: Veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane, who will be leading KKR from the front in IPL 2025, has scripted history as he has become the first Indian player to have led three franchises in this tournament. KKR will face RCB during the tournament opener in Kolkata on Saturday, where Rahane will be playing his 26th IPL match as the skipper. He also led RPSG for one game during IPL 2017 and led RR for 24 games during IPL 2018 and 2019.

Besides Rahane, there are three players- Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Steve Smith, who have led three teams from the front in this tournament. Sangakkara led Punjab Kings in 13 matches during IPL 2010, Deccan Chargers in 25 matches, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in nine matches during IPL 2013.

Players to captain three teams in IPL

Kumar Sangakkara – Punjab Kings (13), Deccan Chargers (25), Sunrisers Hyderabad (9)

Mahela Jayawardene – Punjab Kings (1), Kochi Tuskers Kerala (13), Delhi Capitals (16)

Steve Smith – Pune Warriors India (1), Rising Pune Super Giants (15), Rajasthan Royals (27)

Ajinkya Rahane – Rising Pune Supergiants (1), Rajasthan Royals (24), Kolkata Knight Riders (1)*

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Ex-Australian skipper Steve Smith led Pune Warriors India from the front for just one game in IPL 2012, Rajasthan Royals for 27 matches, and Rising Pune Supergiants for 15 matches. At the same time, Jaywardhene had captained Punjab Kings for one game during IPL 2010, Kochi Tuskers Kerala for 13 matches in IPL 2011, and Delhi Capitals for 16 matches during IPL 2012 and 2013.

Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to their third IPL title last year, will be joining Rahane in this elite list on Tuesday when he will be leading PBKS. Iyer, who will be captaining the Punjab-based franchise, has led Delhi Capitals for 41 games for three years and then KKR for 29 matches in IPL 2022 and IPL 2024.

Punjab Kings bought Iyer for a whopping amount of Rs 26.75 crore during the mega auction last year. He also became the only skipper to have played two summit clashes for two different teams and in the ongoing season, he can become the first skipper to have won the trophy for two different teams.