IPL 2023: Nitish Rana Relishes Captaincy, Says It’s an Honour to Lead KKR

Newly appointed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Nitish Rana is looking forward to leading the team in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League- IPL 2023. He also wished for the speedy recovery of the regular KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer. On Monday, March 27, the Knight Riders confirmed that incumbent skipper Shreyas Iyer is still nursing an injury and hence he will not be available to take part in the IPL 2023 for an indefinite period of time. In his absence, Rana will step up to fill his shoes and lead KKR in the IPL 2023.

This decision came days after it was reported that Iyer will miss starting a few games of the upcoming IPL due to a recurring back injury. After being appointed as the new captain, Rana said that this captaincy stint will be a great opportunity for him to showcase his leadership skills in order to help his team do well in the two-month-long tournament.

Rana Upbeat for the Challenge

“KKR has been my home since 2018 and It’s an honour to lead them. This captaincy instils my belief of performing at the highest level. It’s a great opportunity for me to showcase my leadership skills and I will be using all my experience to not just bring the best out of me but also from my team. I also wish for a speedy recovery for Shreyas and I am looking forward to the new challenge ahead of me,” Nitish Rana was quoted as saying by IANS.

Meanwhile, KKR’s media release also states that Shreyas Iyer hasn’t been ruled out of the entire competition and is likely to make a comeback at some stage of the tournament. Until he recovers, Rana will act as the stand-in captain of the team.

An integral part of the KKR setup since 2018, Rana has scored the most runs for the franchise and has established himself as a regular member of the playing XI. After an underwhelming last season for KKR where they couldn’t reach playoffs, the two-time IPL winners will be looking to better their performances this season. With a huge task in hand, Rana will have to bring his A-game forward to help his team win the coveted IPL trophy for the third time in the history of the league.