New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS): Two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) announced that India batter Shreyas Iyer will be returning as the side’s captain for the 2024 season of the tournament, adding that Nitish Rana will be serving as his deputy.

“I believe the last season presented us with several challenges, including my absence due to injury. Nitish did a great job not only filling in for me but also with his commendable leadership. I am delighted that KKR has named him Vice Captain. No doubt it will strengthen the leadership group,” said Shreyas in a statement issued by the franchise.

Rana had been appointed KKR’s captain for IPL 2023 as Iyer was ruled out of the competition due to a back injury which he suffered during the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Ahmedabad and needed surgical intervention in United Kingdom.

Iyer would recover to be a part of India’s campaign in the Asia Cup, though he didn’t play after the group stage due to a back spasm. He would come back for ODIs against Australia and scored a hundred in Indore, which would set the base for him amassing 530 runs in 11 matches of ODI World Cup at an average of 66.25, including two centuries and three fifties.

Iyer was recently a member of India’s 4-1 T20I series win against Australia at home and is in South Africa currently for an all-format tour. Under Rana’s leadership, KKR finished at seventh place in the points table, winning six while losing eight matches to end up with 12 points.

Co-incidentally, under Iyer’s leadership in IPL 2022, KKR finished at seventh place. They last made it to the playoffs in IPL 2021, where they finished as runners-up. “It was indeed unfortunate that Shreyas missed IPL 2023 due to injury. We are delighted that he’s back and at the helm as Captain.”

“The way he has worked hard to recover from his injury and the form he has displayed is a testament to his character. We are also grateful that Nitish had agreed to step into Shreyas’s shoes last season and did a great job. There’s no doubt Nitish as Vice Captain will support Shreyas in every possible way for the benefit of #TeamKKR”, said Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR.

Iyer and Rana were amongst the 12 players to have been retained by KKR ahead of IPL 2024 player auction, to be held in Dubai on December 19. In the auction, KKR will be aiming to fill their 12 slots, four of which are overseas, with a purse of INR 32.7 crores.