Signing a new player in the IPL auction, and then making them their skipper might not be the best ploy always. At least this was true for KKR, who made bagged Ajinkya Rahane for INR 1.5 Cr, made him the captain, and the team failed miserably under him, finishing 8th after lifting the trophy in 2024.
Ajinkya Rahane’s Future Uncertain at KKR?
Yes, he was decent with the bat and emerged as the highest run-getter for the team (390), but that wasn’t enough by any stretch of imagination. In short, the team failed, and the responsibility falls on Rahane’s shoulders. Given the stakes are pretty high for each team every year, the team might just want an overhaul in the leadership; it could either mean removal of Ajinkya Rahane altogether, or just replacing him with a new skipper.
In any case, the team will see fourth new captain in as many years — Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Rahane… So, if that actually happens, what are the options with the team? Even before the IPL 2025 started, there were murmurs, that the leadership of the team could be handed either to Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, or even Venkatesh Iyer.
Who Could Lead KKR in IPL 2026?
Truth be told, the 23.75 Cr buy and the vice-captain, Venkatesh might have just blown away his golden chance. He scored only 142 runs in 11 matches, at an average of 20 and did not bowl at all. So, this season’s captaincy could be considered, gone. Now, the only likely contender is Rinku Singh, who should perhaps have been given the role in 2025 itself.
He has been with the team for good 8-9 years, has played 59 matches for them and has scored 1099 runs for them at an average of 30. He understands the system in the team well, understands the demands of the side, the owners, and what is expected out of him. In 2023 he went on to slam four fifties and averaged 59, and showed the world, the value he added to the team.
So, why not him? Yes, there is a good amount of time left in all these, but the sooner KKR management make up their mind, the more time they will have to prepare under the new skipper, for the next season.
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