Ajinkya Rahane Confirms KKR Captain For IPL 2026

Ajinkya Rahane KKR captain for IPL 2026 (AFP)

In a significant development, Ajinkya Rahane cleared the air around Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captaincy. The veteran Indian batter went to social media to announce the KKR captain ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2026 season, which is set to begin on 28th March. 

Notably, the BCCI on Wednesday announced the schedule for the first phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, comprising 20 games. The remainder of the tournament schedule will be released after the polling dates for the upcoming Assembly elections are confirmed.

Ajinkya Rahane Confirms Himself as KKR Captain for the IPL 2026

On Friday, the 37-year-old Ajinkya Rahane took to LinkedIn to express his delight at continuing as KKR’s captain for the IPL 2026 season. It is worth noting that, given Kolkata Knight Riders’ dismal performance in the previous season, speculation arose about KKR announcing a new captain. 

Nonetheless, Rahane cleared the air and wrote, “With the IPL around the corner, it’s time to start shifting gears.”

“Preparation for a tournament like this begins well before the first game. There’s the physical work - time in the gym, sessions in the nets, getting the body ready for the demands of a long season. But for me, the most important preparation starts in the mind.”

Also read: IPL 2026 Confirmed Captains Of MI, CSK, RCB, KKR, LSG, DC, RR, SRH, PBKS, GT

Ajinkya Rahane further affirmed himself as the leader ahead of the upcoming edition: “Leading the Kolkata Knight Riders this season is a responsibility I truly value.”

“Over the next few days, it’s about locking in, trusting the preparation, and getting ready for the journey ahead with the team. Looking forward to the season!”

Rahane set to lead a renewed and refreshed KKR squad 

Notably, in IPL 2025, KKR didn't perform well and finished in the eighth position last season. Hence, under Rahane’s calm, composed leadership, they’ll look to change the results in 2026. Last year, Rahane amassed 390 runs in 12 innings, at an average of 35.45. This speaks volumes about the player's performance. 

At the mini auction held in December 2025, the three-time title winners formed a completely new team this season, releasing players like Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Moeen Ali, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and entered the auction with a purse value of INR 63 crores. They bought Cameron Green for ₹25.20 crore in the auction, which is the biggest buy of the season. 

However, injuries to Pathirana and Harshit Rana have been a big worry for the franchise in the lead-up to the tournament.

Numbers back Ajinkya Rahane as Captain

The KKR captain is one of the few players to have played in every IPL season. Since the inaugural IPL season in 2008, Ajinkya Rahane has played for six different franchises. He has also taken on leadership roles, captaining Rajasthan Royals (RR), Rising Pune Supergiants (RPSG), and most recently Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Below is Ajinkya Rahane's IPL captaincy record:

The Kolkata-based franchise is set to play their campaign opener against the 5-time title winners, Mumbai Indians, on March 29, 2026, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. 

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