Ajinkya Rahane Rinku Singh for KKR. Image Credits: AFP
Nothing seems to be going right for the Kolkata Knight Riders this season. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side have got off to their worst start to an IPL season in 14 years. Notably, it is the first time since IPL 2012 that the Knight Riders have lost the first two matches.
On Thursday, April 2, KKR locked horns against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens. Both teams suffered defeats in their opening matches, and the fans were behind the Men in Purple and Gold. However, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side suffered a thumping 65-run defeat and now sit 9th on the table.
Ajinkya Rahane Under Pressure At The Start Of IPL 2026
It has been just two matches so far, but Ajinkya Rahane is already under pressure. There is heavy criticism of his leadership. With the bat, Rahane has been brilliant, scoring 75 runs in two innings. However, his captaincy is under the radar.
Notably, Cameron Green has not been cleared to bowl, and yet his inclusion in the team has raised eyebrows. Further, Rahane’s rotation of bowlers has been questioned as well. The 37-year-old took command of the three-time winners in IPL 2025. Under his leadership, KKR finished 8th with just five wins. Therefore, there are demands for his removal as KKR captain.
Ajinkya Rahane Reported To Be Sacked Mid-Season
In the latest development, Sandipan Banerjee from RaySportz reported that there are high chances that the KKR management will sack Ajinkya Rahane as captain mid-season. Notably, he reported that Rinku Singh will take over KKR’s captaincy from Rahane.
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Notably, Rinku Singh was appointed as KKR’s vice-captain during the Knight Riders’ pre-season annual event. He was also tested as a captain in KKR’s IPL 2026 opening match against MI, where Rahane walked off the field due to injury.
Rinku Singh's captaincy also lacked vision, motive and sharpness as MI completed a historic chase of 221 runs comfortably. Besides that game, Rinku Singh has no experience of leading a side in IPL. But what's sure is that Rahane needs to provide results in the next few games, as he is sitting on a ticking time bomb.
Rahane Makes Explosive Remarks In Presser
After KKR’s defeat against SRH, Ajinkya Rahane addressed the press, where he didn’t mince his words and had a harsh opinion about his critics. Notably, the 37-year-old claimed that there is an agenda going against him by people jealous of his success.
"They don't like me playing, they don't like to watch me play. The amount of success I've had, I guess, they are jealous of me. I'm not too worried. You guys know what I'm doing. Just one bad innings - well, not a bad innings - but my intent was there. Sometimes, as a batter, you don't get that rhythm, you don't get that flow. People who are talking either don't understand the game or want me to play a different kind of innings," remarked Rahane in the post-match conference.
Kolkata Knight Riders will now face Punjab Kings on Monday, April 6.
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