Ajinkya Rahane Set to Continue as KKR Captain for IPL 2026 | Reports

Ajinkya Rahane is reportedly set to continue as Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) captain in IPL 2026.

Ajinkya Rahane is set to continue as captain of KKR in IPL 2026. The Mumbai batter took over the leadership role last season after Shreyas Iyer. Reports from Mumbai Mirror indicate that the franchise management has decided to retain him due to his experience.

The team played 13 matches under Rahane’s captaincy in IPL 2025. They managed to win 5 of those games during the season. Despite the mixed results, Rahane performed strongly with the bat. He finished as the leading run-scorer for the franchise in the tournament.

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Last season, he batted at number 3 for KKR. The team management is expected to keep him in the same role in IPL 2026. The opening combination for the new season remains undecided.

“Rahane is the best choice for captaincy considering his vast experience and the mix of players at KKR. The franchise has decided that he will continue as captain this season as well,” a source was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, KKR have strengthened their batting during the IPL 2026 auction. The franchise added New Zealand players Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra. Australia all-rounder Cameron Green also joined the squad. All four players usually bat in the top order. KKR also have Sunil Narine, who has delivered strong performances as an opener in recent IPL seasons.

Fast bowler Harshit Rana will miss IPL 2026 due to injury. KKR had retained him for Rs 4 crore before the IPL 2025 mega auction. The franchise also signed Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman. KKR had bought Rahman for Rs 9.20 crore in the IPL 2026 auction.