With Kolkata Knight Riders off to a tough start to IPL 2026, Ajinkya Rahane After defeats to Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, they found themselves under increased scrutiny. Rahane The season started on a positive note with a fluent 67 off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians, but his efforts fell short as KKR failed to defend a strong total. In the next game, which also marked his 200th IPL appearance, he struggled for rhythm during the chase, scoring just 8 runs off 10 balls against SRH. Criticism surrounding his captaincy has also been fueled by moments off the field, including his commentary. Cameron Greene Not bowling, where he said the question should be referred to Cricket Australia. Rahane later pushed back at critics, defending his intention and pointing to his improved strike rate in recent seasons. Amid the noise, the seasoned spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has stepped in to support Rahane, offering strong support for his leadership. “Honestly, I was reading a lot about Ajinkya Rahane, but he’s a very good person, a very good person. I’ve played under him and I’m telling you, no bowler can get a more supportive captain. He’s very supportive and a very calm captain. If he can’t get the best out of a bowler, I don’t know who can.” Defending Rahane, Ashwin He made it clear that KKR’s struggle is not just about captaincy. Instead, he pointed to the limitations of the strategy, particularly in the bowling department. “He might do one thing—use. Sunil Narayan In the powerplay and give Varun Chakraborty a break, then bring him in after the powerplay. If he does well, the confidence will return. But that’s all he can do. What else can he do? He cannot go and bowl by himself.” Ashwin also highlighted the complexities surrounding matchups, particularly against left-handed batsmen, suggesting that avoiding certain bowlers could create further imbalances. “He can probably avoid bowling it against left-handers. But if you avoid it against left-handers, who will bowl? Sunil Narine will bowl from one end, but who will bowl from the other? So KKR have a lot of problems.” He added that if Cameron starts cooperating with the green ball, it may take some of the burden off the attack. With two defeats in their opening matches, KKR are under pressure early in the season. Ashwin’s comments indicate that while Rahane remains in the spotlight, the problems within the party run deeper than just leadership concerns.
