Former Indian batsman Akash Chopra believes Ajinkya Rahane IPL 2026 is a crucial point to prove going forward, especially in dispelling lingering doubts about its game beyond the powerplay.Rahane Led Kolkata Knight Riders from the front with the bat in IPL 2025, finishing as their highest run-scorer. He scored 390 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 147.72. Despite these numbers, questions remained about his ability to sustain the scoring pace once the field restrictions were lifted, especially against spin, which many felt slowed KKR down at key stages.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra admitted that he was among those who questioned Rahane’s effectiveness after the Powerplay. However, he also sees the upcoming season as an opportunity for the KKR skipper to silence those critics.“There are plenty of chances. Probably Ajinkya Rahane, because I’m one of those guys who has been a bit critical that he has to play in the powerplay because his role becomes very limited after that, but you can prove me wrong,” Chopra said.“It’s an opportunity. It’s not like you need to prove me wrong. Why would you bother? However, if you score a lot of runs in the powerplay and beyond, it’s a great opportunity for you,” he added.Chopra further pointed out the narrative surrounding KKR’s dependence. Gautam Gambhirsome suggest the franchise struggles to succeed without his influence as a player or mentor. He believes Rahane now has the platform to counter that perception by leading the team to the title.In the same discussion, Chopra highlighted the growing importance of Rinku Singh within the setup. Currently serving as the vice-captain, Rinko could emerge as a leadership contender if he continues to perform this season.“Rinku Singh is the vice-captain, could be a potential captain till next season. So there could be a huge role for him. He’s always been built to bat lower down the order. He might get a chance to bat a little higher up the order this time, and he might flourish,” Chopra said.Chopra also drew attention to Varun Chakraborty, saying that IPL 2026 gives him a chance to rediscover his wicket-taking rhythm.“It’s time for Varun Chakraborty to acknowledge his superiority to the people once again as the last four matches in the World Cup were extremely cold. He has to get back to his wicket-taking self,” he observed.Varun ended the T20 World Cup 2026 as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in nine innings at an economy rate of 9.25. While he started the tournament strongly with nine wickets in India’s first four matches, his impact waned later, managing just five scalps in the remaining games while conceding runs at a high rate.
