IPL 2026: Ajinkya Rahane faces crucial KKR leadership test

KOLKATA : IPL auction strategies can often be puzzling. Take Venkatesh Iyer’s case. Kolkata Knight Riders released him ahead of the 2025 auction, only to buy him back for a staggering Rs 23.75 crore, signalling big plans for the Madhya Pradesh allrounder who had been a core member of the side since 2021.

In contrast, Ajinkya Rahane was picked up almost as an afterthought at his base price of Rs 1.5 crore on second calling, barely avoiding an IPL snub. When Rahane was named captain and Iyer his deputy, it seemed like a temporary arrangement before the baton passed.



As the season progressed, the roles reversed. Iyer struggled for form and faded from the spotlight, while Rahane seized his lifeline, emerging as KKR’s most reliable batter in an otherwise disappointing campaign. Iyer appeared weighed down by his price tag and captaincy talk, and KKR eventually released him again, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru signing him for Rs 7 crore for 2026 — a reminder of how quickly patience runs out.

The spotlight now firmly returns to the 37-year-old Rahane as he leads KKR again. His consistent batting last season and lack of strong leadership alternatives tilted the balance in his favour. “The key has always been to stay positive and treat challenges as opportunities,” Rahane said ahead of the season.

Rahane’s captaincy journey has been mixed. He was removed as Rajasthan Royals skipper midway through IPL 2019, but his reputation soared after leading India to a historic Test series win in Australia in 2020-21. With KKR finishing eighth last season, however, questions remain over his tactical vision and ability to inspire a turnaround.

As a batter, Rahane offers stability. He topped KKR’s charts last season with 390 runs from 13 matches, anchoring innings when the team faltered. Though his strike-rate hovered below 150, his temperament and ability to absorb pressure proved valuable, especially compared to Iyer’s modest returns of 142 runs in 11 innings.

KKR did have other leadership options — Rovman Powell, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine or even the New Zealand contingent — but each came with limitations in experience, workload or preference. Rahane thus remains the safest bet.

The New Zealand trio of Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra adds explosive firepower, with Allen and Seifert already showing their destructive potential at Eden Gardens during the T20 World Cup semifinal against South Africa. With Tim Southee in the coaching setup and Abhishek Nayar taking charge as head coach, KKR retain continuity in approach.

For Rahane and Nayar alike, IPL 2026 is more than another season — it is a defining test of leadership and belief.


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