Former India cricketer Murali Kartik has named Ajinkya Rahane as the best captain of IPL 2026, praising his leadership of a depleted Kolkata Knight Riders squad. Despite injuries and early struggles, Rahane guided KKR to playoff contention until the final day.
The IPL 2026 season highlighted poor workload management as Indian cricketers like Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Riyan Parag played with injuries, sparking concerns over prioritization of fitness over performance.
Ajinkya Rahane expressed pride in Kolkata Knight Riders' resilience despite their IPL 2026 campaign ending with a loss. KKR finished seventh, missing playoffs, but Rahane highlighted the team's strong comeback after a difficult start.
Delhi Capitals concluded their IPL 2026 season with a 40-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders. KL Rahul scored 60 and Kuldeep Yadav took 3 wickets to seal the victory in a dead-rubber match.
DC's Axar Patel and KKR's Ajinkya Rahane discuss their decisions to bowl first, citing chasing as a strength and the pitch conditions. Both captains reflect on their team's performance, with Patel acknowledging missed key moments leading to elimination, while Rahane expresses satisfaction with KKR's comeback.
New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra left his IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders, early to prepare for upcoming Test series in Ireland and England. Despite limited game time, he feels mentally refreshed and well-prepared, drawing insights from conversations with players like Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.
New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra feels mentally refreshed and prepared for upcoming Test matches against Ireland and England, despite limited game time in IPL 2026. He left the Kolkata Knight Riders early to train and consult with experienced players like Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and chose to bowl first against Mumbai Indians (MI) in their crucial IPL 2026 match at Eden Gardens, with KKR needing a win to keep playoff hopes alive.
Ajinkya Rahane lauded Kolkata Knight Riders' complete performance after their dominant win over Delhi Capitals. He highlighted Finn Allen's match-winning century and the bowlers' consistent discipline, particularly the spin trio, for setting up the victory. Rahane also credited the support staff and the team's focus on the present moment for their success.
Kolkata Knight Riders left out available Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana for their crucial IPL match against Lucknow Super Giants at Ekana Stadium. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane chose to bat first, citing the need to give freedom to the batting unit. LSG captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and chose to bowl, confirming George Linde as the sole change. Both teams sit at the bottom of the table in this must-win contest.
Prabhsimran Singh became only the third batter in IPL history to smash six boundaries in a single over during Punjab Kings' match against Delhi Capitals in 2026. The young opener hammered six fours off Mukesh Kumar in the sixth over, finishing with a blistering 76 off just 26 balls before being dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav. He joined Ajinkya Rahane (2012) and Prithvi Shaw (2021) in achieving this rare feat.
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticizes Rajasthan Royals' Riyan Parag for poor IPL form, contrasting him with Ajinkya Rahane. He also backs Mumbai Indians to mount a late playoff charge while declaring Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants out of contention.
Krishnamachari Srikkanth has heavily criticized Riyan Parag and Ajinkya Rahane for their batting performances in the IPL. Srikkanth also expressed doubt over the playoff chances of KKR and LSG, while backing MI for a late surge.
Kolkata Knight Riders are struggling at the halfway stage of the IPL with no wins, facing a daunting task to turn their season around. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane's leadership and confusing batting order decisions, particularly for Cameron Green, have drawn criticism. They now face a Rajasthan Royals side looking to rebound after a recent loss.
