When the IPL is in full swing, the margin between success and failure is razor thin. Rewarded leadership can quickly become legend-making, while a disappointing run often triggers swift changes. That pressure is now believed to be mounting on three captains—Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant—who lead Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants respectively. A report has suggested that all three could lose their captaincy roles after underwhelming performances in IPL 2026. Lucknow became the first side to be knocked out, while Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders are still mathematically in contention, though their chances are widely viewed as fading. The report also claimed that the season-ending decisions could come as early as later this month.
“Three IPL captains are in the line of fire due to campaigns that have been nothing short of disastrous and they could end up losing their jobs when the season winds up later this month, sources tracking developments in various franchises have indicated. Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant have captained for two successive seasons and failed miserably in their bid to take their respective teams into the playoffs,” the report said.
Pant’s struggles
For Pant, the signs were hard to miss. Not only has leadership not translated into strong results, but the report suggests that his approach at the crease and on-field demeanour has not helped build belief across the group. Pant’s output also mirrors the pattern seen previously: in 11 matches, he has managed 251 runs. Lucknow had invested heavily in the wicketkeeper-batter, and he became the most expensive buy in IPL history in 2024, yet the returns expected from the skipper have not arrived. It is also the second straight season in which Lucknow have missed out on the playoffs.
“In Pant’s case, it is an open secret in franchise cricket that captaincy doesn’t sit well with him. Pant has tried batting at different positions, but it has often seemed that he is carrying a thousand-ton burden on his shoulders. In a franchise ecosystem where instant results are the norm, failing to qualify for two successive seasons is unlikely to go down well,” the report added.
Axar’s lack of decision-making
Of the three, Axar Patel has been singled out as the one whose captaincy has looked the most problematic. The report argues that his leadership has hurt Delhi Capitals, especially in moments where closing out games has become a recurring issue. Several matches this season have ended with Delhi letting winning positions slip. It highlighted a match where David Miller struck off two balls when Gujarat Titans needed two to win, and another where Karun Nair dropped chances as Delhi failed to defend 264 against Punjab Kings. Even when KL Rahul appeared to be ticking boxes with heavy scores, Delhi have too often fallen short of finishing the job.
“In 12 games, Axar has bowled only 36 overs, exactly three overs per game, and picked up 10 wickets at an economy rate of 8.08. While the economy rate looks respectable considering the punishment endured by fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Axar has often under-bowled himself. With Delhi Capitals having an arrangement of equal owners – JSW and GMR split management responsibilities in alternate cycles – next season will see Parth Jindal and JSW taking charge of cricket operations,” the report stated.
The report also pointed to selection and usage concerns, saying that Axar’s captaincy choices have not gone unnoticed. Ignoring a flashy batter such as Abhishek Porel, not giving Madhav Tiwari a consistent role as an all-round option, and throwing Sahil Parakh into the deep end while expecting him to deliver like Vaibhav Suryavanshi were all cited as decisions that raised eyebrows. While Parakh has talent, the report described him as still a work in progress. With mega auctions scheduled for 2027, it suggested Axar could still be retained as a player, but the evidence of sharp, high-impact leadership has not been convincing. It further claimed that as control shifts from GMR to JSW, Axar’s future as captain is far from secure.
“The decisions to ignore a flamboyant batter like Abhishek Porel, not using an all-rounder like Madhav Tiwari consistently, and throwing an out-of-sync youngster like Sahil Parakh into the deep end expecting him to do a Vaibhav Suryavanshi have not gone unnoticed. Parakh undoubtedly has talent but remains a work in progress. With mega auctions slated for 2027, Axar as a player could still be retained but there has been little evidence of dynamic leadership so far. As decision-making powers shift from GMR to JSW, Axar’s future as leader certainly isn’t cast in stone.”
Rahane didn’t inspire confidence either
Rahane’s appointment, the report argued, was always treated with scepticism. At 37, he was never viewed as a T20 powerhouse even during his best years, and his captaincy was reportedly handed largely because KKR lacked better alternatives. The season brought additional noise, too: an animated exchange between CEO Venky Mysore and owner Shah Rukh Khan went viral, fueling speculation around behind-the-scenes matters. Yet the core issue remained on the field—KKR simply did not find momentum. After winning the IPL in 2024 under Shreyas Iyer, they have failed to take off in this campaign. Once they lost all their first six matches, the report claims there was no realistic comeback that could reverse the damage.
They are currently eighth in the points table after last evening’s defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the report suggests they are on the verge of elimination.
“Rahane’s appointment at KKR was largely a classic TINA (There Is No Alternative) case as the franchise lacked credible leadership options. It also helped that his former Mumbai teammate Abhishek Nayar was at the helm as head coach. However, KKR were hamstrung by the fact that Rahane and Nayar’s protege Angkrish Raghuvanshi could not match the pace demanded from top-order batters in modern T20 cricket,” said the report.
