Kolkata Knight Riders’ difficult early run in IPL 2026 has put Ajinkya Rahane in the spotlight, with scrutiny intensifying after back-to-back defeats to Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rahane did find some form at the start, striking a composed 67 off 40 balls against MI, yet his knock still ended in a loss as KKR could not hold on to a competitive total. The pressure then rose further in their next outing, the same match that also counted as his 200th appearance in the league, when he struggled during the chase and could contribute only 8 runs from 10 deliveries versus SRH.
Beyond batting and results, Rahane’s captaincy has also drawn attention because of a few off-field moments. One such incident came after his comments relating to Cameron Green not bowling, when Rahane suggested that the question should be directed towards Cricket Australia. However, Rahane later responded to the criticism, insisting that his intentions had been misunderstood and pointing to improvements in his strike rate over recent seasons as evidence that he is working through the challenges.
Amid the growing debate, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has stepped forward to back Rahane’s leadership. In his endorsement, Ashwin stressed Rahane’s character and how supportive the captain is in team dynamics. “Honestly, I was reading a lot about Ajinkya Rahane, but he is a very good person, a very good human being. I have played under his captaincy and I am telling you, no bowler will get a more supportive captain. He is very supportive and a very calm captain. If he cannot get the best out of a bowler, then I don’t know who can,” Ashwin said.
While defending Rahane, Ashwin also made it clear that KKR’s problems cannot be pinned entirely on captaincy. He pointed instead to tactical constraints, with particular reference to the bowling setup and how resources are being used during spells. “He can maybe do one thing — use Sunil Narine in the powerplay and give Varun Chakravarthy a break, then bring him after the powerplay. If he does well, then confidence will come back. But that’s all he can do. What else can he do? He cannot go and bowl himself,” Ashwin added.
Ashwin further suggested that matchup issues are adding to KKR’s difficulties, especially against left-handed batters, arguing that avoiding certain bowlers can create fresh imbalances. “He can also maybe avoid giving him the ball against left-handers. But if you avoid him against left-handers, then who will bowl? Sunil Narine will bowl from one end, but who will bowl from the other? So there are a lot of problems in KKR,” he said.
He also indicated that the situation could become more manageable if Cameron Green begins contributing more consistently with the ball, which would help spread the workload across the bowling unit. With KKR already sitting with two defeats from their opening matches, the team is under early-season pressure, and Ashwin’s remarks suggest that while Rahane remains a central figure in the discussion, the root concerns within the squad run deeper than leadership alone.
