Ajinkya Rahane’s IPL 2026 captaincy at Kolkata Knight Riders has hit a fresh low, with the side still searching for its first win in the campaign. After KKR’s latest loss to Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday, Rahane was also fined by the IPL Governing Council for a slow over-rate in the same game at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
Key takeaways
- KKR are yet to record a victory in their opening five IPL 2026 matches under Ajinkya Rahane.
- Rahane received a fine of INR 12 lakh for a Code of Conduct breach linked to minimum over-rate requirements.
- Chennai Super Kings won the match to register their second win of the season, finishing the day on four points from five games.
- Noor Ahmad delivered a 3/21 spell, while Anshul Kamboj took 2 wickets for 32 as CSK shared five dismissals between them.
- KKR were restricted to 160/7 while chasing 193, with Ramandeep Singh top-scoring on 35 and Rovman Powell ending unbeaten on 31.
Rahane fined for slow over-rate
In the aftermath of Match 22 of the IPL 2026 at Chepauk, the league’s governing body sanctioned Rahane after KKR failed to meet the required over-rate against Chennai, with the issue flagged during the team’s performance against Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unit.
The fine was imposed because it was KKR’s first over-rate offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL Code of Conduct, a regulation that covers minimum over-rate compliance. As a result, Rahane was fined INR 12 lakhs.
Chennai’s bowlers, then controlled batting at 192/5
On the field, CSK spinner Noor Ahmad played a major role in turning the contest, finishing with figures of 3 for 21. Anshul Kamboj continued his strong run with the ball, claiming 2 wickets for 32. Together, the two bowlers accounted for five of the KKR dismissals as Chennai secured their second win of the season.
Chasing a target after posting 192/5, CSK struck early and kept control of the innings for long stretches. KKR ended on 160/7 in 20 overs, despite late resistance. Ramandeep Singh led the Knight Riders’ efforts with 35, while Rovman Powell supported him with an unbeaten 31.
With the win, CSK moved up to eighth place in the 10-team standings, collecting four points from five matches.
KKR’s batting reshuffle and the chase that fell short
KKR altered their opening combination for this fixture. Sunil Narine came in at the top of the order, replacing Rahane in the opening slot. Narine provided a promising start, striking a couple of sixes early, but the innings didn’t fully gather momentum.
Finn Allen was dismissed cheaply when Kamboj struck in the second over, giving Chennai a breakthrough at an early stage. After that, Narine was unable to build on his initial impact and was removed during the power-play by pacer Khaleel Ahmed.
KKR then found themselves struggling at 36/2, marking their lowest power-play total since 2024. Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi tried to rebuild the chase with a blend of boundaries and sixes, briefly lifting the run rate as they looked to close the gap.
However, KKR were ultimately unable to reach the required 193. With key batters unable to convert starts, the chase ended short at 160/7, with Finn Allen and Cameron Green again failing to make a decisive contribution.
