Ajinkya Rahane appears to be operating inside a kind of bubble at the moment—an approach many established Indian cricketers adopt as a buffer against “outside noise,” meaning criticism that they would rather not have to face. The broader concern is that KKR’s campaign has not only started poorly, but the side has looked oddly out of sync, with Rahane’s captaincy and the batting mindset it has produced feeling as outdated as the earliest days of the IPL.
Modern T20 batting has moved on
There is a clear shift in how T20 batting is approached these days. The way the format is now played has been transformed by younger power hitters and intent-driven batters such as Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and more recently Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Players like Ayush Mhatre and Priyansh Arya have also added to that new wave, where attacking options and strike rotation are handled with a different kind of confidence.
At 37, Rahane’s problem is not simply form—it is suitability. The argument being made is that he cannot realistically force himself into a catch-up style, nor reshape a batting philosophy that has been built on muscle memory accumulated over roughly two decades.
Rahane’s numbers raise doubts
Questions are being asked about how Rahane can continue as captain if his selection as a batter is no longer convincing. In five matches, he has struck only seven sixes, and even more striking is the limited output in boundaries overall: just eight fours and sixes combined.
- In five games, Rahane has managed seven sixes.
- Across those matches, he has produced only eight boundaries in total.
- For a top-order batter—either opening or arriving at No. 3—that boundary rate works out to roughly three scoring shots per game, which is viewed as unacceptable at this level.
- His strike rate is below 150, a figure that may have been tolerated in earlier phases of T20 (including pre-Covid standards), but now it paints a bleak picture.
Even with Rahane’s reputation as a respected former Test captain—backed by 80-plus red-ball appearances for India—the current phase is being seen as damaging. The fear is that the former skipper is tarnishing what has long been a strong public standing.
KKR’s options and leadership problem
Rahane’s most significant lifeline is the “TINA” factor at KKR—“There Is No Alternative.” With his deputy, Rinku Singh, also struggling in the same period, KKR’s management does not want to spend energy managing yet another player who is battling his own form.
Within the wider set-up, the only other individual with notable leadership experience is Rovman Powell. He has captained West Indies in 37 T20 Internationals and also led the side in three ODIs. However, his win percentage in T20Is is described as modest at 51. Still, the view right now is that Powell may offer a better option than what KKR is currently getting.
The batting order situation adds to the unease. With Rahane and head coach Abhishek Nayar’s protege Angkrish Raghuvanshi both positioned in the top four—Raghuvanshi currently KKR’s top scorer with 182 runs at a strike rate of 155—KKR have struggled to create meaningful impact during Powerplay overs in most matches. The standout comparison made is the Chepauk game on Tuesday, where the lack of a strong start was most visible.
The responsibility, the discussion suggests, ultimately lands with CEO Venky Mysore and the rest of the KKR management leadership, including Nayar. The criticism is that the franchise has built a squad with insufficient suitable replacements—so when a core group is underperforming, there is no easy fix ready to be deployed from game one.
Why the outlook feels bleak
Even if Rahane were to be benched, the concern remains that KKR do not have the kind of quality Indian reserve options who can raise the intensity immediately. One young hitter highlighted as someone with natural power is Tejasvi Dahiya of Delhi, but at present he is not positioned as a ready answer inside KKR’s immediate structure.
Overall, the picture is being described as grim for KKR. With Rahane at the helm, the sense is that the campaign can only be heading one way—downwards.
