KKR set to handover captaincy to this player from Ajinkya Rahane for IPL 2026

Ajinkya Rahane's future in Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is under uncertainty, as the franchise is in search of a new captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) edition, media reports claim. The multi-time IPL trophy-winning side is reportedly interested in KL Rahul, who has leadership experiences and qualities.

Rahul can rescue KKR from multiple issues. Along with the captaincy role, the franchise faced trouble in their keeper-batter slot as both of their overseas players—Rahmatullah Gurbaz and Quinton De Kock—failed to impress. Gurbaz is young and undoubtedly talented; he's been with KKR multiple seasons but has yet to impress the team management. Another issue is that the team needs someone who can pull the crowd—a crowd puller. After the exit of Shreyas Iyer, KKR lacked the star power that Rahul can easily provide. The 33-year-old's ability to adapt to the situation and multitasking skills make him more precise.

Last season, the India international was in outstanding form with Delhi Capitals, scoring 539 runs in 13 matches at a standout average of 53.90. Needless to say, if KKR wants to trade Rahul from Delhi Capitals, then they have to spend multi-crore rupees. According to the latest media updates, KKR may propose a player trade or a big cash deal to Delhi Capitals in order to acquire Rahul.

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KKR to release Venkatesh Iyer?

To generate extra cash for a huge deal, KKR can release some of their big names. KKR bought Iyer from the mega auction for INR 23.75 Crore, making it a record-breaking price for the franchise.

Claims on social media platforms also suggested that by releasing Iyer, KKR can collect the required cash to accomplish KL Rahul's transfer from Delhi Capitals.In IPL 2025, Ajinkya Rahane as a batter performed well, but his captaincy lacked the much-needed flair on the field.