What is the future of Ajinkya Rahane in Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)? This is now one of the most surfaced questions on social media platforms as soon as the team is out ipl 2026 Sunday night season. KKR concluded their campaign with a defeat against Delhi Capitals at the Eden Gardens.
Hours after the match, news started circulating about Ajinkya Rahane’s doubtful future with Kolkata Knight Riders. According to some media reports, the team management may soon dismiss the captain after a review meeting with the top officials of the franchise.
Ambati Rayudu has chosen Ajinkya Rahane as backup batsman.
Amidst the ongoing speculation regarding the future of KKR captain, team india Batsman Ambati Rayudu has made some shocking comments. During a discussion with ESPN Cricinfo, the former cricketer said that Rahane can be a good back-up batsman for KKR in the IPL 2027 season, but now might be the time for the franchise to appoint someone for a leadership role.
According to Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane can still add value to the team with his experience and class. instead of a regular player In the playing combination, the former cricketer would like to see Rahane on the bench as a back-up option, so that the team can use him at crucial points of the tournament.
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He can be a backup player: Rayudu
“I think, at best, he can be a backup player in the team, as well as mentor some of the youngsters because he has been with the setup for a while. He can be retained because he is not priced too high. And if he is motivated enough, he can always add value whenever someone is not doing well,” Ambati Rayudu said.
“He can come in those two or three games, step in, or play an important game and play a match-winning innings. That’s the kind of role I see for him going forward,” he said.
Rahane’s captaincy in doubt after IPL 2026 disaster
For the captaincy role, Rayudu suggests that the management appoint someone who can serve the team for a long time and secure at least two more trophies in the next five years. For the former cricketer, who is now a cricket expert, Ajinkya Rahane His leadership role on the team is set to end before next season.
“But, apart from the captain, you at least need someone who can play the next five, six, seven years for the franchise, who can handle that workload and say, I am going to make you win at least a few tournaments in those five years. So, I don’t think Rahane will be the captain next season,” Ambati Rayudu said.
37 year old Ajinkya Rahane, opener kkrHe finished his IPL 2026 journey with 335 runs in 14 innings at a batting average of 25.76 and a strike rate of 135.08. In those 14 innings, he scored only a few half-centuries.
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