Amidst massive opposition, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane has received support from former head coach Chandrakant Pandit. It has been a really tough start for Ajinkya Rahane in the ongoing IPL 2026, both as a batsman and captain.
Rahane had made a strong start to this season. The veteran batsman played a solid inning of 67 runs off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians, which showed that he was ready to lead from the front. But after that one setback he lost his form badly.
KKR and Ajinkya Rahane’s struggle continues in IPL 2026
The KKR captain has four single-digit scores and zero runs against Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals in the seven matches he has played in the ongoing IPL 2026. He now has 12 wickets, the most by an opening batsman in IPL history. Rahane has been able to score 152 runs in seven matches.
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His average is 25.33 and strike rate is around 144. His poor performance played a major role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ poor start to this season. They did not win for six consecutive games and finally got their first win in the seventh game against RR, but they are still at the bottom of the table with only three points. They got one point from a poor game against PBKS.
He is a very calculating player: Chandrakant Pandit supports Ajinkya Rahane
However, Chandrakant Pandit has backed Rahane and pointed out that his role at the top is not just to attack but also to control the innings after the powerplay. He told that Rahane has shown solid form in the recent season and he is just fulfilling the responsibility.
RevSportz quoted Pandit as saying: “After the powerplay, once the first six overs are over, his role is often to stabilize the innings and take the game forward in a controlled manner. This may be one reason why he is not always attacking the ball aggressively – he is a very calculating player.”
Is the pressure of captaincy affecting Ajinkya Rahane’s game?
The former KKR coach also felt that Rahane was feeling the pressure as the franchise was not performing well, and this can affect any player, and that is what is happening with him.
Pandit further added, “It also feels like there might be a bit of pressure on him, especially when the team is not performing well. As a senior player, this responsibility naturally falls on him, and he will be putting in extra effort with the mindset of needing to win. But every player handles situations differently, and ups and downs in performance are normal. There are players who excel in one season and struggle in the next – consistency varies from individual to individual.”
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His role is to create innings, not just attack: Pandit defends Rahane’s approach
The former coach cited the example of Indian players like Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who have proved that a calm style can still work in the modern T20 era. He placed Rahane in the category of players who rely on a “thoughtful and measured approach”.
Since KKR has power hitters like Rovman Powell, Pandit stressed that Rahane understands his role and responsibility and his current job is all about creating innings, which is what he is trying to do. He signed off by saying, “The way he is batting shows that he is doing what is expected from a top-order batsman after the powerplay.
Of course, other players on the team have different roles – especially power hitters. KKR is relying on players like Rovman Powell to accelerate the scoring and take the game forward aggressively. “In the end, it is about balance within the team and Rahane’s approach fits into that structure.”