Revealed: Who will captain KKR in IPL 2026?

KKR will start their campaign in IPL 2026 with a clash against MI on 29th March.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will start on March 28 with a clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The three-time IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), will play their first match against Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 29, the second day of the tournament at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

KKR had a poor last season, finishing 8th while defending their title. They lost a few matches from strong positions and even failed while chasing just 112 runs against Punjab Kings (PBKS). The team management had a lot to think about for the next season and released several key players from previous campaigns to increase their auction purse. These included Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anrich Nortje, and Moeen Ali.

However, they had a strong auction, securing Cameron Green for ₹25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player, and Matheesha Pathirana for ₹18 crore. They also added players like Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, both of whom are currently in good form.

With so many options in the squad, the team now faces a challenge in choosing a captain, especially since almost every other team has already announced their captain for the season.

Ajinkya Rahane to captain KKR in IPL 2026

According to The Times of India, the three-time champions are set to continue with Ajinkya Rahane as the captain for 2026 season. Rahane scored 390 runs at an average of 35.45 last season while captaining the team; however, the team did not have the season they had hoped for. They will be looking to change the results this year, and Rahane will play a big role this time around as he now has a different squad with new recruits coming in.

The team looks fresher, and every overseas player seems to be in good form. Rahane will be working with Abhishek Nayar, who has officially stepped into the role of head coach, and Andre Russell, who is returning to the franchise in a specialized capacity. Following his retirement from the league, Russell will serve as the team’s “power coach.” Rahane will have strong support behind him, and it will be important for him to lead a franchise with such great heritage and history.

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