Ahead of the important GT vs KKR IPL 2026 fixture on April 17 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, 1983 World Cup winner Kris Srikkanth has publicly called on Kolkata Knight Riders to strip Ajinkya Rahane of the captaincy. Srikkanth believes the armband should go to Sunil Narine if results don’t turn around immediately.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth didn't hold back: "I'll give Ajinkya Rahane one or two chances more. If nothing changes, I'll drop him also and make Sunil Narine the captain midway through the season. Rahane should come into bat only if necessary. Else let him only captain the side. He shouldn't bat in the middle." These comments highlight a crisis that has been building since the very first ball of the season.
Kolkata Knight Riders are currently stuck at the bottom of the IPL 2026 standings, having lost all four of their completed matches. It is a worrying slump for a franchise that lifted the trophy just two years ago in 2024 under Shreyas Iyer.
KKR are also carrying the baggage of a poor IPL 2025 campaign, where they finished eighth with only five wins. Despite spending big at the auction, most notably splashing ₹25.20 crore on Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, the investment hasn't paid off yet. The team's issues seem to go much deeper than just one or two underperforming stars.
Why Srikkanth's criticism is about more than just leadership?
The real point of Srikkanth's argument isn't just about who leads the team; it’s about whether Ajinkya Rahane actually deserves his spot as a specialist batter. Srikkanth claimed that Rahane is only in the XI because he is the captain, noting that he isn't a power hitter nor a reliable anchor like Virat Kohli.
He also argued that Rahane’s presence at the top stops players like Cameron Green and Sunil Narine from opening. Srikkanth suggested a shuffle where Narine opens, Green bats at three, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi takes the number four spot. It’s a tactical critique that makes sense, especially considering how much talent KKR have sitting in that expensive top order.
Looking at the stats, Rahane hasn't crossed the 400-run mark in an IPL season since 2016. Even though he managed 390 runs at a strike rate of 147.72 in 2025, KKR still missed out on the playoffs. Srikkanth pointed out this lack of impact directly, mentioning that while Rahane was brilliant for CSK during their 2023 title run, he hasn't reached those heights in the last two years. That drop-off is exactly why KKR's batting looks stuck in second gear.
What KKR must fix before their IPL 2026 season slips away?
The situation facing Kolkata is grim and likely requires a total rethink rather than just minor tweaks. KKR now need to win seven of their remaining ten matches to have any real hope of making the playoffs. Because of their poor net run rate, they don't just need to win; they need to win big. To make things worse, injuries have hit the camp hard; key Indian pacers Harshit Rana and Akash Deep are both out, leaving the bowling attack looking thin.
With the GT vs KKR match now a must-win, the pressure on Ajinkya Rahane is at an all-time high. Srikkanth’s idea of making Sunil Narine captain isn't a wild one; Narine is one of the most experienced T20 players in the world and already has two IPL titles under his belt.
Whether the KKR management listens to these calls or keeps backing Rahane will decide the fate of their season. One thing is clear that for a team with KKR’s history, sitting at the bottom of the table with only one point from a washed-out game isn't good enough, and the fans are losing patience.
