Drop Ajinkya Rahane: Fans urge KKR to take tough calls after golden duck vs GT
IPL 2026: Ajinkya Rahane faced heavy criticism after a golden duck against Gujarat Titans, with fans calling for his removal as KKR captain amid the team's poor run. Despite being among the team's top scorers, his leadership and tactical decisions continue to come under scrutiny.
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane was once again in the firing line after a golden duck against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday. Rahane, whose side has been on the longest losing streak in its history, was trending on social media for his inability to provide KKR with a good start.
Rahane’s retention as captain for the Indian Premier League 2026 had already faced criticism following KKR’s disappointing eighth-place finish last season, where they managed just five wins in 14 matches. The new season continues in a similar fashion for the franchise, with them failing to secure a single win in their first five games. The side has only managed to open its account on the points table due to a washout against Punjab Kings.
A golden duck against GT on Friday has only aggravated the situation, with fans on X calling for him to be sacked immediately. Responding to KKR’s post asking who would win the match, one user urged the franchise to remove Rahane altogether, while making Shane Watson the coach. Currently, KKR have Abhishek Nayar as head coach, with Shane Watson serving as the assistant coach.
“Just one change, and KKR will look like the best team,” suggested another user. “They already have strong foreign players; they just need to drop Ajinkya Rahane. Make Rovman Powell the captain.”
IS CAPTAINCY THE ISSUE?
Last season, the Mumbai batter top-scored for the franchise with 390 runs; however, questions were consistently raised over his tactical decisions. This season, the batter continues to be among the highest run-scorers for the franchise with 152 runs in six innings, but his decisions as captain remain under scrutiny.
“I’ll give Ajinkya Rahane one or two more chances. If nothing changes, I’ll drop him as well and make Sunil Narine the captain midway through the season,” Ex-India cricketer Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. “Rahane should come in to bat only if necessary; otherwise, let him focus on captaining the side. Making him captain was the wrong move in the first place. But do they have the courage to take a strong call now?”
Following Rahane’s dismissal on the very first ball, KKR’s batting witnessed a mini-collapse, with the team registering yet another disappointing score in the powerplay.
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane was once again in the firing line after a golden duck against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday. Rahane, whose side has been on the longest losing streak in its history, was trending on social media for his inability to provide KKR with a good start.
Rahane’s retention as captain for the Indian Premier League 2026 had already faced criticism following KKR’s disappointing eighth-place finish last season, where they managed just five wins in 14 matches. The new season continues in a similar fashion for the franchise, with them failing to secure a single win in their first five games. The side has only managed to open its account on the points table due to a washout against Punjab Kings.
A golden duck against GT on Friday has only aggravated the situation, with fans on X calling for him to be sacked immediately. Responding to KKR’s post asking who would win the match, one user urged the franchise to remove Rahane altogether, while making Shane Watson the coach. Currently, KKR have Abhishek Nayar as head coach, with Shane Watson serving as the assistant coach.
“Just one change, and KKR will look like the best team,” suggested another user. “They already have strong foreign players; they just need to drop Ajinkya Rahane. Make Rovman Powell the captain.”
IS CAPTAINCY THE ISSUE?
Last season, the Mumbai batter top-scored for the franchise with 390 runs; however, questions were consistently raised over his tactical decisions. This season, the batter continues to be among the highest run-scorers for the franchise with 152 runs in six innings, but his decisions as captain remain under scrutiny.
“I’ll give Ajinkya Rahane one or two more chances. If nothing changes, I’ll drop him as well and make Sunil Narine the captain midway through the season,” Ex-India cricketer Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. “Rahane should come in to bat only if necessary; otherwise, let him focus on captaining the side. Making him captain was the wrong move in the first place. But do they have the courage to take a strong call now?”
Following Rahane’s dismissal on the very first ball, KKR’s batting witnessed a mini-collapse, with the team registering yet another disappointing score in the powerplay.
