IPL 2026 – 3 Captains Who Could Lose Their Leadership Role After Disastrous Seasons

In modern cricket, captains often become the first people blamed when things go wrong. No matter how strong or weak a squad is, fans and experts usually point fingers at the leader after a poor season. IPL 2026 was no different. Several teams had disappointing campaigns and naturally, questions were raised about the captains leading them.

The role of a captain in T20 cricket has changed over the years. Teams now rely heavily on analysts, coaches and support staff for planning and strategy. Still, leadership remains extremely important because T20 matches can change in just a few balls. A captain who struggles with form or decision-making can become a burden for the side.

This season, six teams failed to qualify for the playoffs and many of them may consider major changes before IPL 2027.

Here are three captains who may be better off giving up the captaincy after IPL 2026.

1. Ajinkya Rahane (KKR):

Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership at Kolkata Knight Riders had both positives and negatives. Off the field, he stayed calm under pressure, spoke well during interviews and handled the media professionally. On the field, he became more aggressive with his bowling changes during the second half of the season. However, his batting form remained a major concern throughout IPL 2026.

Ajinkya Rahane scored only 335 runs in 14 innings at an average of 25.77 and a strike rate of 135.08. While those numbers may look decent on paper, they were not impactful enough for a top-order batter in modern T20 cricket.

In IPL 2025, Rahane had at least managed to maintain one of the better strike rates during the powerplay overs. But in 2026, even that advantage disappeared as his strike rate during the first six overs dropped into the low 120s.

The bigger question is whether a traditional anchor batter like Rahane still fits into today’s IPL. Teams now prefer aggressive batters who attack from the very beginning and Rahane often struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.

That does not mean he has no value left. However, for Kolkata Knight Riders to make the most of him, they may need to stop viewing him as their captain and instead use him in a more limited batting role.

2. Rishabh Pant (LSG):

The last two years have been extremely difficult for Rishabh Pant as a captain. In his first season leading Lucknow Super Giants, he arrived with huge expectations after being bought for a record amount. However, the team finished only seventh and failed to make a strong impact.

Pant’s own performances were disappointing as well. In IPL 2025, he scored only 269 runs and most of those came from a century in a dead-rubber game at the end of the league stage. His celebration after that innings also attracted criticism because the match had little importance.

Things did not improve much in IPL 2026. Pant scored 312 runs at an average of 28.36 and managed only one half-century during the season. Despite having what many considered a strong squad, especially a quality bowling attack, Lucknow never looked settled under his leadership.

Rishabh Pant himself admitted during the season that the team was good enough to do better. Yet, several on-field decisions raised questions. As the season progressed, Pant appeared increasingly frustrated. He repeatedly hinted that there were “too many” voices influencing decisions within the camp. Lucknow Super Giants had one of the biggest support staffs in the league and Pant often looked uncomfortable handling all the pressure around him.

There is no doubt that Pant remains one of India’s most talented cricketers. But stepping away from captaincy could allow him to focus completely on his batting again. Without the constant pressure of tactical decisions and leadership duties, he may be able to fix the technical and mental issues that have affected his game recently.

3. Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK):

IPL 2026 was also a difficult season for Ruturaj Gaikwad. Chennai Super Kings opener managed only 337 runs and had a strike rate of 123.44, numbers far below expectations for a player of his quality.

What hurt CSK the most was the way Gaikwad approached the powerplay overs. In many matches, he either struggled to accelerate or looked unwilling to take risks early in the innings. That slow approach put extra pressure on the batting unit.

At the other end, Sanju Samson often played with freedom and attacked bowlers confidently. The contrast between the two openers made Chennai’s batting look unbalanced throughout the season.

Ruturaj Gaikwad has shown in the past that he can be one of the cleanest and most stylish batters in the IPL. But captaincy may have affected his natural game and slowed down his approach at the crease. Chennai Super Kings could benefit from allowing him to focus only on batting again rather than carrying the additional burden of leadership.

Will these 3 cricketers lose their captaincy after IPL 2026 or not? What do you think?

The post IPL 2026 – 3 Captains Who Could Lose Their Leadership Role After Disastrous Seasons appeared first on RVCJ Media.

from RVCJ Media https://ift.tt/Tc09Aqn