Amidst the heavy backlash, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain, Ajinkya Rahane, has found support in the former head coach, Chandrakant Pandit. It has been a really tough start for Ajinkya Rahane in the ongoing IPL 2026, both as a batter and captain.
Rahane had a strong start of this season. The veteran batter played a solid knock of 67 runs off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians, showing he was ready to lead from the front. But after that one knock, he lost his form miserably.
The KKR captain has had four single-digit scores and scored ducks against the Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals in the seven matches he played in the ongoing IPL 2026. He now has the most ducks by an opener in IPL history—12. Rahane has managed 152 runs in seven matches.
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He averaged 25.33 and has a strike rate of around 144. His poor performance played a major role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ disastrous start of this season. They were winless for six straight games, and they finally got their first win in the seventh game against RR, but they are still at the bottom of the table with just three points. One point they got from a washed-out game against PBKS.
He’s a very calculating player: Chandrakant Pandit backs Ajinkya Rahane
However, Chandrakant Pandit has backed Rahane and explained that his role at the top is not just about attacking but also about controlling the innings after the powerplay. He pointed out that Rahane has shown solid form in the recent seasons, and he is just fulfilling responsibility.
Pandit was quoted as saying by Revsportz: “After the powerplay, once the first six overs are done, his role is often to stabilise the innings and take the game forward in a controlled manner. That could be one reason why he isn’t always aggressively attacking the ball – he’s a very calculating player.”
The former KKR coach also felt Rahane was feeling the pressure because the franchise was not doing well, and that can affect any player, and that is something happening with him.
Pandit further explained, “It also feels like he may be carrying a bit of pressure, especially when the team isn’t doing well. As a senior player, that responsibility naturally falls on him, and he might be putting in extra effort with the mindset of needing to win. But every player handles situations differently, and fluctuations in performance are normal. There are players who excel one season and struggle the next—consistency varies from individual to individual.”
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His role is to build 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 put Rahane in the same 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 more about building the innings, which he is trying to do. He signed off by saying, “The way he has been batting suggests he is doing what’s expected from a top-order batter after the powerplay.
Of course, other players in the team have different roles—especially the power hitters. KKR rely on players like Rovman Powell to accelerate the scoring and take the game forward aggressively. In the end, it’s about balance within the team, and Rahane’s approach fits into that structure.”
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