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The fate of at least three IPL captains hangs in the balance as they are reportedly facing mounting pressure after underwhelming IPL 2026. According to sources monitoring developments within multiple franchises, Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals), Ajinkya Rahane (Kolkata Knight Riders), and Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants) could all face leadership changes once the season concludes later this month.
Each of the three has now led their respective franchises for two consecutive seasons without managing to secure consistent success or guide their teams into strong playoff contention.
While LSG are already officially out of the tournament which has put Pant under the harshest scrutiny, KKR and DC are also unlikely to feature in the closing stages of the competition.
Axar To Be Sacked?
Patel’s performances, both as captain and player, have drawn criticism throughout the season.
With the bat, Axar has managed only 100 runs across nine innings at a strike-rate of 112.50. More than half of those runs came in a single innings, leaving just 44 runs accumulated over the remaining eight knocks despite regularly batting in the top five.
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His bowling workload has also raised questions. Across 12 matches, Axar delivered only 36 overs, exactly three per game, while claiming 10 wickets at an economy rate of 8.08. Although the economy appears respectable, especially compared to fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s struggles, Axar has often appeared reluctant to fully utilize himself with the ball.
The franchise’s ownership structure may further complicate his future. Delhi Capitals operate under a split-management model between JSW and GMR, alternating control in cycles. Next season, cricket operations will shift back under Parth Jindal and JSW.
“With Axar completely failing to prove his leadership worth and mostly being dependant on Hemang Badani and Venugopal Rao for decision making, it will be a miracle if he retains captaincy next year.
The entire coaching staff is also unlikely to be retained,” an IPL source tracking developments told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Several tactical calls have also come under scrutiny. The management’s reluctance to back an attacking batter like Abhishek Porel consistently, the irregular use of all-rounder Madhav Tiwari, and the decision to thrust youngster Sahil Parakh into high-pressure situations have all attracted criticism.
Parakh is widely regarded as talented, but many within cricket circles still see him as a developing player rather than a ready-made match-winner.
Although Axar could still remain valuable enough to be retained as a player ahead of the 2027 mega auction cycle, there has been little evidence so far to suggest he has established himself as a convincing T20 leader.
Pant’s Captaincy Future Uncertain
Pant’s struggles at Lucknow Super Giants have intensified concerns about his suitability as a captain in franchise cricket. Within IPL circles, there has long been a perception that leadership responsibilities tend to weigh heavily on Pant. This season has done little to silence that belief.
Pant experimented with multiple batting positions during the campaign, but his overall body language often reflected the pressure he has been carrying. In an environment where franchises expect immediate returns, back-to-back seasons without playoff qualification are unlikely to satisfy LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka.
Goenka is known across franchise cricket as an owner willing to invest aggressively, Pant cost close to USD 3 million, but he is equally known for demanding performances that justify such investment.
Pant’s batting numbers have fallen below modern T20 expectations. He has scored 251 runs at a strike-rate of 138, while managing only nine sixes across 11 matches, a statistic that underlines the lack of fluency in his game this season.
Team selection and tactical decisions have also sparked confusion among supporters and observers alike.
Questions have been raised over why Arshin Kulkarni, whose Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy strike-rate as an opener hovers around 134, was promoted to open in the IPL. His 17-run innings off 24 balls as opener became a major talking point.
Whether that decision originated from Pant himself or from coach Justin Langer and the support staff remains unclear.
Further doubts emerged around repeated opportunities for Himmat Singh, whose domestic T20 strike-rate only marginally exceeds 130, and the continued use of Ayush Badoni in the top order despite concerns over his suitability for the power-hitting demands of modern T20 cricket.
Although the poor form of Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram undoubtedly damaged Lucknow’s campaign, Pant rarely appeared to possess the tactical sharpness expected from elite T20 captains.
Rahane’s Role Under Scrutiny
Rahane’s appointment as KKR captain was widely viewed as a stop-gap solution born out of necessity rather than long-term planning.
The franchise lacked established leadership alternatives, and Rahane’s close association with head coach Abhishek Nayar, his former Mumbai teammate, likely strengthened his case.
However, KKR’s season suffered from an inability to maintain the scoring tempo required in contemporary T20 cricket. Both Rahane and Nayar’s protégé Angkrish Raghuvanshi occupied top-order roles without consistently providing the acceleration expected from modern IPL batting units.
Raghuvanshi scored 340 runs at a strike-rate above 139, while Rahane contributed 237 runs at a strike-rate of 133. Their combined approach frequently disrupted momentum during powerplays and middle overs.
Across 11 matches, the pair collectively managed only 25 sixes, averaging barely two maximums per game between them.
Many observers believe Rahane and Raghuvanshi should not have been part of the same playing XI simultaneously, and the management’s continued insistence on the combination ultimately hurt KKR’s campaign.
Earlier in the season, Rahane dismissed criticism surrounding his strike-rate by suggesting detractors were jealous. But at 37, questions are now being asked about whether he can still adapt to the evolving pace and demands of T20 cricket.
Unlike Axar and Pant, both of whom are still expected to attract strong interest as players, Rahane’s future in the IPL appears far less certain.
Unless KKR choose to persist with him in what many would consider a surprising decision, Rahane may struggle to find buyers at the next mini-auction.
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