IPL 2026: Three IPL captains are under immense pressure after underwhelming campaigns that have left their teams on the brink of missing out on the playoffs. According to people closely following developments within franchises, major leadership changes could be on the cards once the season concludes later this month.
Among those facing the heat are Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant. All three have now endured two consecutive seasons without successfully guiding their sides into the knockout stage.While Lucknow Super Giants have already been knocked out officially, making Pant’s position particularly vulnerable, the chances of Kolkata Knight Riders under Rahane and Delhi Capitals led by Axar reaching the playoffs also appear extremely slim.
Axar’s Struggles Continue in IPL
Axar’s season, both as captain and all-rounder, has failed to inspire confidence. Batting mostly in the top order, he has managed just 100 runs from nine innings at a strike rate of 112.50. More than half of those runs came in a single innings, while the rest were spread thinly across eight outings.
His bowling returns have also been modest. Across 12 matches, Axar has delivered only 36 overs and claimed 10 wickets with an economy of 8.08. Despite maintaining decent control compared to fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav, questions have been raised over his reluctance to bowl himself more frequently during crunch situations.
Delhi Capitals’ management structure could further complicate matters for Axar. The franchise operates under a rotational system between co-owners JSW and GMR, with cricket operations set to return to JSW and Parth Jindal next season.
Rahane’s Captaincy Call Backfires for KKR
Ajinkya Rahane getting the captaincy role at Kolkata Knight Riders was more a decision born out of limited choices than long-term planning. The franchise did not have many experienced leadership candidates in the squad, and Rahane’s strong equation with head coach Abhishek Nayar also worked in his favour.
But the move failed to deliver the desired results. KKR struggled throughout the season because Rahane and young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi were unable to maintain the aggressive tempo expected from top-order batters in modern T20 cricket.
Raghuvanshi scored 340 runs during the campaign at a strike rate slightly above 139, while skipper Rahane managed 237 runs at a strike rate of 133. With both batting regularly in the top three, KKR often found themselves lacking momentum during the powerplay and middle overs.
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The lack of attacking intent was reflected in the six-hitting numbers as well. Across 11 matches, Rahane and Raghuvanshi together managed only 25 sixes, averaging just over two maximums per game between them.
Pant Under Mounting Pressure After Another Disappointing Season
For Rishabh Pant, concerns over captaincy are nothing new in franchise cricket circles. Many believe the added responsibility has affected his natural game, with leadership pressure often appearing to weigh heavily on him throughout the season. Pant experimented with multiple batting positions in an attempt to rediscover form, but the results never really improved. At times, he looked burdened by the expectations that came with leading Lucknow Super Giants.
Pant’s numbers this season have fallen short of expectations. He has scored 251 runs at a strike rate of 138, figures that are considered below par in today’s high-scoring T20 game. His struggles are further highlighted by the fact that he has managed only nine sixes in 11 matches.
The fearless strokeplay and fluency that once made Pant one of the most dangerous batters in the format have rarely been visible this season. On top of that, several team selection and combination calls taken by the management have left even loyal LSG fans scratching their heads.
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