With the start of the Indian Premier League just a couple of weeks away, excitement among cricket fans is rising rapidly. The tournament, widely regarded as the world’s most popular franchise T20 league, is set to begin soon, and teams are finalising their plans for the new season. One franchise under close watch is Kolkata Knight Riders after a disappointing campaign last year.

KKR failed to secure a place in the top four in the previous season, which led to criticism of both the players and the team’s leadership. Captain Ajinkya Rahane faced questions regarding his team selection and tactical decisions during crucial moments. As a result, there was speculation that the franchise might consider a change in captaincy ahead of the new season.

Rahane’s batting showed promise

Despite the team’s struggles, Rahane had a fairly decent season with the bat. In 13 matches, he scored 390 runs at an average of around 36, including three half-centuries. His experience helped the team in several difficult situations. However, Rahane’s batting position kept changing throughout the season. At times he played in the top order, while on other occasions he batted in the middle order. This lack of a fixed role created inconsistency in the batting line-up.

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Another criticism he faced was his scoring rate. While Rahane often stayed at the crease during tough phases, his slow pace of scoring sometimes made it difficult for the team to accelerate.

KKR likely to keep faith in Rahane

Amid rumours of a leadership change, a new report suggests that KKR is likely to continue with Rahane as captain this season. According to sources quoted by a Mumbai-based media outlet, the franchise believes Rahane’s experience makes him the best option to lead the side. Among the players currently in the squad, Rahane is considered the most experienced candidate for the captaincy role. Because of this, the management is reportedly willing to back him again.

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However, his captaincy record with KKR has not been particularly strong so far. In 13 matches as captain, he has led the team to victory only five times. If he continues as captain this season, the upcoming IPL could be crucial for Rahane to improve that record and guide KKR back into playoff contention.