IPL 2026: THESE team skippers are unlikely to continue next season

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has been quite a see-saw ride for several teams, especially heavyweights such as Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings.

While CSK have managed to rise to the fifth position with three back-to-back wins, KKR, MI and Lucknow Super Giants are dropped to the bottom three on the points table. Delhi Capitals, too, have lost from promising positions and have largely flattered to deceive. While Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants have been eliminated, the others are on the brink.

The captains of these franchises, consequently, are in the line of fire. A PTI report now suggests that three skippers might be sacked once the season is over. Interestingly, the report comes a day after industrialist and RPG Group chairperson Harsh Goenka said on X that "at least four IPL captains will not be leading their teams next season".

Interestingly, the LSG franchise is owned by the RP-Sanjiv Goenka (RPSG) Group, led by Harsh's brother and billionaire businessman Sanjiv Goenka.

MI skipper Hardik Pandya may have missed the last few matches because of a recurring back spasm, but there have been reports that all is not well in the Mumbai camp. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he is traded for the next season.

Axar Patel (DC), Ajinkya Rahane (KKR), and Rishabh Pant (LSG), on the other hand, have each held the team’s reins for two consecutive seasons without making the play-offs.

Axar Patel

Axar's performance as both captain and player has been a cause for concern. With the bat, he has managed only 100 runs across nine innings, at a modest strike rate of 112.50. Fifty-six came in a single innings, with the remaining 44 over eight other knocks, despite him largely batting in the top order.

With the ball, Axar has bowled just 36 overs in 12 matches, averaging a mere three overs per game, and has taken 10 wickets at an economy rate of 8.08. While his economy rate is good when compared to the struggles of fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Axar has often underutilised his own bowling.

"Given Axar's clear struggles in proving his leadership capabilities and his apparent reliance on Hemang Badani and Venugopal Rao for strategic decisions, it would be a significant surprise if he continues as captain next year," PTI quoted an IPL source as saying, on condition of anonymity. "It's also unlikely that the current coaching staff will be retained."

Decisions such as overlooking a dynamic batter like Abhishek Porel, inconsistent usage of all-rounder Madhav Tiwari, and thrusting a young, out-of-form player like Sahil Parakh into crucial situations without adequate preparation have not gone unnoticed. While Parakh possesses potential, he is still developing as a player.

With major player auctions scheduled for 2027, Axar might still be a player of interest for retention, but his captaincy has been found wanting.

Rishabh Pant

Captaincy and Rishabh Pant don’t seem to get along well. The burden seems to be affecting his batting, too, despite trying to bat in various positions. His failure to guide the LSG to the play-offs for two consecutive seasons is unlikely to make team owner Sanjiv Goenka happy.

Pant's 251 runs at a strike rate of 138 are low by current T20 standards. The pressure is evident from the fact that he has hit only nine sixes in 11 games. The attacking flair that once defined his batting seems to be missing, and some of the team composition choices have been baffling.

Eyebrows were raised over the decision to open with Arshin Kulkarni, whose domestic T20 strike rate hovers around 134, in the IPL. His 17 runs from 24 balls as an opener in today's game is unforgivable. It remains unclear whether this was Pant's decision or that of coach Justin Langer and the support staff. There are also questions about the repeated opportunities given to Himmat Singh, whose domestic T20 strike rate barely exceeds 130. Similarly, the continued preference for Ayush Badoni in the top order, despite lacking the big-hitting skills expected in modern T20 cricket, has also raised eyebrows.

While the poor form of Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram undoubtedly hampered LSG's campaign, Pant has not displayed the tactical acumen needed for this format as captain.

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane's appointment as KKR captain was largely seen as a necessity due to a lack of other options within the franchise.

However, KKR has been hampered by the fact that both Rahane and head coach Abhishek Nayar's protégé, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, have struggled to score aggressively. Raghuvanshi scored 340 runs at a strike rate just over 139, while skipper Rahane managed 237 runs at a strike rate of 133. Both batted in the top three, affecting the team’s momentum in most matches. Across 11 games, the duo combined for only 25 sixes, averaging barely two sixes per game between them.

When questioned about his strike rate earlier in the season, Rahane had said people were being jealous. However, at 37, he may need to reflect on whether he can still adapt to the evolving demands of T20 cricket.