In a move that signals a transition to a new era of leadership, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have officially named fan-favourite finisher Rinku Singh as the franchise’s vice-captain for the IPL 2026 season. The 28-year-old southpaw will serve as a stand-in for veteran skipper Ajinkya Rahane, a decision announced during the ‘Knights Unplugged’ event at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday.
Rinku Singh’s promotion is seen by experts as a long-term investment. “God’s plan has a new chapter,” the franchise posted on X, echoing Rinku’s famous catchphrase. Rinku, who has been with the team since 2018, has evolved from a bench warmer to the heart of KKR’s middle order.
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Head coach Abhishek Nayar explained the reasons behind giving Rink the additional responsibility of vice-captain.
“I think it’s quite fitting. My first memory of coming to Kolkata Knight Riders and being part of the support team was working with Rinku Singh. To take over as head coach now and see his journey has been very special,” Nayar said on Tuesday.
Over the years we have seen Rinku develop not only as a cricketer but also as a leader. Over the past few seasons his performances have spoken for themselves, but off the pitch without saying too much, he is someone the team naturally looks up to.
With his ability as a big, powerful forward, we felt it was the right time for him to take on a bit more responsibility. After becoming a World Cup champion, it’s the perfect time for him to step up and take over and help lead the group.”
Rinku’s journey with the Men in Gold and Purple is part of IPL folklore. Although he was a regular in domestic cricket for Uttar Pradesh, his global breakthrough came in 2023 when smashed five consecutive sixes against Gujarat Titans pull off an unlikely chase.
From that night on, he became the main “savior” of the franchise. Despite a quieter 2025 season where he scored 206 runs, the management showed immense faith by retaining him for Rs 13 crore ahead of this year’s auction. His ability to sustain a strike tally of over 200 in the death overs remains his biggest asset, a stat that rivals the best players in the world at the moment.
Rinku enters the 2026 season with maximum confidence: with a T20 World Cup winner’s medal. Following India’s triumph in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, Rinku cemented his status as a reliable international performer.
However, the journey to this season has been emotionally draining for the Aligarh-born cricketer. Rinku recently faced the loss of his father Khanchand Singh in the middle of the World Cup campaign. His return to the field and subsequent appointment as vice-captain highlights the mental toughness that KKR hope will translate into on-field leadership.
CAN RAHANE PROVIDE?
As the spotlight shines on Rinku, the pressure mounts on captain Ajinkya Rahane. Despite being KKR’s top scorer in 2025 with 390 runs, the team’s overall performance was underwhelming and they finished eighth in the order.
At 37, Rahane finds himself in a precarious position. Despite a A 20-ball fifty in a recent practice matchCritics question whether his captaincy can inspire a revamped team that has lost key pillars like Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer. With the arrival of Cameron Green’s record deal and Rink being nurtured as a potential future leader, Rahane knows 2026 is a make-or-break year for his leadership in the post.
“Every year there are different challenges as a player and also as a captain. Throughout my journey, I have learned to be positive every time, no matter the challenges,” Rahane said earlier in March during KKR’s first media interaction ahead of the 2026 season.
“I’ve been leading the team since last year and I’m really grateful to the franchise for giving me this responsibility to lead the team. I take everything in my stride, I take everything positively. There are always opportunities, there are challenges, you always see opportunities.”
“My mindset throughout my career has always been that when I see some challenges or specific things, if something is difficult, I look at it positively and try to do my best as a player and also as a captain,” he added.
KKR begin their campaign on March 29 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
24 March 2026 20:03 IST
