The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is hurtling towards its end. Races for the playoff spots are still being contested. But according to a report carried by the Press Trust of India, three Indian captains are facing the prospect of being axed at the end of the season.
As per a report carried by PTI, the three captains are Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants), Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals), and Ajinkya Rahane (Kolkata Knight Riders). Pant’s Lucknow Super Giants were the first side to be eliminated from the playoff race, followed by the Mumbai Indians.
Surprisingly, Hardik Pandya’s name wasn’t part of the list, after Mumbai’s shambolic season. This could mean two things: either the franchise still retains its trust in the player and leadership, or a decision could be taken much later this year. The Men in Blue and Gold are set to take on the Punjab Kings on Thursday in Dharamsala.
Axar retaining the DC captaincy would be a ‘miracle’
As per news agency PTI, it would be a miracle if the 32-year-old from Gujarat was retained as the skipper next season. Sources speaking to the agency said that there is a good chance that Patel’s inability to make decisions on his own and rely on the support staff members has hurt his cause.
The source also revealed that the coaching staff could be let go after a disastrous 2026 season. Delhi’s skipper has had a lean year with the bat and ball, scoring just 100 runs from 12 games. 56 off those came in the last game against BKSwhich saw the Capitals win the game by three wickets. With the ball, the left-arm spinner has managed to pick just ten wickets this season.
Rahane and Pant set to be relieved of their duties as well
Former IPL champions KKR are set to move on from veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane as the leader. The 37-year-old saw his side start the campaign with a string of losses before winning their next four games. The latest loss to Bengaluru has dented their hopes of making it to the playoffs, barring a miracle.
Rishabh Pant was the costliest player in the league’s history after being purchased for INR 27 crores. Sanjiv Goenka was quick to name the Indian star as the new captain and hoped for years of success. Sadly, that hasn’t transpired as the Super Giants played below-par cricket. The batting form of the skipper too suffered, and the franchise seems to have made up its mind to go in a different direction next year.
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