Indian Premier League (IPL), captains are evaluated not only on their individual performances, but also on how their teams perform throughout the season. When a franchise does not live up to expectations, questions begin to be raised about the leadership. IPL 2026 A similar trend has been seen in Rajasthan Royals, which has now entered the playoff stage after the conclusion of the league stage on Sunday.
As is always the case, only four teams secured playoff spots, while other franchises were left to analyze what went wrong in another challenging season. Team management are expected to review their strategies, team compositions and leadership choices ahead of the next edition. Amidst these discussions, former Indian batsman and commentator Aakash Chopra shared his views on four captains who, according to him, could be removed from leadership positions after disappointing campaigns in IPL 2026.
Aakash Chopra selected four captains who can be removed after IPL 2026
Speaking on her YouTube channel, Chopra hardik pandya Took the name of, who is a captain whose future as a leader may come under question. According to Chopra, Mumbai Indians may want to rethink their leadership direction after inconsistent results in the last three seasons.
He also pointed out that the franchise finished near the bottom of the table in two of the last three years, while one successful campaign ended without winning the title. Chopra suggested that Mumbai could look for a new approach moving forward.
“The first is Hardik Pandya. I don’t know whether Mumbai will retain him or not, but they cannot keep him as captain because it has been three years. You have finished near the bottom of the table in two of the three years, and it is not that you won the tournament when you qualified in the middle,” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Second name in Chopra’s list Rishabh Pant Was, whose tenure with Lucknow Supergiants failed to deliver the expected results. Chopra pointed out that LSG has now missed playoff qualification for three consecutive seasons and he felt that the franchise might decide to move Pant forward as captain. He further added that there has been a lack of consistency in the team’s overall performance, making a change of leadership a real possibility ahead of the next season.
“I think the second captain could be Rishabh Pant. Lucknow Super Giants have not had a good season. In fact, this franchise has not qualified for three consecutive years. Rishabh Pant has been the captain for two years, and I think that is the end of it,” Chopra clarified.
Chopra has Ajinkya Rahane Also expressed doubts over K’s continuation as captain of Kolkata Knight Riders. Recognizing Rahane’s batting contributions and calm leadership style, Chopra said KKR could plan to rebuild with a younger or more aggressive captain option. According to Chopra, Rahane’s strike rate remained a matter of concern during the season, and the franchise may decide to go in a different direction despite supporting him for two years.
“I think the third is Ajinkya Rahane. KKR have invested in him for two years. It’s not that he hasn’t scored runs, although the strike rate has certainly been a bit questionable. He doesn’t captain badly, but I think he will also make a change. They will have to look for a new captain. I don’t know how or who they will find, but I think his captaincy days are over with KKR for now,” Chopra added.
The fourth name surprised many cricket fans as Chopra hinted at possible changes to Chennai’s setup. He suggested that Sanjeev Samson Can emerge as a captaincy option for the franchise in the future. Chopra noted that Chennai Super Kings are generally known for stability and rarely make sudden leadership changes. However, he also pointed out that Samson’s captaincy experience with Rajasthan Royals, which includes taking them to the IPL final, makes him a strong leadership candidate if Chennai decides to make a bold move.
“The fourth is a bit of a surprise. It’s a bit different too. I think Chennai. Chennai are not known for making changes. They are not a team that makes changes quickly and go in different directions, but Chetta is there, and Sanjeev has a pedigree. He has captained a lot, been with Rajasthan, and taken the team to finals,” Chopra added further.
Four teams ready to light up IPL 2026 playoffs
Meanwhile, the IPL 2026 playoff line-up has been officially confirmed, which includes Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad And Rajasthan Royals Has achieved qualification. RCB will face GT in Qualifier 1, with the winner getting a direct berth in the final. The losing team will get another chance through Qualifier 2.
On the other hand, SRH and RR will clash in the eliminator, where the losing team will be eliminated from the tournament. The winner of that tie will advance to Qualifier 2 to face the loser of Qualifier 1 for a spot in the Grand Final. Now that the playoffs are set to begin, fans can expect high-pressure encounters, strategic battles and intense competition as four strong teams fight to win the IPL 2026 title.
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