Kolkata Knight Riders have appointed their explosive middle-order batsman **Rinku Singh** as their vice-captain for the upcoming **IPL 2026** season. 28-year-old Rinku will work as the deputy of captain **Ajinkya Rahane**. This was announced by KKR CEO Venky Mysore during the team’s ‘Knights Unplugged 3.0’ event at Eden Gardens on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
The decision signals a clear succession plan and cultural shift for the three-time champions, after a disappointing eighth-place finish in IPL 2025. Rinku replaces Venkatesh Iyer, who was released from the team ahead of the mini-auction.
“We are very happy to inform you that Rinku, who joined our team in 2018, will now be the vice-captain and will work closely with Ajinkya Rahane,” Mysore said. Head coach Abhishek Nair and Rahane himself praised Rinku’s development, her calm nature and her influence in the dressing room.
### The spectacular rise of Rinku Singh
Rinku joined KKR in 2018 for ₹80 lakh and gradually became a fans’ favorite and match-winner. His five sixes hit in the last over against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023 made him an overnight star. He has become one of the league’s most reliable ‘death-over finishers’, often scoring at a strike rate of over 200 in the dying moments of matches.
KKR has retained Rinku for **₹13 crore** and after being a part of India’s T20 World Cup winning team, he is entering IPL 2026 with new confidence. His mental strength — evident in the way he overcame personal challenges during the tournament — has further strengthened his leadership skills.
### Pressure increased on Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane, now 37, has been retained as captain despite KKR’s poor performance in 2025. He topped the team’s run-list by scoring 390 runs, but could not take the team higher than eighth position. Senior players like Andre Russell are no longer at the core of the team, and a young team is being built with new players like Cameron Green; In such a situation, the pressure on Rahane to give good results in 2026 has increased even more.
Rinku being made the vice-captain has been of immediate help to the team, and preparations have also begun for a possible change in leadership in the future. Rahane has acknowledged the pressure, but says he is taking it “normally”.
This leadership duo — with the experienced Rahane guiding aggressive finisher Rinku — will prove vital for KKR as the team looks to bounce back and win its fourth IPL title.
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