‘If he cannot then I don’t know...’: Ashwin's blunt take on Ajinkya Rahane
Kolkata Knight Riders face early IPL 2026 struggles, with captain Ajinkya Rahane under scrutiny after two defeats. Despite a strong start, his recent form and captaincy have drawn criticism. Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has defended Rahane, highlighting his supportive leadership and pointing to bowling department limitations as the team's deeper issues.
With Kolkata Knight Riders enduring a tough start to IPL 2026, Ajinkya Rahane has found himself under increasing scrutiny following defeats to Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rahane began the season on a positive note with a fluent 67 off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians, but his effort came in a losing cause as KKR failed to defend a strong total. In the next game, which also marked his 200th IPL appearance, he struggled for rhythm during a chase, managing just 8 off 10 balls against SRH.
The criticism around his captaincy has also been fuelled by off-field moments, including his remark on Cameron Green not bowling, where he said the question should be directed to Cricket Australia. Rahane later pushed back at critics, defending his intent and pointing to his improved strike rate in recent seasons. Amid the noise, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has stepped in to back Rahane, offering a strong endorsement of his leadership.
"Honestly, I was reading a lot about Ajinkya Rahane, but he is a very good person, a very good human being. I have played under his captaincy and I am telling you, no bowler will get a more supportive captain. He is very supportive and a very calm captain.
If he cannot get the best out of a bowler, then I don’t know who can. " While defending Rahane, Ashwin made it clear that KKR’s struggles are not solely down to captaincy. Instead, he pointed to tactical limitations, particularly in the bowling department.