As the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) struggle to find their rhythm in the early stages of IPL 2026, the spotlight has shifted to the captaincy and strike rate of Ajinkya Rahane. Following a frustrating rain-affected no result against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens, critics have questioned whether Rahane’s traditional approach is holding back a star-studded KKR lineup.
However, former New Zealand pacer and commentator Simon Doull has thrown a statistical curveball into the debate, claiming Rahane’s recent T20 reinvention actually puts him ahead of Mumbai Indians icon Rohit Sharma.
Rohit vs Rahane debate
Speaking on the Cricbuzz post-match analysis, Doull argued that Rahane’s 2.0 version which began during his title-winning stint with CSK in 2023, is being unfairly judged against his older, more conservative reputation.
“His numbers in the last four years have not been that bad. He averages 30 and strikes at 148 over 30-odd games. People are talking about dropping him. It’s a better record than what Rohit has got in the last four years. It’s an equal record to Ishan Kishan in the last four years. You are not talking about dropping any of those blokes. Hence his frustration. But it comes down to the pressure from a captaincy point of view,” Doull said in a conversation on Cricbuzz.
Hard Numbers: Rahane’s T20 Renaissance
The data supports Doull’s provocative stance. Since the 2023 season, Rahane has maintained a strike rate hovering around 150-160 in the Powerplay, a period where Rohit Sharma has often struggled for consistency. In the 2025 season, Rahane amassed 390 runs at a strike rate of 147.72, while his recent domestic form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy saw him striking at a blistering 161.57.
The Captaincy conundrum
The debate isn’t just about runs; it’s about the ₹25.25 crore gap. KKR’s decision to let go of 2024 trophy-winning captain Shreyas Iyer (who moved to PBKS for ₹26.75 crore) and retain Rahane for ₹1.5 crore has been labelled a budget move by many.
While critics like Doull defend Rahane’s batting, others point to his tactical decisions like opting to bat first under heavy overcast skies against Punjab as signs that the captaincy option they have preferred might be costing KKR more than just money.