Former India batter Aakash Chopra has challenged Ajinkya Rahane to prove his worth ahead of IPL 2026, emphasizing the need for the KKR captain to silence lingering doubts about his ability to perform beyond the powerplay. Rahane, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to a strong finish in IPL 2025 with 390 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 147.72, faces scrutiny over his effectiveness against spin after the powerplay phase. While his leadership and scoring in the early overs impressed, critics argue his impact waned as field restrictions were lifted, particularly in crucial moments for KKR. Chopra, speaking on his YouTube channel, acknowledged his own past skepticism about Rahane’s post-powerplay performance but framed the upcoming season as an opportunity for the skipper to redefine his role. “Opportunities are plenty. Maybe Ajinkya Rahane, because I am one of those guys who have been slightly critical that he will have to be played in the powerplay as his role becomes extremely limited after that, but you can prove me wrong,” Chopra said. He stressed that Rahane’s ability to score consistently after the powerplay would be key to addressing the narrative that his contributions are confined to the early stages of an innings. The former batter also highlighted the broader context of KKR’s reliance on Gautam Gambhir, with some observers suggesting the franchise struggles without his influence as a player or mentor. Chopra believes Rahane now has the platform to counter that perception by steering KKR to a title. Additionally, he pointed to the growing importance of Rinku Singh within the team, currently serving as vice-captain. “Rinku Singh is the vice-captain. Could be a potential captain by the next season. So there could be a huge role for him. He is always made to bat down the order.#kkr #ajinkya_rahane #aakash_chopra #rinku_singh #varun_chakaravarthy
