Aakash Chopra names 4 captains who could lose leadership roles after disappointing IPL 2026 campaigns

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In the Indian Premier League (IPL), captains are often judged not only by their individual performances but also by how well their teams fare throughout the season. When franchises fail to meet expectations, questions over leadership naturally begin to surface. A similar trend has emerged in IPL 2026, which has now entered the playoffs stage after the conclusion of the league phase on Sunday.

As always, only four teams managed to secure playoff spots, while the remaining franchises were left to analyse what went wrong in another demanding season. Team managements are expected to review their strategies, squad combinations, and leadership choices ahead of the next edition. Amid these discussions, former India batter and commentator Aakash Chopra shared his views on four captains who, according to him, could be removed from their leadership positions after underwhelming campaigns in IPL 2026.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra began by naming Hardik Pandya as one captain whose future as leader could come under scrutiny. According to Chopra, Mumbai Indians may rethink their leadership direction after inconsistent results over the last three seasons.

He pointed out that the franchise finished near the bottom of the table in two of the last three years, while the one successful campaign did not end with a title victory. Chopra suggested that Mumbai could look for a fresh approach going forward.

“The first is Hardik Pandya. I don’t know whether Mumbai would retain him or not, but they might not keep him as the captain because it’s been three years. You finished close to the bottom of the table in two out of the three years, and it’s not like you won the tournament when you qualified in the middle,” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

The second name on Chopra’s list was Rishabh Pant, whose stint with Lucknow Super Giants reportedly failed to produce the desired results. Chopra highlighted that LSG have now missed playoff qualification for three consecutive seasons and felt the franchise could decide to move on from Pant as captain. He further added that the team’s overall performances have lacked consistency, making leadership changes a realistic possibility before the next season.

“I feel the second captain could be Rishabh Pant. The Lucknow Super Giants’ season hasn’t been good. In fact, this franchise hasn’t qualified for three consecutive years. Rishabh Pant was the captain for two years, and I think it’s done,” explained Chopra.

Chopra also expressed doubts over Ajinkya Rahane continuing as Kolkata Knight Riders skipper. While acknowledging Rahane’s batting contributions and calm leadership style, Chopra stated that KKR may look to rebuild with a younger or more aggressive captaincy option. According to Chopra, Rahane’s strike rate remained a concern during the season, and the franchise could decide to head in a different direction despite backing him for two years.

“I feel the third is Ajinkya Rahane. KKR have invested in him for two years. It’s not like he hasn’t scored runs, although the strike rate has remained slightly questionable for sure. He doesn’t captain badly, but I think they will also make a pivot. They will also have to find a new captain. I have no idea how or who they will find, but I feel his captaincy days with KKR have ended for now,” added Chopra.

The fourth name surprised many cricket fans as Chopra hinted at possible changes within Chennai’s setup as well. He suggested that Sanju Samson could 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 shifts. However, he pointed out that Samson’s captaincy experience with Rajasthan Royals, including leading them to an IPL final, makes him a strong leadership candidate if Chennai decide to make a bold move.

“The fourth is slightly shocking. It is slightly out of the box as well. I think Chennai. Chennai is not known to make pivots. They are not a team that makes pivots and goes in different directions quickly, but Chetta is there, and Sanju has a pedigree. He has captained a lot, has been with Rajasthan, and took the team to the final,” Chopra added further.

Also READ: Here’s how Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have fared in the IPL playoffs

Meanwhile, the IPL 2026 playoffs line-up has officially been confirmed with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals securing qualification. RCB are scheduled to face GT in Qualifier 1, with the winner earning a direct place in the final. The losing side will still get another chance through Qualifier 2.

On the other hand, SRH and RR will clash in the Eliminator, where the losing team will be knocked out of the tournament. The winner of that contest will move ahead to face the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 for a place in the grand finale. With the playoffs now set to begin, fans can expect high-pressure contests, tactical battles, and intense competition as four strong teams fight for the IPL 2026 crown.

Also READ: Here’s how Gujarat Titans (GT) have fared in the IPL playoffs