Taking everything in my stride: Rahane embraces captaincy challenge after 2025 flop show

Rahane embraces captaincy challenge for KKR in IPL 2026, focusing on positivity and team consistency after a tough season.

Despite overhauling their squad after a disappointing title defence in 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders have retained faith in skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who said on Friday (March 20, 2026) he is embracing the responsibility with calmness and positivity.

Rahane, who topped KKR’s scoring charts last season with 390 runs, could not prevent the team from finishing eighth with just five wins in 14 matches (two abandoned).

But the veteran insisted that pressure is nothing new, and he is focused on approaching challenges with the right mindset.

“Every year, there are different challenges as a player and also as a captain. What I learned throughout my journey is be positive each and every time, whatever challenges are there," the 37-year-old said during KKR’s first media interaction of the season.

"I’ve been leading the team since last year and really grateful to the franchise that they gave me this responsibility to lead the team. Taking everything in my stride, taking everything in a positive way. There are always opportunities, there are challenges, you always see opportunities.

“My mindset has always been like that throughout my career, that if I see any challenges or particular, if something difficult is, I look at it in a positive way and try to give my best as a player and also as a captain,” he added.