Which IPL teams are set for captaincy change? Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane under fire after poor 2026 season

The Indian Premier League 2026 league stage ended on May 24, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals qualified for the playoffs. 

RR were the last to seal their playoff spot after they beat the Mumbai Indians in their final game at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

While defending champions RCB comfortably made it to the playoffs after topping the league stage, last season's runners-up, Punjab Kings, failed to make the cut this time, despite winning six out of their first seven matches.

IPL 2024 champions, KKR failed to make it to the playoffs for the second consecutive season, while five-time champions, CSK and MI's misfortune continued.

Lucknow Super Giants also failed to make it to the playoffs for the second consecutive year under Rishabh Pant's leadership, as their captain once again failed to deliver with the bat and justify his INR 27 crore fee.

With six teams now out of the IPL playoff race, chatters have started regarding the future of some of the existing IPL captains, whose teams were ousted from the league. 

Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

Here, The Sporting News takes a look at the IPL teams that could undergo captaincy changes ahead of the IPL 2027 season. 

Which IPL teams are set for a captaincy change?

Rishabh Pant | LSG

Rishabh Pant has led the Lucknow Super Giants for the last two season, but he has failed to deliver as both a captain and a batter. Despite being the most expensive player in the history of the IPL, the India international wicket-keeper has failed to score big and inspire his team to reach the playoffs in the last two seasons.

The team management will scrutinise Pant's leadership and his performance as a player in the coming months and there is a possibility that they might consider a change of guard in the franchise before the next season. 

Hardik Pandya | MI

Hardik Pandya left Mumbai Indians ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction and was picked by Gujarat Titans in their maiden season in the league. It was a match made in heaven as the all-rounder led GT to an IPL title in the very first season. In 2023, Pandya again helped GT reach the final, though they faltered in the final lap, losing to CSK.

Pandya's success as a player and as a leader attracted Mumbai Indians' attention, who were looking for an ageing Rohit Sharma's long-term replacement as the franchise's captain. Accordingly, they broke the bank to pay a transfer fee to sign Pandya back from GT ahead of the IPL 2024 season.

The move that was supposed to boost MI's plan to dominate IPL in the coming decade turned out to be a blunder. The MI fans never accepted Pandya as their captain, especially when Rohit Sharma still had a lot to give to the team.

In the last three seasons, under Pandya's captaincy, MI have qualified for the playoffs only once, in 2025. The continuous failure could now prompt the management to consider a change in captaincy ahead of next campaign. 

Ajinkya Rahane | KKR

Unlike the other captains, this one is almost a guarantee as Ajinkya Rahane has likely played his last game as a KKR player against Delhi Capitals on May 24. Rahane joined KKR at the IPL 2025 auction and was then named as the team's captain, replacing the title-winning skipper, Shreyas Iyer.

However, Rahane's journey as KKR skipper has been nothing short of a nightmare as they have failed to make it to the playoffs twice in a row.

Rahane's batting has also come under the scanner as many experts believe that he is not fit for modern T20 batting and has been in the KKR team only for his captaincy.

It is only a matter of time before KKR formally part ways with the former Indian cricket star and bring in a new marquee player as their captain ahead of the IPL 2027 season. 

Ruturaj Gaikwad | CSK

Ruturaj Gaikwad was handed over the CSK captaincy permanently in 2024 as MS Dhoni stepped down from the role after leading the team to their record-equalling fifth IPL title.

However, Gaikwad's performance as CSK captain has been far from ideal, as he has failed to guide them to the playoffs in any of the three seasons he led them.

Now, with the arrival of Sanju Samson in the team, who has vast experience in Indian cricket as well as captaincy experience with Rajasthan Royals, CSK might consider handing over the leadership role to the new star in the dressing room. 

Axar Patel | DC

Axar Patel was named Delhi Capitals captain ahead of the IPL 2025 season after Rishabh Pant left for Lucknow Super Giants. Patel was picked ahead of the new signing KL Rahul, however, the all-rounder's performance as skipper has been far from ideal as DC has failed to progress to the playoffs in either of the seasons Patel led.

Ahead of the IPL 2027 season, DC might consider removing Patel from the captaincy role and hand it over to a proven campaigner like Rahul. 

Dafabet

BEST ODDS AND OFFERS

CLICK TO BET