Rinku Singh has been appointed vice-captain by the Kolkata Knight Riders for the IPL 2026 season. He will be Ajinkya Rahane’s deputy, a decision announced during the ‘Knights Unplugged’ event at the iconic Eden Gardens on Tuesday.

The promotion of the southpaw is being seen as a long-terms investment by the three-time champions. “God’s plan has a new chapter,” the franchise posted on X. Rinku has been playing for the team since 2018 and is the heartbeat of the middle-order.

KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar explained the reason behind giving new responsibility to Rinku.

“It is a good decision. I still remember working with Rinku Singh when I joined the support staff of the Kolkata Knight Riders for the first time. I have now become the head coach, and to see his journey is special,” Nayar said.

“Rinku has evolved as a cricketer and a leader in the last few seasons. He has been consistent, and the team looks up to him,” he added.

“He is a big power hitter, and we felt it was the right time for him to become a part of the leadership group.

Rinku became a household name when he hit five consecutive sixes against the Gujarat Titans in 2023. The franchise retained him for INR 13 crore despite the batter scoring just 206 runs in IPL 2025. He can score runs at a strike rate of over 200 in the death overs.

Rinku’s father, Khanchand Singh, passed away during the global tournament, but he returned to play for the country.

Meanwhile, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane is under pressure after failing as a leader in the 18th season, with the franchise finishing eighth in the standings.

“Challenges are different every year, and it is important to remain positive. I am grateful to the franchise for giving me the captaincy. There are opportunities and challenges. If something is difficult, I take it positively and try to give my best as a player and captain,” Rahane said.

KKR will start their campaign on March 29 against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

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