‘God’s Plan’: Kolkata Knight Riders Appoint Rinku Singh as Vice-Captain Ahead of IPL 2026
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have officially named Rinku Singh as their vice-captain for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The three-time IPL champions announced the decision on social media platform X, quoting, ‘God’s plan has a new chapter.’
Singh will serve as the primary deputy to veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane, who takes over as captain for the upcoming campaign. The promotion marks a significant career progression for Singh, who established himself as a core franchise player following his historic five consecutive sixes during the 2023 season and his consistent run-scoring output that helped secure KKR’s third title in 2024.
Pace Attack Adjustments and Replacements
Alongside the leadership announcement, KKR confirmed a roster change, signing left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Dubey as an injury replacement for Akash Deep. Dubey joins a revamped fast-bowling unit as the franchise prepares for the season.
The current fast-bowling depth chart features a mix of international specialists and domestic talent. The squad faces early availability challenges, as the pace attack is depleted missing Indian quick Harshit Rana and Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman. Rahman was released following workload management directives from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
KKR Fast Bowling Core for IPL 2026
| Player Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Matheesha Pathirana | Overseas Pacer | Active |
| Blessing Muzarabani | Overseas Pacer | Active |
| Cameron Green | Pace All-Rounder | Active |
| Umran Malik | Domestic Pacer | Active |
| Kartik Tyagi | Domestic Pacer | Active |
| Vaibhav Arora | Domestic Pacer | Active |
| Saurabh Dubey | Domestic Pacer | Replacement Signee |
Season Opener Details
The Kolkata Knight Riders will launch their IPL 2026 campaign on March 29 against the five-time champion Mumbai Indians. The match will take place in Mumbai, offering an immediate test for the Rahane-Singh leadership duo and the newly assembled bowling attack.
Follow the complete tournament schedule and official match updates through the BCCI website.