Ajinkya Rahane’s night turns grim, limps off field with injury scare as Rinku Singh takes over KKR captaincy vs MI

Rinku Singh, who has been part of the KKR setup since his debut IPL season in 2018, has never led a T20 side before

Updated on: Mar 29, 2026, 22:16:29 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane’s thrilling night at the Wankhede took a worrying turn after he was forced to walk off the field with an injury scare at the start of Mumbai Indians’ chase on Sunday. Vice-captain Rinku Singh subsequently stepped in as the on-field skipper in Rahane’s absence.

Kolkata Knight Riders' Ajinkya Rahane reacts after sustaining an injury (REUTERS)

The incident occurred at the end of the fourth over, when Rahane, stationed at cover, suddenly went down and was seen writhing in pain. While the exact nature of the injury remains unclear, commentators initially suggested it could be a case of cramps.

KKR’s physio rushed onto the field to assess the situation, but the discomfort appeared more serious than first thought. Rahane was helped to his feet by teammates before deciding to walk off, leaving Rinku with the responsibility of leading the side in a crucial phase of the game.

MI vs KKR IPL 2026 LIVE Score

It was only earlier this week that KKR CEO and managing director Venky Mysore had confirmed during a pre-season press conference that Rinku would take over as vice-captain from Venkatesh Iyer, who was released after the 2025 season and later signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Rinku, who has been part of the KKR setup since his debut IPL season in 2018, has never led a T20 side before. However, he has evolved into a vital cog in the lineup as a middle-order batter and finisher—roles he increasingly took over after Andre Russell stepped away from the IPL last year.

“I think it’s quite befitting because my first memory of coming to KKR and being part of the support staff was working with Rinku Singh,” head coach Abhishek Nayar said. “Over the years, we’ve seen him evolve not only as a cricketer but also as a leader. For the past couple of years, while his performances have spoken for themselves, off the field too, he is someone the team looks up to.”

Earlier in the evening, Rahane had led from the front with a blistering 67, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi chipped in with a fluent 51, as KKR posted a competitive 220 for 4.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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