Four IPL captains ended the 2026 season under serious scrutiny. Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane, and Axar Patel each led franchises that finished in the bottom two or missed the playoffs entirely. Former India opener Aakash Chopra ranked three of them explicitly on his YouTube channel, calling the outcomes all but inevitable. The final 2026 points table makes it hard to argue otherwise.
The Four Captains Under Pressure
Captain | Team | IPL 2026 Finish | Win% | Verdict |
Hardik Pandya | Mumbai Indians | 9th – 4W, 10L | 28.6% | Near certain out |
Rishabh Pant | Lucknow Super Giants | 10th – 4W, 10L | 28.6% | Very likely out |
Ajinkya Rahane | Kolkata Knight Riders | 7th – 6W, 7L, 1NR | 42.9% | Likely pivot |
Axar Patel | Delhi Capitals | 6th – 7W, 7L | 50.0% | Under review |
Hardik Pandya: The Clearest Case
Chopra put Hardik first with no ambiguity. Mumbai Indians finished 10th and 9th in his first and third seasons as captain, winning just four of 14 league matches in 2026. A mid-season back spasm forced a stand-in search that involved Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rohit Sharma at various points. After MI’s final match, a 30-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals, batting coach Kieron Pollard refused to confirm Hardik would continue, announcing a full franchise review. Reports of a dressing room rift have shadowed the squad since 2024.
The two most credible replacements are Suryakumar Yadav, who captained India in T20Is and brings a modern attacking style, and Rohit Sharma, the five-time IPL-winning captain who stepped in as a stopgap this season. Suryakumar is the stronger internal candidate for a permanent role.
Rishabh Pant: Three Years, No Playoffs
Chopra ranked Pant second and was direct about it: three consecutive seasons without a playoff qualification, two of them under Pant’s leadership. LSG finished last in 2026 with a net run rate of -0.740. Pant scored 251 runs at a strike rate of 138, a subdued return for a player retained at ₹27 crore, the highest retention fee in the 2026 auction.
Owner Sanjiv Goenka has a well-documented history of demanding that performances match investment. In every season of Pant’s tenure, LSG missed the playoffs. That record speaks for itself.
IPL 2026 Captains Likely Replaced Sacked, Axar, and Rahane
Axar’s case is the most nuanced. Delhi finished 6th with a 50 per cent win rate but missed the playoffs for a second straight season. The numbers aren’t the primary concern; franchise observers have cited his on-field attitude and body language as growing issues, alongside a personal batting strike rate of 112.50 across nine innings and inconsistent team selection. Axar is widely expected to be retained as a player ahead of the 2027 mega auction. Whether he keeps the captaincy is a different question entirely.
Chopra placed Rahane third: KKR finished 8th in 2025 and 7th in 2026, a defending champion’s two-year regression. Chopra acknowledged the difficulty of finding a successor, noting he had no idea who KKR would turn to. A trade window or mega auction solution appears the most likely path forward.
Who Goes First and Who Survives?
Chopra’s fourth name surprised many, Ruturaj Gaikwad of CSK, not Axar Patel. That framing matters. Axar’s 50 per cent win rate and the structural argument around a 10-team format offer partial cover that neither Hardik nor Pant can claim.
If all four lose their jobs, Hardik is closest to the exit. Pant and Rahane follow. Who Goes First” section with: “Either way, these are the IPL 2026 captains likely replaced or sacked before the next auction, and the clock is already running.
Which of these four captains do you think deserves to keep the job, or should all four be replaced before IPL 2027? Drop your take in the comments.
FAQs
Who will replace Hardik Pandya as MI captain?
Suryakumar Yadav is the strongest internal candidate to replace Hardik Pandya as Mumbai Indians captain. Rohit Sharma, who stepped in as a stopgap during IPL 2026, is the other credible option, though Suryakumar’s T20I captaincy experience makes him the more likely permanent appointment.
Will Rishabh Pant be removed as LSG captain after IPL 2026?
Aakash Chopra called Pant’s LSG tenure effectively over after three consecutive seasons without a playoff qualification. LSG finished last in 2026 with a net run rate of -0.740, and owner Sanjiv Goenka’s track record suggests patience with underperformance is limited.
Who could replace Ajinkya Rahane as KKR captain?
No clear internal successor has been identified at KKR, with Chopra himself admitting he had no idea who they would turn to. A trade window move or a mega auction solution ahead of IPL 2027 appears the most likely path for the defending champions.
Which IPL 2026 captains will be sacked before IPL 2027?
Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant are the most likely to lose their captaincy roles before IPL 2027. Rahane faces a probable pivot at KKR, while Axar Patel has the strongest case for survival despite two consecutive playoff misses at Delhi Capitals.