Kolkata Knight Riders have appointed Rinku Singh as vice-captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League season, the franchise announced on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. “God’s plan has a new chapter,” KKR said in a post on X while confirming the decision. Rinku will serve as deputy to Ajinkya Rahane, who is set to lead the side in IPL 2026.
The 28-year-old replaces Venkatesh Iyer in the role after the all-rounder was signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 7 crore ahead of the 2026 season.
KKR CEO Venky Mysore expressed confidence in Rinku’s abilities and his long-standing association with the franchise. "On behalf of everyone in the franchise, we’re really delighted to announce that Rinku Singh will be the Vice-captain of the team. Rinku joined KKR in 2018, and has been a regular in the team ever since" Mysore said at Knights Unplugged 3.0 event held in Kolkata.
The left-handed batter has been a key figure for KKR since joining the franchise in 2018. He recently returned from India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2026 campaign and brings both experience and form into the leadership group. Rinku has featured in 59 matches for KKR, scoring 1,099 runs at an average of 30.53, and has built a reputation as a dependable middle-order batter.
KKR will be aiming for a turnaround this season after finishing eighth in the previous edition. Three-time champion will open its IPL 2026 campaign against five-time champion Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
