Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is the only winless team in IPL 2026 after 22 matches. Nothing has gone right for KKR this season. They’ve struggled with injuries, the big names haven’t performed, and they just haven’t looked a team that has won IPL twice. Captain Ajinkya Rahane has been under fire for below-par returns with the bat and also the bizarre remarks he has made in the press conference.
To add to Rahane’s misery, he has been charged by the BCCI for breaking the ICC code of conduct during the match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Rahane became the fourth captain to be charged for slow overrate after Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
This was KKR’s first offense under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, so Rahane was fined INR 12 lakh for the offence.
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Ajinkya Rahane Hints Big Change
Meanwhile, this is the first time that KKR has stayed winless after the first five matches of the Indian Premier League. The team also lost the last two games of the IPL 2025, which brings the streak of defeats to six matches. Rahane hinted that the team could make big changes to the combination as things are not working out.
“I think combination-wise, we thought the combination which we had in the last game, and this was really good. I think it’s tough at the moment. Yes, we’re not winning matches, it’s tough. What is important for all of us as a group is to stay positive, keep our heads up, keep our chins up, and just focus on the moment. We’ll have to sit in the dressing room and think about the combinations. We’ll have to make any changes. Sometimes you bat with the players, then it’s okay. But if the results are not going your way, then you’ll have to think about the combination. But apart from that, I thought it’s all about being positive and keeping our heads up,” he added.
Can KKR Still Qualify For Playoffs?
KKR just have a solitary point to show after five matches, and a team needs at least eight wins to secure automatic qualification. With nine games left for KKR in the league stage, the road ahead looks tough, but they do have a practical chance of making the playoffs if they win all their remaining games. Teams like the Mumbai Indians have shown in the past that teams can still make a comeback and win the tournament even after a shaky start. But the Rahane-led side must put together a few wins to get their campaign back on track.
