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Former India batter Aakash Chopra believes Ajinkya Rahane has a significant point to prove heading into IPL 2026, especially in addressing long-standing doubts about his game beyond the powerplay.Rahane led Kolkata Knight Riders from the front with the bat in IPL 2025, finishing as their top run-scorer. He amassed 390 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 147.72. Despite those numbers, questions persisted around his ability to maintain scoring momentum once the field restrictions were lifted, particularly against spin, which many felt slowed KKR down at crucial stages.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra admitted he has been among those who questioned Rahane’s effectiveness after the powerplay. However, he also sees the upcoming season as a chance for the KKR skipper to silence those criticisms.“Opportunities are plenty. Maybe Ajinkya Rahane, because I am one of those guys who have been slightly critical that he will have to be played in the powerplay as his role becomes extremely limited after that, but you can prove me wrong,” Chopra said.“It’s an opportunity. Not that you need to prove me wrong. Why would you even bother? However, if you score a lot of runs in the powerplay and after that as well, it’s a great opportunity for you,” he added.Chopra further pointed out the narrative surrounding KKR’s dependence on Gautam Gambhir, with some suggesting the franchise struggles to succeed without his influence as either a player or mentor. He believes Rahane now has the platform to counter that perception by guiding the team to a title.In the same discussion, Chopra highlighted the growing importance of Rinku Singh within the setup. Currently serving as vice-captain, Rinku could emerge as a leadership contender if he delivers consistently this season.“Rinku Singh is the vice-captain. Could be a potential captain by the next season. So there could be a huge role for him. He is always made to bat down the order. He might get the opportunity to bat slightly up the order this time, and he might flourish,” Chopra said.Chopra also turned his attention to Varun Chakaravarthy, stating that IPL 2026 offers him a chance to rediscover his wicket-taking rhythm.“It’s time for Varun Chakaravarthy to make people acknowledge his superiority once again because the last four matches in the World Cup were extremely cold. He has to come back to his wicket-taking self,” he observed.Varun ended the T20 World Cup 2026 as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in nine innings at an economy rate of 9.25. While he began the tournament strongly with nine wickets in India’s first four matches, his impact dipped later, managing just five scalps in the remaining games while conceding runs at a higher rate.
