in the year Indian Premier League (IPL)captains are often judged not only on their individual performances, but also on how well their teams do throughout the season. When franchises fail to meet expectations, leadership questions naturally begin to surface. A similar trend has emerged in Azerbaijan IPL 2026After finishing the league stage on Sunday, they have now entered the play-off stage.
As usual, only four teams managed to qualify for the playoffs, leaving the rest of the franchises to analyze what went wrong in another tough season. Team leaders are expected to review their strategies, lineups, and leadership choices before the next edition. Amidst these discussions, former India batter and commentator Akash Chopra He shared his views on the four captains who could be removed from their leadership positions in IPL 2026 after tough campaigns.
Aakash Chopra picks the four captains to be sacked after IPL 2026
Speaking on her YouTube channel, Chopra began by naming names Hardik Pandya as a captain whose future as a leader will be tested. According to Chopra, Mumbai Indians may rethink their leadership direction after inconsistent results in the last three seasons.
He noted that the franchise has finished near the bottom of the table in two of the last three years, with one successful campaign not ending in a title win. Chopra suggested that Mumbai might look for a new approach going forward.
“The first is Hardik Pandya. I don’t know if Mumbai will keep him or not, but because it’s been three years, they won’t keep him as captain. In two of the three years, you finish near the bottom of the table and it’s not like you win the tournament when you qualify in the middle.” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
It was the second name on Chopra’s list Rishabh pantswho reportedly worked with Lucknow Super Giants failed to produce the desired results. Chopra pointed out that LSG have already missed out on a play-off spot for three consecutive seasons and the franchise may decide to move on from Pant as captain. He further added that the team’s overall performances have lacked consistency, making a change of leadership a real possibility ahead of next season.
“I feel the second captain could be Rishabh Pant. Lucknow Super Giants didn’t have a good season. In fact, the franchise didn’t qualify for three years in a row. Rishabh Pant was the captain for two years and I think that’s the end of it.” Chopra explained.
Chopra also expressed her doubts Ajinkya Rahane He continues as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders. While acknowledging Rahane’s batting contributions and calm leadership style, Chopra stated that KKR may look to rebuild with a younger or more aggressive captain. According to Chopra, Rahane’s strike rate was a concern during the season and the franchise may decide to go in a different direction despite backing him for two years.
“I feel the third is Ajinkya Rahane. KKR have invested in him for two years. He hasn’t scored even though his run-rate is a little questionable. He’s not a bad captain, but I think they’re going to have a turnaround. They’re going to have to find a new captain too. I have no idea, how or who’s going to get rid of the captaincy with KR. Now.” Chopra added.
The fourth name surprised many cricket fans as Chopra hinted at possible changes in Chennai’s set-up as well. He suggested that Sanju Samson may emerge as a captain choice for the franchise in the future. Chopra noted that Chennai Super Kings are generally known for their stability and rarely make sudden leadership changes. However, he noted that Samson’s experience as captain with Rajasthan Royals, including taking them to the IPL final, makes him a strong leadership candidate if Chennai decides to make a bold move.
“Fourth is a bit of a shocker. It’s a bit out of the box too. Chennai, I think. Chennai’s turnarounds are not known. They’re not a team that takes turns and goes in different directions quickly, but Chetta is there and Sanju is there. He’s captained a lot, he’s been with Rajasthan and he’s taken the team to the final,” Chopra added.
Also READ: How Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fared in the IPL playoffs
Four teams are set to light up the IPL 2026 playoffs
Meanwhile, the IPL 2026 playoffs have been officially confirmed Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabadand Rajasthan Royals provision of qualification. RCB are scheduled to face GT in Qualifier 1 and the winner will earn a direct berth in the final. The loser will still get another chance through Qualifier 2.
On the other hand, SRH and RR will clash in the Eliminator where the losing team will be eliminated from the tournament. The winner of that competition will face the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 for a place in the grand final. With the playoffs now underway, fans can expect high-pressure races, tactical battles and intense competition as four powerhouse teams battle it out for the IPL 2026 crown.
Also READ: How Gujarat Titans (GT) fared in the IPL playoffs
