'I will definitely appoint Rinku Singh as the captain' – Abhinav Mukund backs southpaw to lead KKR in IPL 2027

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) finished seventh in IPL 2026 with six wins from 14 matches, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The franchise's disappointing campaign has triggered discussions about leadership restructuring and squad overhaul ahead of the retention deadline and auction scheduled for November 17.

Former India batter Abhinav Mukund has publicly endorsed Rinku Singh as the ideal candidate to captain KKR in IPL 2027.

"I will definitely appoint Rinku Singh as the captain. He has been with KKR for many years. It'll also be an Indian captain. He's also trying to make a comeback to the Indian team. So there is a good chance that he'll create a nice team environment." Mukund said while speaking on Star Sports.

Rinku's captaincy credentials and IPL record

Rinku has been part of the KKR setup since the 2018 mega-auction and earned the vice-captain role before IPL 2026, reflecting the franchise's confidence in his leadership credentials. His experience extends beyond the IPL, having captained Uttar Pradesh in List A cricket and led Meerut Mavericks to the UPT20 title in 2026.

So far, Rinku accumulated 1,394 runs across 72 matches for KKR at an average of 34 with a strike rate of 145.97, including six fifties. His consistent middle-order contributions have established him as a cornerstone of the franchise's batting lineup.

Squad restructuring recommendations for IPL 2027

Mukund advocated for releasing Cameron Green, who was signed for Rs 25.20 crore, suggesting the Australian batter may not command the same price in the upcoming auction and could potentially be re-acquired at a lower cost. He also recommended parting ways with Rachin Ravindra, who did not feature in any match during IPL 2026.

The former India player further suggested releasing Matheesha Pathirana, the Sri Lankan bowler acquired for Rs 18 crore who bowled only eight deliveries in IPL 2026 due to injury. These departures would generate a purse exceeding Rs 40 crore for KKR's auction strategy.

Mukund advocated retaining Mustafizur Rahman and highlighted the franchise's critical need to address injury concerns that plagued Indian pacers Harshit Rana and Akash Deep during IPL 2026. The retention window closes on November 17, with the auction following immediately after.