Mumbai, March 29 Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane was forced to leave the field on Sunday, apparently after suffering cramps in the second half of their Indian Premier League match against Mumbai Indians here.
In Rahane's absence, India all-rounder Rinku Singh, who had been named the vice-captain before the 2026 IPL began, took over the captaincy role.
Rahane went down on the field after the completion of the fourth over in MI's chase of 221, and despite receiving treatment from the team physiotherapist, the 37-year-old was unable to continue.
After lying down for a few minutes, the KKR captain was helped by his teammates to get up, and for a short while, he even had his hands on the shoulders of two others to get off the field. However, Rahane eventually walked off himself, but with a limp. It is still unclear whether it was simple cramps or a case of injury to the calf muscle or hamstring.
Opening the innings for KKR earlier in the game, Rahane spent more than an hour in the middle, building the innings for KKR with a fine knock of 67 off 40 balls, studded with five sixes and three fours. He was dismissed in the 14th over by his Mumbai teammate Shardul Thakur.