The three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have appointed Rinku Singhas their vice-captain ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026. The development was confirmed by KKR CEO and managing director Venky Mysore during a pre-season event on Tuesday, March 24. 

Rinku steps into the role previously held by Venkatesh Iyer, who was released by the franchise ahead of the auction. While the left-hander is yet to captain a T20 side, he has been a consistent presence for KKR since making his IPL debut in 2018. Known for his finishing prowess in the middle order, Rinku is expected to shoulder greater responsibility, especially following the retirement of Andre Russell, who has now taken up the role of KKR’s power coach.

KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar heaped praise on Rinku’s growth within the setup.

"I think it's quite befitting because my first memory of coming to KKR and being part of the support staff was working with Rinku Singh. Over the years, we've seen Rinku Singh evolve not only as a cricketer but also as a leader. For the past couple of years, while his performances have spoken for themselves, I think off the field without saying a lot, he is someone that the team looks forward to [hearing]," Nayar said during the event.

He further highlighted the need for Rinku to take on additional responsibility in the new setup.

"We wanted to, with the big power-hitter [Russell] gone, we wanted a little more responsibility for Rinku to shoulder and I feel it's the perfect time after being a World Cup champion to come in and take the responsibility and help Ajinkya Rahane take the reins over,” he continued.

Check the announcement here - 

Rinku has featured in 59 matches for KKR, scoring 1099 runs at an impressive strike rate of 145.17. He was also part of India’s squad that clinched the T20 World Cup title at home, further cementing his rise as a key figure in the team’s core.