This year, Kolkata Knight Riders have been the center of attraction not just because of cricket but off the field as well, with a purported leaked chat from KKR batter Rahul Tripathi creating ripples on social media and sparking a mixed response from the fans.
The screenshots, purported to be personal conversations between Tripathi and a fan, Reem Thakur, had emerged on the internet during the course of the current season with the female claiming that the player had communicated with her and had further asked her to refrain from calling him. However, she also claims that the player used to call her frequently.
However, these screenshots cannot be verified from either ends with the KKR management and the player himself yet to release any official statement about the issue.
Alleged Chat Leak Raises Questions Over Authenticity
The controversy then spread like wildfire on the internet with opinions flying all around; while a faction of fans condemned the player for his purported behavior, others advised them to be cautious, highlighting that the screenshots have not yet been verified. One post read, "Whats happening with these cricketers, yesterday parag today Rahul Tripathi whats wrong with them."
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On-Field Slump Further Aggravates KKR's Problems
Kolkata Knight Riders are having a dismal campaign in IPL 2026. They have managed just two wins in eight games so far and lie at the 8th spot with just 5 points.
Tripathi, who was bought by KKR for Rs 75 lakh in the mini auction has not featured in a single game yet this season and remains on the bench. He played for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025 for Rs 3.40 crore but managed to score just 55 runs in 5 games for them.
The 35-years-old cricketer has 100 IPL appearances to his name and has 2291 runs with 12 half-centuries under his belt. He had also played for KKR in the past, in 2020 and 2021.
The on-field slump of the KKR team also triggered a debate of captaincy. The team has been on the receiving end of flak for Ajinkya Rahane's slow strike rate in the powerplay, with fans calling for the team management to make a change of approach. Vice-captain Rinku Singh, considering his young age and prior experience in the Indian Premier League, could be the captain of the side in the future.
The focus of the franchise will however remain on improving their results on the field for now. Simultaneously, they may have to deal with the off-field controversy if it escalates.
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