New Delhi, June 1: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru reinforced their status as the team to beat in IPL 2026, while Gujarat Titans once again showcased remarkable consistency.
In contrast, disappointing campaigns by Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants have already triggered discussions about major changes ahead of next season.
The league remained highly competitive, with the final playoff berth decided on the last day of the league stage. While RCB, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad had already qualified, Rajasthan Royals secured the fourth spot by defeating Mumbai Indians and subsequently knocked Punjab Kings out of contention.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Fresh from their maiden title triumph last season, RCB showed no signs of slowing down. The squad assembled by coach Andy Flower and team director Mo Bobat proved balanced and effective throughout the campaign.
Virat Kohli continued to evolve his game, while veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar enjoyed a resurgence. Josh Hazlewood strengthened the bowling attack, Krunal Pandya delivered another strong season and captain Rajat Patidar produced several match-winning performances. Devdutt Padikkal also adapted successfully to modern T20 demands.
RCB appeared the most complete side in the competition and played with the confidence of champions.
Gujarat Titans
The Titans further cemented their reputation as one of the IPL’s most consistent teams, reaching their third final in five seasons.
Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler dominated at the top of the order, but the middle order often looked vulnerable when the star trio failed. Their bowling attack remained among the best in the tournament, though a lack of alternatives when plans went wrong ultimately cost them.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad enjoyed another strong campaign under Pat Cummins before bowing out in the playoffs.
The emergence of pacers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain was a major positive. Nitish Reddy contributed effectively with bat and ball, while Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Ishan Kishan powered the batting unit.
Heinrich Klaasen was the standout performer, scoring 624 runs at a strike rate of 160.
However, SRH remained significantly stronger at home than away from Hyderabad.
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals eventually reached the playoffs but relied heavily on teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who topped the tournament’s run charts with 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.30.
Jofra Archer starred with the ball, claiming 25 wickets, while Dhruv Jurel also impressed. Injuries to Sam Curran affected team balance and captain Riyan Parag endured an inconsistent season with the bat despite guiding the side into the playoffs in his first year as skipper.
Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings looked like title contenders during the first half of the season but suffered a dramatic collapse, losing six consecutive matches at a crucial stage.
Captain Shreyas Iyer contributed useful runs, but the team’s bowling weaknesses were exposed as the season progressed. Inconsistent performances from key pacer Arshdeep Singh further hurt their campaign.
Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals failed to reach the playoffs for a second consecutive season under Axar Patel.
KL Rahul once again scored more than 500 runs, but the side lacked the batting depth needed to challenge the stronger teams. The bowling attack also struggled, particularly during Mitchell Starc’s absence. Kuldeep Yadav endured a poor season, while Lungi Ngidi often carried the attack almost single-handedly.
Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR recovered from a disastrous start that saw them lose their first six matches, eventually finishing seventh.
However, inconsistency plagued them throughout the campaign. The franchise may need a significant overhaul, while veteran captain Ajinkya Rahane could have played his final IPL season. Cameron Green also failed to justify his hefty auction price.
Chennai Super Kings
The five-time champions have now missed the playoffs for three successive seasons since winning the title in 2023.
Questions continue to surround MS Dhoni’s future after he missed the entire season through injury. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has struggled to replicate his best batting form since taking over leadership duties, while the team’s batting unit remains relatively inexperienced.
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians were among the biggest disappointments of the season despite boasting a star-studded line-up featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma.Rohit Sharma showed glimpses of form but battled injuries. Reports of divisions within the leadership group added to the team’s problems, and uncertainty remains over who will lead the franchise next season.
Lucknow Super Giants
Lucknow Super Giants have already begun planning for change after captain Rishabh Pant stepped down following two disappointing seasons.The batting unit struggled for consistency, while the bowling attack, led by Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan and Prince Yadav, showed promise before fading later in the tournament. Pant and Nicholas Pooran both endured forgettable campaigns.(PTI)
