Start of IPL 2026: The biggest stage of T20 will be decorated from March 28, 10 Indian captains, whose head will be crowned?
Delhi. We’re going into IPL 2026 with ten Indian captains: some of them have points to prove, while others are still on the cusp of their stellar years in T20 cricket. Here’s a look at what these captains have been up to since last year’s IPL, and what we can expect from them.
Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Patidar could be forgiven for thinking he has the golden touch. RCB came close to the IPL title several times in its first 17 years, but lost. Then, in his 18th season, Patidar was made captain: he led his best team with a cool head, finally winning his first title. He has since led Central Zone to the Duleep Trophy title, and has been named captain of Madhya Pradesh in all formats. However, the following months were not so good: a knee injury and poor form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy slowed Patidar’s momentum. Now fit again, he will make another attempt to win the trophy with RCB.
Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings)
Iyer has been out of India’s T20 squad for some time, and has returned in the IPL to prove a point. He led Punjab Kings from the front in a spirited campaign last year, the biggest example of which was his unbeaten 87 off 41 balls in Qualifier 2 as Punjab Kings chased a target of 204 runs. They lost the final, and then Iyer suffered a spleen injury in Australia in October. Since then, he has spent most of the time on the sidelines – being part of India’s squad for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, but without playing a match, and subsequently being left out of the T20 World Cup squad.
Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)
The last few months have been very good for Hardik: Champions Trophy, Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. He has been an integral part of the national team, particularly as a finisher with the bat, while also contributing with the ball in and out of the powerplay. After leading MI to the playoffs last year, he will be aiming to take them to their first final since 2020. But big questions remain: will he take to the new ball, and will he play as an anchor or return to his finishing role?
Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans)
Gill was India’s T20 vice-captain, and then he was no more. He was in line to open in the World Cup, and then was dropped from the team altogether after poor performances. Now back in his familiar ground in the IPL, the flat pitches of Ahmedabad will be perfect for his batting but he will be looking to show that he can adapt to the conditions when his team needs it.
Akshar Patel (Delhi Capitals)
Akshar has the uncanny ability to remain unnoticed even among the biggest stars, and yet he was crucial in India’s recent T20 World Cup win. Coming into a Jadeja-like role, he burst up the batting order and also performed well with the ball – notably his 3 for 27 in the final that defeated New Zealand. All of Akshar’s T20 cricket last year has been for India, but he will remember how close DC came to the playoffs in his first season as captain: four wins in the beginning, then just one in the last six. Buoyed by the World Cup success, Akshar returns better prepared to wrap up the big moments.
Ishan Kishan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
In many ways, Kishan’s record has been the complete opposite of Gill’s. Out of the national team’s plans, he achieved a new milestone, scored two quick centuries and led Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title. He returned to India’s T20 team, became the first-choice opener in the New Zealand series, and capped it off with a World Cup victory – including a quickfire 54 off 25 balls in the final. With SRH’s regular captain Pat Cummins missing the first few matches, Kishan has a chance to add another feather to his cap.
Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants)
Pant had a very poor IPL last year, scoring just 269 runs in 14 innings – the majority of which came in his brilliant innings of 118 not out at the end of the league stage. Since then, it has been an intermittent run: good form in the Tests in England, then a left foot fracture that cut the tour short. He returned to captain India in the Tests during the 2–0 defeat to South Africa, and was later ruled out of the ODIs due to a side strain. Pant will now hope for continuity – and a change in fortunes – with LSG.
Ajinkya Rahane (Kolkata Knight Riders)
This could be Rahane’s last chance in the IPL. KKR managed just five wins in 14 games last season, and at the age of 37, time is not on his side. Nevertheless, a productive Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – 391 runs at a strike rate of 161.57 – has earned him another chance. Intent has not been an issue for the new Rahane; In the last IPL, his 390 runs came at a strike rate of 147.72. The worry is that he is rusty: he has not played competitive cricket since December.
Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals)
Parag has been a project for RR for a long time, having gone from being an amazing boy to being the face of a new era. He was tried as captain in the absence of Sanju Samson last season, and is now taking over the captaincy full-time. Parag led RR in eight matches, scoring 393 runs, and was their second-highest run-scorer. But what followed was a fluke: a forgettable Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he failed to score more than 15 runs in any innings. After that his only special inning was 69 runs in 39 balls for India A against Namibia. At 24, Parag still plays better than most, and RR will hope he finds his touch again.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings)
Perhaps it will be third time lucky for Gaikwad. MS Dhoni handed over the command ahead of IPL 2024, when Gaikwad led CSK to fifth place. Last year, he was ruled out after five matches due to injury, and CSK finished at the bottom. Since his return, Gaikwad has performed well in ODIs: a century against South Africa, and two more centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy show his form. Even after bringing in Samson, CSK has supported keeping him as captain.
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