Check out the best team of IPL 2026

The Indian Premier League 2026 has successfully concluded. Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained their title and became two-time winners. Throughout the season, fans witnessed several extraordinary batting, bowling, fielding, and all-rounder performances. For the first time in IPL history, 6 bowlers have taken 20+ wickets, while 13 batters crossed the 500+ runs mark. In this article, we’re going to make the best team of IPL 2026. 

1. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR)

Rajasthan Royals' 15-year-old star, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, won the Orange Cap by scoring the highest number of runs—776—in the tournament at an average of 48.75 and a strike rate of 237.30. He became the youngest player to achieve this feat. During the tournament, he scored one century and four half-centuries, twice missing out on a century by a mere 3 and 4 runs, respectively. During his blistering 97-run innings off just 29 balls in the Eliminator, he also narrowly missed out on recording the fastest century. Throughout the entire tournament, he smashed a total of 72 sixes, breaking Chris Gayle's record of 59 sixes in a single season. He claimed the Orange Cap (776 runs), the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Season award, the Emerging Player of the Season award, the Super Striker of the Season award (237.3), and the Super Sixes of the Season award (72).

2. Virat Kohli (RCB)

Standing on the other side of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be Virat Kohli, who achieved the milestone of scoring over 600 runs for the fourth time in the IPL 2026. Throughout the tournament, he amassed a total of 675 runs at an average of 56.35, including one century and five half-centuries. Kohli provided the team with a strong start in almost every match, and in the final, he returned to the pavilion only after leading the team to victory and securing the trophy.

3. Ishan Kishan (SRH)

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Ishan Kishan will be at No.3. He scored 602 runs in 15 innings, including 6 half-centuries. He will also serve as vice-captain of the team. He scored these runs at an average of 40.13 and a strike rate of 182.42. He finished as the season's third-most impactful batter.

4. Rajat Patidar © (RCB)

Since Rajat Patidar took over as the captain of RCB, the team's fortunes have undergone a complete transformation. Under his leadership, RCB first clinched their maiden IPL title by winning the 2025 championship, and subsequently succeeded in retaining it in 2026. With this achievement, Patidar has now joined the elite company of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as a captain to have won two consecutive IPL titles. Patidar's performance with the bat has also been magnificent. Throughout the season, he amassed 501 runs across 14 innings at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 192.69, including five half-centuries. His best innings of the season came in Qualifier 1, when he played a blistering knock of 93 runs off just 33 balls, securing his team a spot in the final.

5. Heinrich Klaasen (wk) (SRH)

Heinrich Klaasen became the first batter in any major T20 tournament history to score over 600 runs while batting primarily at No. 4 or lower. He scored 624 runs in 15 innings, including 6 half-centuries. He played with an average of 48 and a strike rate of 160. He was the 5th leading run getter of the tournament, after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. While he was the top run getter for his team. 

6. Jason Holder (GT)

Jason Holder emerged as the best fast-bowling all-rounder of IPL 2026, claiming a total of 17 wickets while bowling with a magnificent economy rate of 7.56. Although he did not get many opportunities to spend extended time at the crease with the bat, he managed to score 65 runs across 7 innings. Holder proved to be a crucial asset for GT during the middle overs and played a pivotal role in guiding the team to the final.

7. Krunal Pandya (RCB)

Krunal Pandya’s inclusion in RCB has totally changed the fate of the reigning champions. In IPL 2026, He scored 226 runs in 9 innings, including 1 match-winning half-century against the Mumbai Indians. He also took 14 wickets throughout the season. He is ready to bat and bowl at any number. Under his bowling, the batsmen could score runs at an economy of just 8.41. His ability to take wickets in the middle overs came in handy for RCB in almost every match.

8. Jofra Archer (RR)

Jofra Archer is the 2nd highest wicket-taker of the IPL 2026, with 25 wickets, with an economy rate of 9.31. He played an important role in RR’s campaign throughout the tournament, especially in the last couple of matches. He also contributes with the bat, which helps the team to confirm their playoff spot. 

9. Rashid Khan (GT)

Might be IPL 2026 is not the best season for Rashid Khan, despite the fact that he claimed 21 wickets for GT throughout the season. His economy rate was 9.07. His best bowling spell came against the Rajasthan Royals, when he took 4/33. Even in the finals, he was the last man who was fighting for his team. In the finals, he took 2 wickets, conceding 25 runs in 4 overs. Thanks to his brilliant spell, the Gujarat Titans managed to make a short comeback in the match, but the match ended even earlier.

10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB)

Having been out of the Indian team for a considerable period—yet remaining a fan favourite and renowned as the "Swing King"—Bhuvneshwar Kumar emerged as the second-highest wicket-taker this year. He claimed 28 wickets throughout the season while conceding runs at an average economy rate of just 7.95, playing a pivotal role in RCB's title victory. His bowling once again displayed that signature sharpness for which he has always been celebrated. Thanks to his magnificent performance, calls for his return to Team India have once again begun to gain momentum.

11. Kagiso Rabada (o)

Kagiso Rabada played the most instrumental role in guiding the Gujarat Titans to the final, securing the Purple Cap award by claiming 29 wickets. Although Rabada proved ineffective in the final match, he delivered a magnificent bowling performance throughout the rest of the season. His partnership with Mohammed Siraj proved highly effective in putting the opposition under pressure right from the Powerplay overs—a strategy that subsequently allowed bowlers like Rashid Khan and Arshad Khan to capitalise during the middle overs.

Impact player — Rasikh Salam Dar

While everyone is discussing the magnificent performances of Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rajat Patidar, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, and a few other players in RCB's IPL 2026 title-winning campaign, the contribution of the young Rasikh Salam Dar has gone largely unnoticed. Playing in 12 matches throughout the season, he claimed a total of 19 wickets. Rasikh effectively sustained the pressure created by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood during the Powerplay into the middle overs, never allowing opposition batters the opportunity to play freely. His performance improved with every passing match, playing a pivotal role in RCB's title-winning campaign.