With Rishabh Pant, the highest paid player, explore the full final salary compensation for all 10 teams players for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
One of the most trending topics ahead of every Indian Premier League season is the player salaries and auction prices. Each auction consistently witnesses record-breaking bids, with franchises willing to spend heavily on proven match-winners. While IPL 2025 saw Rishabh Pant create history by becoming the highest-paid player ever with a ₹27 crore deal, the IPL 2026 Mini Auction raised the bar for overseas stars. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green emerged as the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, commanding a massive ₹25.2 crore bid, underlining the ever-growing financial stakes of the tournament.
When it comes to the highest-paid players for each IPL team in the 2026 season, several marquee names headline the list, reflecting their importance to their respective franchises. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retained Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson as their top earners at ₹18 crore each, while Delhi Capitals (DC) placed their faith in skipper Axar Patel, who earns ₹16.5 crore. Gujarat Titans (GT) continue to rely on star spinner Rashid Khan at ₹18 crore, while Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made headlines by signing Cameron Green for ₹25.2 crore, with ₹18 crore receivable as per IPL salary structure.
Among the remaining franchises, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) broke records by signing Rishabh Pant for a massive ₹27 crore, making him the highest-paid player of IPL 2026. Mumbai Indians (MI) retained pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah at ₹18 crore, while Punjab Kings (PBKS) invested heavily in Shreyas Iyer at ₹26.75 crore. Rajasthan Royals (RR) backed young superstar Yashasvi Jaiswal with ₹18 crore, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) retained icon Virat Kohli at ₹21 crore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) made Heinrich Klaasen their highest-paid player at ₹23 crore.
Each IPL franchise is allotted a salary purse of ₹125 crore, which is used to build a squad consisting of a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 25 players. Interestingly, IPL 2026 marks a historic milestone, as all 10 teams have finalised full 25-member squads for the first time in the tournament’s history. Ahead of the season, a total of 173 players were retained by franchises, ensuring squad continuity, while 77 additional players were acquired during the IPL 2026 Mini Auction to complete team combinations.
When analysing the annual salary compensation of IPL players, it becomes essential to identify which players fall into the highest salary brackets and how franchises prioritise their investments. Player salaries often reflect a team’s core strategy, leadership trust, and match-winning expectations. In this article, we begin by breaking down the top 10 highest-paid players from each franchise for IPL 2026, offering insights into where teams have allocated the bulk of their ₹125 crore purse. Following this, we take a deeper dive into the complete salary structure of every squad for the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026).
It is also important to note that apart from the annual auction salary, IPL players earn an additional match fee, which is paid over and above their pro-rated annual compensation. For IPL 2026, the match fee has been fixed at ₹7.5 lakh per match, providing players with a significant performance-based earning component. As a result, a player who features in all group-stage matches can earn up to ₹1.05 crore in match fees alone, in addition to his auction price. However, this additional compensation is only applicable to players who are part of the playing XI, making selection consistency and on-field contribution crucial not just for teams, but also from a financial perspective during IPL.
Top Salary Bracket (₹10 Cr and above)
Mid Salary Bracket (₹2 Cr – ₹10 Cr)
Base Price & Budget Players (Below ₹2 Cr)
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Base Price & Budget Players (Below ₹2 Cr)
So, that’s about the official salary list for players of all 10 teams for IPL 2026. Thanks for reading! Seeing the salary list of all players, which player is underpaid for IPL 2026? Please email your thoughts to cricgasm@gmail.com
From Cameron Green to Virat Kohli, discover the IPL 2026 complete categorized squad and players list for all 10 teams.
One of the most anticipated cricketing events of the year, the IPL 2026 Mini Auction, has successfully concluded, revealing the official squad lists and complete player rosters for all 10 teams ahead of the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). A total of 77 players were sold in the IPL 2026 Auction, completing team combinations across franchises. With this, 250 players will participate in IPL 2026, marking a historic milestone as all 10 IPL teams will feature full 25-member squads for the first time in league history.
The IPL 2026 Mini Auction witnessed history as Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, commanding a massive price tag of ₹25.25 crore. Another major overseas buy was Sri Lanka’s pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana, who was snapped up for an impressive ₹18 crore, underlining the premium placed on elite fast-bowling talent. However, the real spotlight of the auction was firmly on uncapped Indian players. CSK made headlines by securing two highly-rated uncapped prospects – Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer – investing ₹14.25 crore each, showcasing their long-term vision and focus on building future match-winners.
The IPL 2026 season is scheduled to kick off towards the end of March, meaning there is still around a couple of months to go before the tournament begins. However, with the IPL 2026 Mini Auction now concluded, the official squads for all 10 teams have already been finalised. This naturally raises the big question – how strong do the IPL 2026 squads look across all franchises? To answer that, let’s take a closer look at the category-wise squad bifurcation and complete players list for all 10 teams, following the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Mini Auction.
Batters
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad for IPL 2026 will be led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, who anchors the batting unit at the top alongside Ayush Mhatre and Sanju Samson. CSK’s middle order and finishing duties revolve around experienced campaigners like MS Dhoni and Shivam Dube, while the bowling attack is strengthened by key overseas options such as Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Nathan Ellis, etc.
Batters
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Delhi Capitals (DC) squad for IPL 2026 will be led by Axar Patel, whose all-round impact will be central to the team’s balance. DC’s core strength lies in its star-studded bowling attack featuring Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, and T Natarajan. In the batting department, experienced campaigners like KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Nitish Rana, and David Miller provide stability and finishing firepower.
Batters
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Gujarat Titans (GT) squad for IPL 2026 will once again be led by Shubman Gill, who remains the cornerstone of the Titans’ batting lineup alongside Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. GT’s match-winning strength lies in its elite bowling core featuring Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, and Kagiso Rabada. The presence of proven all-rounders like Rahul Tewatia and overseas stars such as Jos Buttler adds depth and flexibility to the GT squad for IPL 2026.
Batters
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad for IPL 2026 features a strong mix of experience and explosive match-winners, with the captaincy decision expected to play a crucial role in shaping their campaign. KKR’s core strength lies in proven all-rounders like Sunil Narine and Cameron Green, alongside rising Indian star Rinku Singh. The bowling attack looks threatening with mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, pacer Matheesha Pathirana, and Sunil Narine playing a key role.
Batters
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) squad for IPL 2026 boasts a star-studded core built around high-impact match-winners. The batting firepower is headlined by Captain Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran, while the all-round strength is significantly boosted by Mitchell Marsh and Wanindu Hasaranga. LSG’s bowling attack looks formidable with express pace options like Mayank Yadav and the experience of Mohammed Shami.
Batters
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Mumbai Indians (MI) squad for IPL 2026 is stacked with elite match-winners across departments. The batting unit is headlined by stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav, with explosive support from Captain Hardik Pandya. MI’s biggest strength remains its world-class bowling attack led by Jasprit Bumrah, Allah Ghazanfar, Mitchell Snatner, and Trent Boult, making them one of the most dangerous teams in IPL 2026.
Batters
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) squad for IPL 2026 will be led by Shreyas Iyer, who anchors the batting unit and brings leadership stability. PBKS’s bowling attack looks formidable with strike bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal playing key roles. The all-round strength is powered by proven overseas match-winners Marcus Stoinis and Marco Jansen, giving PBKS balance across departments. The team will also depend on their uncapped players like Priyansh Arya, Prabsimran Singh, Shashank Singh, and Nehal Wadhera.
Batters
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad for IPL 2026 is built around a strong core of proven Indian and overseas match-winners. The batting responsibility rests heavily on Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and explosive finisher Shimron Hetmyer, while the all-round balance is strengthened by Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. RR’s bowling attack looks threatening with pace spearheads Jofra Archer and Sandeep Sharma, supported by quality spin from Ravi Bishnoi.
Batters
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad for IPL 2026 will be led by Rajat Patidar, who plays a crucial role in anchoring the middle order. RCB’s batting firepower is headlined by global icon Virat Kohli, with explosive support from Tim David and wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt. The bowling unit is spearheaded by proven internationals Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, giving RCB a strong pace foundation for IPL 2026.
Batters
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) squad for IPL 2026 will be led by Pat Cummins, whose leadership and pace spearheading remain central to SRH’s plans. The batting unit is powered by destructive overseas stars Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen, while Indian all-rounder Abhishek Sharma adds balance at the top. With Cummins leading the attack and support from experienced pacers like Harshal Patel, SRH look well-equipped for IPL 2026.
So, that’s about the IPL 2026 all teams squad list and player names for the Indian Premier League. Thanks for reading. Please share your comments at cricgasm@gmail.com, or in the comments section below.
From MS Dhoni to Virat Kohli, find out the full exclusive IPL 2026 retained players list for each team ahead of the Mini Auction.
The IPL 2026 season is off to a rocking start with all 10 franchises officially revealing their retained and released players list ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction. This year’s pre-auction buzz has revolved around two major developments. First, for the first time in IPL history, teams executed as many as 10 player trades before the auction – the highest ever in any season, signalling a bold shift in franchise strategies. Second, teams appeared far more ruthless and forward-looking, placing performance, future value, and squad balance above emotions or loyalty.
This resulted in several unexpected releases as franchises focused on building squads that can deliver over the next few IPL cycles. The Pre-Auction drama for IPL 2026 also delivered some of the most intriguing moves in recent years, highlighted by blockbuster trades such as Sanju Samson to CSK, Ravindra Jadeja to RR, Mohammed Shami to LSG, and Shardul Thakur to MI. These trades signalled a major shift in how franchises are approaching team building for the upcoming cycles.
On the released players front, several big names were shown the exit door, including Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer from KKR, Liam Livingstone from RCB, and Glenn Maxwell from PBKS. What stood out this season was the willingness of teams to let go of long-serving, loyal players in favour of reshaping their squads for better balance, future potential, and auction flexibility. But, with so many big names getting released and retained, let’s look at the full IPL 2026 retained players list for each team ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Mini Auction.
Batters: Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis (os), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
Wks: MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Urvil Patel
All-rounders: Jamie Overton (os), Shivam Dube
Bowlers: Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis (os), Noor Ahmad (os), Ramkrishna Ghosh & Shreyas Gopal
Total Players Retained: 16 // Purse Available: 43.4 Cr
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained 16 players ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction. CSK created major headlines before the auction by pulling off a blockbuster trade for Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals while parting ways with two big names – Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. The franchise also released several notable players, including Matheesha Pathirana, Rachin Ravindra, and Devon Conway, all of whom are expected to attract strong bidding at the IPL 2026 Auction.
Despite the exits, Chennai Super Kings have retained their core strength with Ruturaj Gaikwad continuing as captain, supported by stalwarts like MS Dhoni, promising spinner Noor Ahmad, power-hitter Shivam Dube, young talent Ayush Mhatre, and South African star Dewald Brevis. CSK’s retention strategy clearly indicates a focus on rebuilding with youth while maintaining experienced match-winners for IPL 2026.
Batters: Ashutosh Sharma, Karun Nair, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi
Wicket-keepers (Wks): Abhishek Porel, KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs (os)
All-rounders: Ajay Mandal, Axar Patel (c), Madhav Tiwari, Vipraj Nigam
Bowlers: Dusmantha Chameera (os), Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc (os), Mukesh Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, T Natarajan
Total Players Retained: 17 // Purse Available: 21.8 Cr
The Delhi Capitals (DC) have retained a total of 17 players ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction. The franchise has made several strategic decisions to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. DC have retained a strong core consisting of KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abhishek Porel, Mukesh Kumar, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Ashutosh Sharma, and young talent Vipraj Nigam.
In addition to these key names, Delhi Capitals have also held on to several interesting picks such as Sameer Rizvi, Karun Nair, Dusmantha Chameera, and Tripurana Vijay, indicating a clear focus on blending experience with emerging talent. With this balanced retention strategy, DC look well-prepared to build a competitive squad at the IPL 2026 Auction.
Batters: Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Shubman Gill (c)
Wicket-keepers (Wks): Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler (os), Kumar Khushagra
All-rounders: Arshad Khan, Glenn Phillips (os), Jayant Yadav, Nishant Sindhu, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar
Bowlers: Gurnoor Brar, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada (os), Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, R Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan (os)
Total Players Retained: 20 // Purse Available: 12.9 Cr
The Gujarat Titans (GT) have retained an impressive 20 players ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction, making them one of the most stable squads going into the new season. GT have held on to the majority of their core group, led by Shubman Gill, along with key performers like Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, R Sai Kishore, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, and Mohammed Siraj.
The franchise has also shown strong faith in several impactful names such as Glenn Phillips, Ishan Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Nishant Sindhu, and Arshad Khan, reinforcing their depth across batting, bowling, and all-round options. With such a well-rounded retention list, the Gujarat Titans look well-positioned for IPL 2026, combining star power with young talent as they prepare for the upcoming auction.
Batters: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell (os)
Wicket-keepers (Wks): Angkrish Raghuvanshi
All-rounders: Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine (os)
Bowlers: Harshit Rana, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy
Total Players Retained: 12 // Purse Available: 64.3 Cr
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have retained just 12 players ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction – making it the lowest retention count among all teams this season. This clearly signals that KKR are aiming for a major squad overhaul for IPL 2026. Among the key retentions, KKR have kept faith in Captain Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Umran Malik, ensuring that their core structure remains intact.
However, the franchise also made two significant releases – the unexpected exit of Andre Russell and the more predictable departure of Venkatesh Iyer. With these changes, Kolkata Knight Riders enter the IPL 2026 Auction with a massive purse of ₹64.3 crore, giving them strong bargaining power as they look to rebuild a competitive and balanced squad for the new season.
Batters: Abdul Samad, Aiden Markram (os), Ayush Badoni, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke (os)
Wicket-keepers (Wks): Nicholas Pooran (os), Rishabh Pant (c)
All-rounders: Arshin Kulkarni, Mitchell Marsh (os), Shahbaz Ahmed
Bowlers: Akash Singh, Arjun Tendulkar, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi, Mayank Yadav, M Siddharth, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav
Total Players Retained: 19 // Purse Available: 22.95 Cr
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have retained 19 players ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction. Staying true to their identity, LSG have once again backed their strong pool of Indian bowlers, retaining as many as nine Indian bowling options. This clearly indicates that the franchise may continue with its proven strategy of fielding overseas batters and Indian bowlers heading into IPL 2026.
Among the major overseas retentions, LSG have held on to Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, and Matthew Breetzke, giving the team a solid set of experienced international batters. With a balanced mix of domestic depth and overseas firepower, Lucknow Super Giants appear well-prepared to fine-tune their squad at the upcoming auction.
Batters: Rohit Sharma, Sherfane Rutherford (os), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma
Wicket-keepers (Wks): Robin Minz, Ryan Rickelton (os)
All-rounders: Corbin Bosch (os), Hardik Pandya (c), Mitchell Santner (os), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Will Jacks (os)
Bowlers: Allah Ghazanfar (os), Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Markande, Raghu Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult (os)
Total Players Retained: 20 // Purse Available: 2.75 Cr
The Mumbai Indians (MI) have retained 20 players ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction. Alongside CSK, the Mumbai Indians were among the most active teams in the trade window, securing three impactful additions – Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, and Sherfane Rutherford. In addition to these trades, MI have retained all their major stars, including Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, and Tilak Varma, ensuring a strong and experienced core remains intact for IPL 2026.
With seven overseas players already locked in, the Mumbai Indians will only need to add one more overseas option during the auction. However, the Mumbai Indians will enter the IPL 2026 Auction with the smallest purse of just ₹2.75 crore, which means they must make highly strategic decisions in the limited slots they need to fill.
Batters: Harnoor Pannu, Mitchell Owen (os), Musheer Khan, Nehal Wadhera, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c)
Wicket-keepers (Wks): Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod
All-rounders: Azmatullah Omarzai (os), Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen (os), Marcus Stoinis (os), Suryansh Shedge
Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson (os), Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Xavier Bartlett (os)
Total Players Retained: 21 // Purse Available: 11.5 Cr
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) have retained a massive 21 players ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction – the highest retention count among all teams this season. Punjab appear fully aligned with their squad strategy for IPL 2026, keeping a strong mix of established stars and rising talents. PBKS have retained key names such as Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, and others who form the backbone of the team.
Alongside them, the franchise has also backed promising youngsters like Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, and more – signalling a long-term investment in youth. However, PBKS did release two major players: Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis. Inglis was let go primarily due to availability concerns, despite performing well enough last season to merit retention. With a stable core and fresh flexibility heading into the auction, Punjab Kings look well-prepared for IPL 2026.
Batters: Lhuan Dre-Pretorius (os), Shimron Hetmyer (os), Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal
Wicket-keepers (Wks): Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira (os)
All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Riyan Parag, Sam Curran (os)
Bowlers: Jofra Archer (os), Kwena Maphaka (os), Nandre Burger (os), Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Yudhvir Charak
Total Players Retained: 16 // Purse Available: 16.05 Cr
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have retained 16 players ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction. RR made one of the biggest trades of the season, parting ways with long-time captain Sanju Samson while bringing in two high-impact all-rounders – Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja. The franchise also traded out Nitish Rana and brought in the explosive Donovan Ferreira, further strengthening their middle-order firepower.
RR now boast a strong Indian core featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, and Tushar Deshpande, giving the squad solid depth across departments. Among overseas stars, RR have retained key match-winners such as Jofra Archer, Shimron Hetmyer, and Lhuan Dre-Pretorius, ensuring a balanced blend of pace, power, and all-round ability. With impactful trades and a stable retention group, Rajasthan Royals look well-positioned for IPL 2026, entering the mini auction with both clarity and confidence.
Batters: Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Tim David (os), Virat Kohli
Wicket-keepers (Wks): Jitesh Sharma, Phil Salt (os)
All-rounders: Jacob Bethell (os), Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd (os), Swapnil Singh
Bowlers: Abhinandan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood (os), Nuwan Thushara (os), Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal
Total Players Retained: 17 // Purse Available: 16.4 Cr
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have retained 17 players ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction, including six overseas players. RCB have backed the majority of their core group, and their retention choices appear well-aligned with their long-term strategy for IPL 2026. Among the biggest retained names are Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Devdutt Padikkal, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, giving RCB a solid foundation with both experience and youthful energy.
The franchise decided to release Liam Livingstone, primarily due to his dip in form and inconsistency last season. However, RCB still possess strong overseas depth with players like Jacob Bethell, Nuwan Thushara, and Romario Shepherd, who offer valuable backup options across batting, bowling, and all-round roles. With a balanced retention list and clear direction, RCB enter the IPL 2026 Auction well-equipped to finalise a competitive squad.
Batters: Aniket Verma, Smaran Ravichandran, Travis Head (os)
Wicket-keepers (Wks): Heinrich Klaasen (os), Ishan Kishan
All-rounders: Abhishek Sharma, Brydon Carse (os), Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis (os), Nitish Reddy
Bowlers: Ehsan Malinga (os), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Pat Cummins (os & c), Zeeshan Ansari
Total Players Retained: 15 // Purse Available: 25.5 Cr
The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have retained 15 players ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction, including six overseas players. While the retention count is on the lower side, SRH have ensured that their core squad remains intact for the upcoming season. The biggest surprise was the release of Mohammed Shami, with the franchise feeling he has not fully regained his rhythm and pace following injury.
Apart from this major exit, SRH have retained a strong group of players such as Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Ishan Kishan, Harshal Patel, Aniket Verma, and Nitish Reddy, giving them a well-balanced mix of power-hitters, all-rounders, and quality bowlers. With a stable core and room to strengthen key areas, SRH head into the IPL 2026 Auction with a clear strategy and competitive foundation.
Explore the IPL 2026 likely Indian players retention list for all 10 teams with team-wise predictions and confirmed retained names ahead of the mini auction.
The current buzz in the cricketing world revolves around two major events – the India vs Australia T20 series and the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Auction. Both hold massive importance, especially for the young Indian players who are making a mark on the international stage and will soon headline the IPL. The ongoing India vs Australia series is already showcasing several rising stars who are expected to attract big attention at the IPL Auction 2026. Naturally, fans are thrilled to see their favourite players in action, both in national colours and in franchise cricket.
The upcoming IPL 2026 Mini Auction is expected to be one of the rare occasions where Overseas players might attract more attention than Indian players. Usually, Indian players form the core of every IPL franchise, which is why teams are often reluctant to release them, especially the top performers. When finalising their IPL 2026 retentions, franchises always prioritise their Indian talent, ensuring that the quality and experienced names are retained without hesitation.
That’s why Overseas players often fetch massive bids at the IPL Auction, as the supply of top-tier international talent far exceeds the demand. With the IPL 2026 Mini Auction now just a few months away, all ten franchises must have already finalised their retention list. But the big question remains – which Indian players will each team look to retain? In this article, we analyse the current squad composition of every team and predict the best retained Indian players list for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 across all 10 franchises.
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are expected to retain a strong Indian core led by their captain and future leader, Ruturaj Gaikwad. While MS Dhoni captained the team in IPL 2025, Gaikwad is likely to take charge again for the IPL 2026 season. CSK have always focused on maintaining a balanced mix of youth and experience in their Indian contingent. Among the promising youngsters, expect the franchise to back Ayush Mhatre, Anshul Kamboj, and Urvil Patel. Meanwhile, seasoned campaigners like MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Ravindra Jadeja will continue to form the experienced backbone of the CSK retained Indian players list for IPL 2026.
Delhi Capitals – DC Retained Indian Players 2026 Best List
The Delhi Capitals (DC) are expected to retain a limited but impactful group of Indian players for IPL 2026, with around nine names likely to stay. There has been ongoing speculation about KL Rahul’s possible exit from the franchise, but those rumours are expected to settle as the IPL 2026 Auction approaches. Rahul remains one of Delhi’s most valuable assets, second only to Axar Patel in importance. Along with these senior players, DC are also likely to retain their young Indian talents, including Ashutosh Sharma, Abhishek Porel, Sameer Rizvi, and Vipraj Nigam, who bring energy and balance to the squad.
The Gujarat Titans (GT) boast one of the strongest Indian cores in the IPL 2026, with a balanced mix of talent across both batting and bowling departments. In the batting lineup, GT feature proven performers like Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, and Mahipal Lomror, who bring consistency and firepower. On the bowling front, the franchise has a formidable set of Indian bowlers, including Washington Sundar, R Sai Kishore, Prasidh Krishna, Arshad Khan, and Mohammed Siraj. With this combination of youth and experience, the Gujarat Titans’ Indian players list for IPL 2026 looks both stable and match-winning.
When we analyse the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad for IPL 2026, their Indian core appears slightly underdeveloped compared to other teams. While there are reliable performers like Varun Chakravarthy, Rinku Singh, and Ajinkya Rahane, a majority of KKR’s Indian players are still in their early stages of growth. The young talents such as Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, and Umran Malik, bring potential but lack the experience needed for consistency. Overall, KKR are expected to retain around 10 Indian players ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction, but they may consider releasing Venkatesh Iyer, who has struggled to find form and remains one of the costlier names in their lineup.
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are one of the few franchises with Indian bowlers in abundance, but that strength has also created a major imbalance in their squad. While the team boasts a solid lineup of Indian pacers, their Indian batting core looks thin. Apart from Rishabh Pant, Ayush Badoni, and Abdul Samad, LSG lack proven Indian batters, forcing the franchise to depend heavily on Overseas batsmen for stability. To improve the overall team balance ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction, LSG may consider releasing injury-prone bowlers like Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan, making room for a few new Indian batting options.
The Mumbai Indians (MI) possess one of the strongest Indian cores among all IPL franchises heading into IPL 2026. The team boasts a star-studded lineup of elite Indian players who bring both experience and firepower. In the batting department, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Naman Dhir, and Tilak Varma form a rock-solid unit capable of turning any game around. On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, and Karn Sharma headline the Indian contingent with their match-winning abilities. Additionally, young talents like Raj Bawa, Vignesh Puthur, and Robin Minz add depth and promise to the Mumbai Indians’ retained Indian players list for IPL 2026.
The IPL 2025 runner-up, Punjab Kings (PBKS), stand out as one of the few franchises built around a strong core of uncapped Indian players. Unlike other teams that rely heavily on star names, PBKS have successfully developed a pool of young, homegrown talent. The batting unit features exciting Indian players like Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Suryansh Shedge, and Shashank Singh, all of whom have shown great promise. On the bowling front, the franchise boasts impactful names such as Vyshak Vijaykumar, Harpreet Brar, and Yash Thakur. Overall, this solid Indian core gives Punjab Kings a unique identity heading into IPL 2026.
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have built a strong lineup featuring several talented Indian players who form the backbone of their squad. In the batting department, names like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Nitish Rana stand out for their consistency and impact. On the bowling side, RR rely on Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, and Akash Madhwal, who add depth and control to their pace attack. However, from a team balance perspective, the franchise continues to lack a quality Indian spinner and all-rounder – an area that posed challenges in IPL 2025 and could again be a concern in IPL 2026 if not addressed.
The IPL 2025 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), are expected to retain almost their entire Indian core for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. After finally lifting their maiden trophy, the franchise will look to stick with the same winning combination instead of experimenting with changes. With a strong and balanced group of Indian players, RCB are likely to retain key batters like Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Mayank Agarwal, Jitesh Sharma, and Rajat Patidar. In the bowling department, consistent performers such as Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Suyash Sharma will also continue to be an integral part of the RCB retained Indian players list for IPL 2026.
When it comes to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the team doesn’t boast a lineup filled with Indian superstars, but they do have a few standout names who add real value. Abhishek Sharma, currently ranked as the No. 1 T20I batter in the world, remains their biggest Indian asset. Alongside him, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, and Harshal Patel form the experienced Indian core for SRH. Complementing these proven names, the franchise also has promising young Indian talents like Aniket Verma, Harsh Dubey, Simarjeet Singh, and Zeeshan Ansari, who bring energy and depth to the SRH Indian players list for IPL 2026.
So, that’s about the best retained Indian players list for all 10 teams for IPL 2026. What’s your take on the best retained Indian players list for all 10 teams for IPL 2026? Please share your thoughts on cricgasm@gmail.com
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning, here’s the full official T20 and ODI squad and players list for the 2025 India vs Australia series.
In what can be called a surprise, a shocker, or simply a generational shift, Team India has officially moved on from Rohit Sharma’s white-ball captaincy, marking the end of a truly iconic leadership chapter. Rohit Sharma’s captaincy journey has been historic. He became only the second Indian Captain after MS Dhoni to win two ICC trophies, firmly establishing his legacy as one of India’s most successful leaders in limited-overs cricket. This transition not only closes a golden era but also sets the stage for a new leadership structure as India prepares for the T20 World Cup 2026 and ODI World Cup 2027.
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and Rohit Sharma’s departure from white-ball captaincy marks one of the most significant transitions in recent Indian cricket history. This leadership shift paves the way for a new strategic direction ahead of key milestones like IPL 2026, the T20 World Cup, and the ODI World Cup 2027. With fresh faces stepping into leadership roles, Team India is entering a dynamic new phase – one that will be closely watched by fans, selectors, and analysts alike. The expectations are high, the spotlight is intense, and the evolution of India’s cricketing identity is officially underway.
Shubman Gill, now hailed as the poster boy of Indian cricket, has officially stepped into a leadership role across all three formats. He leads the Test and ODI teams, while the T20I squad continues under Suryakumar Yadav, with Gill serving as vice-captain. This marks a once-in-a-decade transition in Indian cricket – not just a change in captaincy, but a generational shift in mindset, energy, and long-term strategy. Gill’s elevation reflects India’s vision for the future, blending youth, consistency, and leadership potential at the highest level.
Shubman Gill’s elevation to leadership is a welcome move, given his remarkable consistency and growing stature as one of the world’s premier ODI batters. His appointment reflects India’s long-term vision and trust in youth-led leadership. Gill is set to begin his captaincy journey with the high-profile Australia tour, which includes 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is. He will lead the ODI squad while continuing as vice-captain in T20Is, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav. This series marks a pivotal moment in Indian cricket, symbolising a generational shift and the beginning of a new leadership era under Shubman Gill, who also leads the Gujarat Titans team in the Indian Premier League.
The most notable update in India’s ODI squad for the Australia tour is the elevation of Shubman Gill as captain, ushering in a new era of white-ball leadership. Gill, currently ranked as the world’s No. 1 ODI batter, takes over from Rohit Sharma, who led India through a highly successful phase. Joining Gill in the leadership group is Shreyas Iyer, named vice-captain, following a string of consistent performances in the ODI format. Together, this dynamic duo represents a strategic shift in India’s approach as they gear up for a high-stakes series Down Under. This transition reflects India’s long-term vision, blending youth, form, and leadership potential ahead of marquee events like IPL 2026, the T20 World Cup, and the ODI World Cup 2027.
Team India will be without two of its key white-ball players – Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant—for the upcoming Australia series, as both continue their recovery from long-term injuries. Their absence has opened the door for emerging talent, with Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy named as potential replacements. Beyond injury concerns, the squad also features two strategic workload rotations. Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy have been rested, making way for Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, both known for their pace, bounce, and attacking intent. These changes reflect India’s evolving squad strategy – balancing fitness management with the integration of next-gen talent ahead of marquee events like IPL 2026 and the T20 World Cup.
Batters
WKs
All-rounders
Bowlers
India’s T20I squad for the Australia tour remains largely consistent with the 2025 Asia Cup lineup, showcasing continuity and confidence in the current core group. However, two subtle yet strategic changes have been introduced. With Hardik Pandya sidelined due to injury, Nitish Kumar Reddy has been drafted in as a like-for-like seam-bowling all-rounder. In addition, Washington Sundar joins the squad as the 16th member – a move that appears focused on grooming him for future roles, given his all-round capabilities and tactical flexibility. These updates reflect India’s forward-looking approach, blending stability with developmental intent ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Batters
WKs
All-rounders
Bowlers
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RCB retained players IPL 2026 – Full list of predicted Royal Challengers Bengaluru retentions with key all-rounders, top stars, and team strategy ahead of the mega auction
It’s been only a few months since Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) created history by winning their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2025, but the achievement still feels surreal. After 17 long seasons of heartbreaks and near misses, the RCB team finally lifted the IPL trophy, bringing immense joy to their loyal fanbase. For the fans, this victory was more than just a title—it was an emotion. After years of chanting “Ee Sala Cup Namde” with hope, they can finally say “Ee Sala Cup Namdu” with pride, as RCB’s long wait for glory has finally ended.
With Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally experiencing success by winning their maiden IPL title in 2025, the franchise can’t afford to relax. As the saying goes, “with great power comes great responsibility,” and RCB’s next big responsibility is to plan their retentions for IPL 2026. Since they are the reigning champions, RCB’s retained and released players list for IPL 2026 will be different compared to the other nine teams.
Having built a title-winning squad, their retention strategy will focus more on continuity, and long-term balance rather than wholesale changes. It will be fascinating to see which players RCB decides to trust again and who they let go ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction. The team will mostly be conservative when it comes to releasing players ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. Having finally won the title, RCB would prefer to retain as many players as possible to keep their winning momentum intact.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), fresh off their historic IPL 2025 title win, are expected to back the same group of players who helped them lift the coveted trophy. The franchise has built a strong core, and the RCB retained players list for IPL 2026 will largely feature those match-winners. Among the confirmed names, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Tim David, and Devdutt Padikkal are the key batters who will continue to anchor the lineup.
For the wicket-keeper slots, Phil Salt and Jitesh Sharma are likely to be retained. In the all-rounders’ department, Krunal Pandya and Romario Shepherd provide balance with both bat and ball. The bowling unit also looks solid with Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, and Suyash Sharma set to remain with the squad. This combination of experienced campaigners and young talent ensures that RCB enters IPL 2026 with a well-rounded retained core.
Apart from the confirmed 12 core names, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are also expected to retain Jacob Bethell, Lungi Ngidi, and Nuwan Thushara as part of their overseas group. These three players contributed significantly to RCB’s IPL 2025 title triumph, making the most of every opportunity they got. Even if used as backups in IPL 2026, Bethell, Ngidi, and Thushara bring depth and reliability, ensuring the team has quality overseas options across departments.
Batters
WKs
All-rounders
Bowlers
Coming to the target players for the IPL 2026 Mini Auction, the IPL 2025 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), are expected to retain most of their core. This means RCB won’t make too many signings but will still look at a few impactful additions. With Liam Livingstone and a few other players likely to be released, RCB could enter the Auction with an estimated 15-20 Cr purse. With this budget, RCB may target big names like Venkatesh Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Shami, Cameron Green, and Mayank Yadav. Each of these players can add significant balance and firepower, making RCB an even stronger unit for IPL 2026.
When it comes to RCB released players for IPL 2026, there are a few names likely to be shown the exit door ahead of the Mini Auction. The biggest name on the radar is Liam Livingstone. Similar to Glenn Maxwell in recent years, Livingstone seems least interested in the IPL, and given his high price tag, it makes sense for RCB to release him and look for better options. Apart from Livingstone, the franchise is also expected to release Abhinandan Singh and Mohit Rathee, making space for fresh and impactful players at the IPL 2026 Auction.
So, that’s about the best retained players list for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2026. Overall, the franchise is expected to retain 20 players, which leaves space for one more Overseas signing and 4–5 Indian additions at the IPL 2026 Auction. With Liam Livingstone likely to be released, RCB will have around 8–9 Cr in their purse to target fresh players. If the purse strength increases, expect RCB to go after a couple of more solid match-winners to further strengthen their squad for the new season.
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BCCI has officially released the India vs England 2026 white-ball tour schedule. Check out full details of the 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs, including dates, venues & match timings.
As Team India continues its battle in the ongoing India vs England Test series, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the India Tour of England 2026 schedule. Set to take place in July 2026, the tour will feature a 3-match ODI series and a 5-match T20I series. The white-ball tour begins on July 1, 2026, and concludes on July 19, 2026, spanning a total of 19 action-packed days. This high-stakes series marks a crucial phase in India’s preparation for upcoming ICC tournaments.
The much-anticipated India Tour of England 2026 will kick off on July 1, 2026, with a five-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series. This tour marks one of the final white-ball face-offs before the ICC events in 2027 and promises high-octane cricket action between two of the world’s best teams. The T20I leg will test India’s adaptability in English conditions, with matches scheduled across traditional fast-paced grounds. Each game starts in the evening local time to suit Indian prime-time viewership.
The India Tour of England 2026 is set to kick off with an exciting 5-match T20 International (T20I) series starting July 1. Cricket fans can expect high-octane action as Team India faces England in iconic English venues. The 1st T20I will be played on July 1 at 11:00 PM IST in Durham. The 2nd T20I is scheduled for July 4 at 7:00 PM IST in Manchester, followed by the 3rd T20I on July 7 at 11:00 PM IST in Nottingham. The 4th match will take place on July 9 at 11:00 PM IST in Bristol, and the series concludes with the 5th T20I on July 11 at 11:00 PM IST in Southampton. With top cricketing venues and prime-time match timings, this T20I series promises to deliver some thrilling India vs England cricket encounters in 2026.
After the T20I thrillers, Team India will gear up for an exciting 3-match ODI series against England, starting July 14. The 1st ODI takes place at Edgbaston, Birmingham, with the match beginning at 5:30 PM IST. On July 16, the action shifts to Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, for the 2nd ODI at the same time. The tour wraps up with the 3rd and final ODI at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, on July 19 at 3:30 PM IST. With top venues and fierce competition on the cards, the India vs England 2026 ODI series promises to captivate cricket fans across the globe.
Cricket fans in India can watch the series live on Star Sports, while Disney+ Hotstar will stream all matches online. Fans in the UK can watch the matches on Sky Sports Cricket. The India Tour of England 2026 promises to deliver high-octane cricket across top-tier venues like Lord’s, Edgbaston, and Old Trafford. The tightly packed schedule includes five T20Is and three ODIs from July 1 to July 19. Fans can expect exciting clashes between two of the world’s strongest cricket teams.
The Indian Cricket Team will face England in both white-ball formats during this high-stakes 2026 tour. This series will test India’s depth, adaptability, and serve as key preparation for upcoming ICC events. Stay tuned for match results, player performances, and exclusive coverage as the countdown to India vs England 2026 begins. The tour also gives fans a great opportunity to see their favourite legends, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, in action.
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Virat Kohli, the MVP, as we revisit the performance of the IPL 2025 champion, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team players list.
It’s been only a few weeks since the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team was crowned as the champions of IPL 2025 for the first time in the Indian Premier League. This was a proud moment, not just for the team members, but also for the fans who had been passionately supporting the franchise for 18 years nonstop. It was a dream made possible by a group of 14-15 core lads, led by their proud Captain Rajat Patidar.
It is not that RCB never had the opportunity at the title before. They came close in 2009, 2011, and 2016, but couldn’t cross the ladder with either bowling or batting, letting them down. But 2025 has seen a complete team effort from almost everyone, as in 16 matches that the team played, there were 8-10 Individual match winners. This is a big thing for a franchise that has traditionally relied on a handful of match winners, and especially batters.
From the likes of star players like Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Ross Taylor, Kevin Pieterson, Mitchell Starc, Chris Gayle, Ab de Villiers, KL Rahul, etc., RCB are currently building a solid core with the likes of Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, etc., the RCB team has come a long way. So, in this article, we break down the IPL 2025 performance of the champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru team players.
Batters
If we talk about the batters of the RCB team, and how they performed, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Tim David, and Mayank Agarwal played an active role in RCB’s triumph. Virat Kohli leads the batting with 657 runs to his name from 15 matches at a solid average of 55. Kohli played the role of an aggressor and anchor throughout the tournament. From top-order, Devdutt Padikkal played a good part before getting injured as he scored 247 runs from 10 innings. Mayank filled the void after Padikkal left with 95 runs from 4 innings.
In the middle and lower-order, Rajat Patidar had a decent IPL 2025 with 312 runs to his name from 14 innings at a strike rate of 144. Tim David, as a finisher, did his part on most occasions, and he was able to score 187 runs at a solid strike rate of 185. Overall, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team saw good contributions from their batters with Virat Kohli once again at the centre stage.
Among wicket-keepers, Phil Salt and Jitesh Sharma played a key role for the team. Salt and Jitesh were both aggressive batters, and they scored 403 runs and 261 runs respectively. Both had a solid strike rate of 176, which showed they played with intent and aggression throughout the tournament. With both playing in different conditions, it certainly helped the team a lot.
All-rounders
Coming to all-rounders, Krunal Pandya and Romario Shepherd played an active role in RCB’s triumph. With both playing most of the matches, they were supported by Jacob Bethell and Liam Livingstone, partially. In terms of performance, Krunal Pandya scored 109 runs, and took 17 wickets, thus playing the role of a bowling all-rounder perfectly. Shephard played a few good cameos, and he scored 70 runs at a strike rate of 291, and took 6 wickets. Meanwhile, Liam was a failure this season with just 112 runs from 8 innings. Bethell played only 2 matches, but scored a fifty in that.
Coming to the bowlers, RCB saw a consistent bowling lineup with hardly any chop and changes in that. Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yash Dayal led the pace department, and Suyash Sharma led the spin department. In Josh’s absence, Lungi Ngidi and Nuwan Thushara also played some part. In terms of performance, Josh led the bowling with 22 wickets to his name from 12 innings at a good strike rate of 12. Bhuvi was equally good with 17 wickets to his name. Yash Dayal and Suyash Sharma had a decent outing, but were never dropped. Both managed to take 13 and 8 wickets respectively. Lungi Ngidi played two matches, and took 4 wickets. Whereas Nuwan played 1 match, and he took 1 wicket.
So, that’s about the performance of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) players for IPL 2025. Overall, this has been a complete team effort, and all players played their part. The team will now have to build on this, and focus on a few gaps that still exist. It will be interesting to see how RCB go about the player retentions in IPL 2026.
Shreyas Iyer to lead a dynamic side in our best Indian players 11 of the competition for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
When we talk about the Indian Premier League, we are talking about a tournament that nurtures the Indian players. A minimum of 8 out of 12 players in every match are Indians, and that shows how important the Indian players are in this league, unlike any other T20 league in the world. Since the focus is on Indians majorly, we also see many solid out-of-the-box performances from the Indian players, even from the most experienced ones.
If we talk about the overall performance among Indian players, the Orange and Purple Cap belonged to the Indian players, which shows their dominance. While Sai Sudharsan won the Orange Cap with 759 runs to his name, his GT teammate, Prasidh Krishna won the Purple Cap with 25 wickets to his name. Aside from these two, there were many uncapped players who impressed with their performances like Priyansh Arya, Prabsimran Singh, Digvesh Rathi, etc.
But how about we take a look at the 11 best-performing players for this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League? Well, as usual, let’s try to find a solid top-order, a couple of superb middle-order players, dynamic finishers, and at least 5 bowling options to go with. Keeping performance as the only bias, let’s look at the best-performing Indian players 11 of the completion for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Starting with the best top-order among Indian players for IPL 2025, there were as many as 6-7 quality batters that did well. Of course, most of them are openers, but there aren’t many good batters who did well at the number 3 position. Among the Indian batters who did exceptionally well in the top-order are Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Priyansh Arya, Prabsimran Singh, and KL Rahul.
Choosing 3 from this list is a daunting task, but with Sai Sudharsan as one of the openers without a second thought, as he is also the Orange Cap winner, we will have to choose a wicket-keeper as an opener since we don’t have another good Indian wicket-keeper in the middle or lower-order. So, Prabsirman Singh, who scored over 500 runs in this competition seems a good option as the second opener.
For one down, we don’t have a good option, who did well in this position, so we will have to select one from Priyansh Arya, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, or Yashasvi Jaiswal. Of the five batters, Virat Kohli, who also scored over 650 runs in this series has the ideal approach as a number 3 batter. So, it’s unfortunate to be able to leave out Gill and Jaiswal, but these two will form a solid opening pair in an alternate-best playing 11.
Coming to the middle-order, look no other than Suryakumar Yadav and Shreya Iyer. Both Shreyas and Suryakumar Yadav gave their career-best performance in the Indian Premier League. While SKY scored over 700 runs batting at 4 for most part of the competition, Shreyas was more aggressive in his approach, but still managed to score over 600 runs batting in the middle-order.
Coming to finishers, there have been a few solid performances from the Indian players, but there haven’t been outstanding ones. Among the Indian players that impressed the most as finishers, we have Shashank Singh and Nehal Wadhera from PBKS, Ayush Badoni from LSG, Naman Dhir from MI, and Jitesh Sharma from RCB. But the one that stands out with more consistency in the approach is Shashank Singh. Shashank scored over 350 runs in the tournament at a strike rate of 150, and batting at 6 or 7.
With a solid batting lineup, the Indian bowlers are also not far behind, and certainly, there have been some solid performances from them as well. Among the ones that impressed the most are the Purple Cap winner Prasidh Krishna and India’s best pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Both have been phenomenal in their role with Prasidh impressing the most in the middle and death overs. These two pacers alongside Hardik set up for an ideal pace attack.
Among spinners, there haven’t been standout performances, but certainly good enough to be included in the best playing 11 are R Sai Kishore from GT and Varun Chakravarthy from KKR. There’s Digvesh Rathi too who was superb as a spinner, but Varun and Sai Kishore have a slight edge above him with both taking 19 and 17 wickets respectively. Both also complement each other pretty well with different skills up for grabs.
Impact Player: Naman Dhir / Digvesh Rahi
So, that’s about the best Indian players 11 in the competition for IPL 2025. It has been a unique year for Indian players this year as most of the performing players are not a part of the T20I setup. Among the ones who aren’t representing the Indian T20I team are Sai Sudharsan, Prabsimran Singh, Virat Kohli, Shashank Singh, Shreyas Iyer, R Sai Kishore, and Prasidh Krishna.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru in search of maiden title in our RCB vs PBKS Final best dream 11 prediction for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
73 matches of non-stop fun and action brings us to the ultimate glory point of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League, the IPL 2025 Grand Finale. And what better moment than seeing two teams in the final, who are yet to win an IPL Trophy? Yes, so the inevitable will happen for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings as one will be crowned as the champions for the first time in 18 years on Tuesday, June 3.
It has been a phenomenal display of cricket from both teams, especially from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team. The team not only dominated the group stage by being in the top 2, but completely rattled their Final opposition, Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 by registering a big win. The team’s confidence is sky-high, and almost all their players seem to be in form. This will be the biggest confidence booster for RCB as they enter the final.
Punjab Kings, on the other hand, after a shaky Qualifier 1 against the same opposition, Royal Challengers Bengaluru showed the world that this inexperienced batting lineup isn’t a one-trick pony. The team displayed supreme maturity in the chase against Mumbai Indians as even the most lethal weapon, Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t spared. The team’s next challenge will once again be to show the exit doors to the team that defeated them in Qualifier 1.
Tournament: Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025
Match Details: RCB vs PBKS Grand Final
Where: Ahmedabad
When: June 3, 2025, 7:30 pm IST
The Ahmedabad pitch produced a sporty pitch in the qualifier 2 with both teams scoring in excess of 200 runs. But the pressure of the Final is a different thing, and that can turn a high-scoring contest into a 150-160 kind of match. Both teams have a power-packed batting lineup, but to complement that, they also have a strong bowling lineup. So, don’t expect this to be a 200+ wicket, but can definitely expect a more composed batting display from both teams.
Batters
Wicket-keepers
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru team was without the services of their key finisher, Tim David in the last Qualfiier1 match against the Punjab Kings. Tim had sustained a hamstring in the Group Stage match, and since then hasn’t featured in the tournament. However, with sufficient time already passed, we can expect Tim to be playing the final. If Tim plays, Liam Livingstone should make way for him. Other than this, we can expect RCB to continue with the same playing 11.
Keeping aside the playing 11, the RCB team for one last time need inspiration from their most-experienced batter, Virat Kohli. It’s been 18 years, and Virat Kohli is still waiting to win an IPL trophy. While Virat Kohli failed in Qualifier 1, expect a better show from him in Qualifier 2, and finally complete his long-awaited desire to win the IPL trophy. The RCB team will be hoping the same from Kohli, who has always been a big-match player.
Best Impact Player: Suyash Sharma
Batters
Wicket-keepers
All-rounders
Bowlers
The Punjab Kings after a long time got a playing 11 that actually looked strong. With Yuzvendra Chahal returning and Kyle Jamieson also giving good returns with the ball, expect PBKS to continue with the same playing 11 that played against Mumbai Indians. More so, the team will need good performance from the likes of Prabsimran Singh and Shashank Singh to be able to have a good show with the bat.
Best Impact Player: Vyshak Vijaykumar
Top Dream 11 Prediction for RCB vs PBKS Grand Final of IPL 2025
Batters: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Agarwal, Priyansh Arya & Rajat Patidar
Wks: Phil Salt, Prabsimran Singh & Josh Inglis
All-rounders: Romario Shephard
Bowlers: Josh Hazlewood & Arshdeep Singh
CVC Choice: Virat Kohli & Shreyas Iyer
So, that’s about the best playing 11 for the RCB vs PBKS Grand Final Dream 11 prediction of IPL 2025. Overall, both teams are evenly matched, and it will all boil down to how these two teams manage to cope under pressure. Experience will matter just like it did in other Playoffs matches. Hence, the responsibility will be higher on the likes of Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, and Marcus Stoinis.