IPL predictions: KKR in survival mode, Mumbai Indians still struggling

The Indian Premier League continues with an intriguing set of fixtures.

Find out more via these IPL predictions.

We’re in for some cracking  clashes.

Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals

Key talking points

KKR

KKR enters this contest in survival mode, having just suffered a 5-wicket defeat to the Gujarat Titans on Friday. Despite record investments, their batting unit, particularly Finn Allen and Cameron Green, has failed to fire.

KKR have failed to secure a single victory in their first six matches for the first time in their 19-year history. They must win all eight remaining games to have a mathematical chance at the playoffs. It really is make or break time for them.

RR

The Rajasthan Royals sit comfortably in third place on the table with four wins from five matches.

Their batting is spearheaded by the prolific Yashasvi Jaiswal and 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who has taken the league by storm with a strike rate exceeding 240.

Their bowling remains elite; Ravi Bishnoi and Jofra Archer have consistently stifled opposition in the middle and death overs respectively.

Remarkably, RR remains the only team this season to have successfully defended a sub-160 total twice, showcasing their defensive bowling depth.

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Chasing is the clear preference at Eden Gardens. Historically, the ground has a strong bias toward teams batting second.

Out of 103 IPL matches played here, the chasing side has won 58 times (56 percent), compared to 43 wins for the team batting first.

The average first-innings score at Eden Gardens stands at approximately 167 runs. However, recent seasons have seen a massive surge, with the team batting first often needing at least 185-plus to be competitive.

Former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir remains the all-time leading run-scorer at this venue with 1,407 runs.

Sunil Narine is the undisputed master of this turf, having taken 73 IPL wickets here—the most by any bowler at a single venue in the league’s history.

In April 2024, Eden Gardens witnessed the highest successful run chase in T20 history when the Punjab Kings chased down a target of 262/2 against KKR.

Conversely, the ground also holds the record for one of the lowest team totals in IPL history. In 2017, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru were famously bundled out for just 49 runs by KKR.

The stadium is known for its high boundary count. In 2026, it has consistently recorded an average of roughly 17 sixes per match, making it one of the most explosive venues for power hitters this season.

Weather

Expect intense heat in Kolkata this Sunday afternoon, with temperatures reaching a maximum of 37 degrees accompanied by high humidity.

Skies will be mainly clear with no chance of rain, though some thundery development is possible in the wider region later in the day. A light southerly breeze will offer minimal relief from the oppressive conditions in India.

Form

• KKR: L, L, L, NR, L.
• RR: L, W, W, W, W.

Predicted line-ups

KKR

Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Umran Malik, Blessing Muzarabani.

RR

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Donovan Ferreira, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger.

Key players

Rinku Singh

Rinku remains the heartbeat of KKR’s middle order, especially with the side desperate for their first win of 2026.

While his current season strike rate of 120.00 is below his peak, he thrives under pressure at this venue, famously striking five consecutive sixes here in 2023.

As the team’s newly appointed vice-captain, his ability to salvage a collapse or provide explosive cameos in the final overs is vital to reviving KKR’s flailing campaign.

Donavan Ferreira

The South African “finisher” has emerged as a game-changer for the Royals since his return to the franchise. He is in scintillating form, coming off a maiden IPL fifty, a brilliant 69 off 44 balls, against Sunrisers Hyderabad just days ago.

Ferreira’s rare versatility as a power-hitter, handy off-spinner, and occasional wicketkeeper provides RR with elite tactical flexibility. His strike rate of 148.94 this season makes him a terrifying prospect at the death.

Prediction: Rajasthan Royals

While KKR has the home advantage at Eden Gardens, their winless streak and disjointed powerplay bowling are massive liabilities.

The Royals boast superior momentum and a more balanced XI, particularly with the explosive form of Yashasvi Jaiswal and the clinical finishing of Donovan Ferreira.

Expect the Royals’ bowling depth to stifle KKR’s struggling middle order under pressure. While RR are a happy and settled unit, KKR still don’t appear to know what their best XI is.

Also read: Biggest IPL blowouts ever – the most dominant wins in history

Punjab Kings v Lucknow Super Giants

Key talking points

PBKS

The Kings enter this fixture in imperious form, sitting at the top of the table after a dominant win over Mumbai Indians.

Captain Shreyas Iyer is the standout performer, boasting 137 runs at a strike rate of 187.67, while Yuzvendra Chahal remains a middle-overs menace.

PBKS have cruised through the 2026 IPL largely untroubled, chasing down scores of 195 and 219 in their last two outings with relative ease.

LSG

LSG are struggling for form and confidence, having lost three of their first five matches.

While Mitchell Marsh has provided some resistance at the top, the form of Nicholas Pooran, who is averaging just 8.4 this season, is a major concern.

Interestingly, despite their recent slumps, LSG still holds the record for the highest-ever total in this fixture (257/5), a fact they will hope inspires a turnaround on Sunday night.

Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh

Winning the toss is statistically huge at this venue. In its short IPL history, roughly 69% of matches have been won by the captain who won the toss.

In terms of setting or chasing a score the ground is incredibly balanced. Out of 13 matches, the side batting second has a slight edge with 7 wins to 6.

The average first innings score at the ground is approximately 172 runs.

The venue record for a team total is 228/5, set by the Mumbai Indians against the Gujarat Titans in May 2025.

Local star Shashank Singh leads the charts with 222 runs at this stadium. He is closely followed by fellow PBKS batter Prabhsimran Singh with 211 runs.

The Kings’ pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh thrives on the New Chandigarh bounce, holding the venue record for the most scalps with 12 wickets.

Priyansh Arya holds the record for the highest individual score here, smashing 103 off 42 balls against CSK in April 2025.

Weather

Conditions in New Chandigarh will be warm and overcast on Sunday evening, with temperatures lingering around 28 degrees following a daytime high of 38.

Humidity is low at around 15 percent, making the air feel relatively dry despite the cloud cover. There is a small chance of isolated thunderstorms developing late in the evening, accompanied by light winds.

Form

• PBKS: W, W, NR, W, W.
• LSG: L, L, W, W, L.

Predicted line-ups

PBKS

Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

LSG

Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Mukul Choudhary, Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami.

Key players

Shreyas Iyer

As the captain and batting anchor of PBKS, Iyer has been the driving force behind Punjab’s rise to the top of the table. His ability to manipulate the field and dominate spin during the middle overs is crucial at the New Chandigarh stadium.

Currently boasting a strike rate of over 180, he provides the tactical stability that allows Punjab’s aggressive hitters to flourish. If Iyer settles in, he typically guides PBKS to match-winning totals.

Rishabh Pant

Pant remains the “X-factor” for his struggling Lucknow side. Following a minor injury scare, his return to full fitness is a massive boost for LSG’s middle order.

Known for his unorthodox stroke play and ability to dismantle world-class bowling, Pant is the primary candidate to counter Punjab’s spin threat of Yuzvendra Chahal.

His aggressive intent is vital for LSG if they are to overhaul a high target on this batting-friendly surface.

Prediction: Punjab Kings

PBKS are currently the most balanced side in the competition, enjoying a prolific run of form that has taken them to the top of the table.

With Shreyas Iyer anchoring a fearless batting line-up and Arshdeep Singh the master of local conditions, they should prove too clinical for a struggling Lucknow side who have too many stars lacking form.

Gujarat Titans v Mumbai Indians

Key talking points

GT

The Titans enter this fixture with a mixed record of three wins and two losses from five games, placing them mid-table.

Captain Shubman Gill remains their cornerstone, recently bolstered by the arrival of South African sensation Connor Esterhuizen to replace the departed Tom Banton.

Form-wise, the top order has been dominant, with Gill and Sai Sudharsan frequently providing platforms. The Titans rely notably on their top three, who historically score over 75% of the team’s runs.

MI

Mumbai Indians are currently struggling near the bottom of the standings with one win and four losses. A significant blow to their campaign is the hamstring injury to Rohit Sharma, who is expected to miss this clash.

Despite the losses, MI’s batting remains explosive; Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock have both notched high individual scores this season.

Interestingly, MI’s spinners, led by Mitchell Santner, took the most wickets in the middle overs last season, a trend they are desperate to replicate to arrest their current slide.

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

The venue is remarkably balanced between setting and chasing, with a 51 percent win rate for teams batting first (23 wins) and 49% for chasing sides (22 wins) across a total of 45 IPL matches.

While the historical average first-innings score is around 178 runs, the 2025 season saw this rise to an average of 219 runs, marking it out as a very high-scoring venue.

The Undisputed King of Ahmedabad is Shubman Gill who dominates the venue with 1,109 runs in 23 innings, including three centuries.

GT’s Mohit Sharma leads the list of the top IPL wicket takers at the ground with 29 scalps, including a venue-best 5/10 against MI in 2023.

The highest team total at this stadium is 243/5, set by the Punjab Kings against the Gujarat Titans in March 2025.

Conversely, the ground saw a record-low score for a home team, with GT dismissed for just 89 runs by the Delhi Capitals in April 2024.

Despite the balanced historical win record, the heavy evening dew often leads captains to prefer bowling first in night games to aid the chase.

Weather

Monday evening in Ahmedabad will be notably hot and mainly clear. After a searing daytime maximum of 39 degrees, the temperature will slowly settle toward 30 by the evening.

No rain is expected, and the relative humidity will be low at approximately 30 percent. Light winds will persist, providing little cooling effect after the sun sets over the parched landscape.

Form

• GT: W, W, W, L, L.
• MI: L, L, L, L, W.

Predicted line-ups

GT

Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Connor Esterhuizen, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

MI

Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Mayank Markande.

Key players

Glenn Phillips

Phillips has become the Titans’ versatile “X-factor” in the middle order. Known for his freakish athletic ability and 360-degree stroke play, he is essential for maintaining momentum during the middle overs against Mumbai’s spin.

His ability to double as a reliable wicketkeeper and a handy off spinner gives GT immense tactical flexibility.

He hasn’t scored many runs this season, but he looked good in taking the Titans to the brink of victory last time out as he was dismissed with the win in sight.

Quinton de Kock

With Rohit Sharma sidelined, the pressure is squarely on the veteran South African to anchor the innings.

De Kock made his first appearance of IPL 2026 in the previous game, and even though MI ultimately lost, it was not for lack of runs from QDK.

The veteran South African, who opened with compatriot Ryan Rickelton made an undefeated 112 from 60 balls. De Kock averages 31.67 in IPL with three centuries to his credit.

Prediction: Gujarat Titans

Playing at home in Ahmedabad gives them a significant edge, especially with Shubman Gill’s incredible scoring record at this venue.

While Mumbai possesses explosive individual talent, the absence of Rohit Sharma leaves a void in their leadership and top-order stability.

GT’s superior bowling balance, led by Rashid Khan, should successfully exploit MI’s current middle-order inconsistency. A big concern for MI is their key strike bowler Jasprit Bumrah who has yet to take a single wicket this season.

Read next: The 7 exciting teenage prodigies set to light up IPL 2026

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Revealed: The greatest IPL one-season wonders of all time

The Indian Premier League is a stage where careers are born, but for some, the spotlight shines blindingly bright for just a single season before fading into the shadows of cricketing trivia.

These ‘one-season wonders’ captured the imagination of millions, often playing pivotal roles in their team’s success or rewriting record books, only to never replicate those heights again.

Following the start of the 19^th season of the IPL, as RCB start their quest to defend their title, it is the perfect time to look back some of those individual campaigns that felt like destiny but ended up as isolated anomalies.

1. Paul Valthaty (Kings XI Punjab, 2011)

Valthaty’s 2011 season is the gold standard for IPL one-hit wonders. An unheralded name at the time, he stunned the world with a blistering 120* off 63 balls against a powerhouse Chennai Super Kings side.

He finished the season with 463 runs and even chipped in with a 4-wicket haul, briefly becoming the league’s most talked-about player.

Injuries and a sharp dip in form saw him manage just 36 runs over the next two seasons before he disappeared from the IPL landscape entirely.

2. Swapnil Asnodkar (Rajasthan Royals, 2008)

In the inaugural 2008 season, the diminutive Asnodkar was the fearless engine of the champion Rajasthan Royals. Under Shane Warne’s mentorship, he formed a lethal opening partnership with Graeme Smith, amassing 311 runs in 9 matches at a strike rate of 133.

His fearless cutting and pulling against world-class pacers were vital to the Royals’ title win. However, in the three seasons that followed, he could never reclaim that spark, eventually fading into domestic obscurity.

Also read: Biggest IPL blowouts ever – the most dominant wins in history

3. James Faulkner (Rajasthan Royals, 2013)

Australia star Faulkner’s 2013 campaign was statistically absurd. He became the first bowler in IPL history to take two five-wicket hauls in a single season, finishing with 28 wickets, the third-most in any individual IPL season at the time.

His back-of-the-hand slower balls were unpickable. While he remained a useful all-rounder for a few years, he never again came close to that level of wicket-taking dominance, with his economy rate ballooning in later years.

4. Manvinder Bisla (Kolkata Knight Riders, 2012)

Bisla’s wonder status is defined by one of the most high-stakes innings in history. In the 2012 final, he was a late inclusion for an injured Brendon McCullum and proceeded to smash 89 off 48 balls to chase down CSK’s massive total.

It was a performance that brought KKR their first title. While he played a few more seasons, including a decent 2013, he never managed to sustain the momentum of a frontline match-winner and was eventually released and went unsold by 2016.

5. Manpreet Gony (Chennai Super Kings, 2008)

Gony was the breakout pace star of the first-ever IPL. His ability to hit the deck hard and extract bounce earned him 17 wickets in 16 games, helping CSK reach the final. His performances were so impressive that he was immediately fast-tracked into the Indian national team.

Unfortunately, he struggled to adapt as batters figured out his length, and his subsequent seasons were marred by inconsistency and high economy rates.

6. Siddharth Kaul (Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2018)

Kaul was the linchpin of an SRH bowling attack that defended paltry totals throughout 2018. He finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker for his team with 21 wickets, utilizing a lethal knuckleball to great effect.

This earned him an India call-up, but his effectiveness waned almost immediately. By 2024, he was released by RCB and went unsold in the auction, unable to replicate the “death-overs” magic of his peak year.

7. Saurabh Tiwary (Mumbai Indians, 2010)

Tiwary was famously dubbed the “next MS Dhoni” due to his long hair and Jharkhand roots. In 2010, he lived up to the hype, scoring 419 runs and winning the “Under-23 Player of the Tournament” award.

His power-hitting was a key reason Mumbai reached their first final. However, after a big money move to RCB the following year, his scoring dried up.

Though he remained in the league for a decade as a squad player, he never again crossed the 400-run mark or influenced a season the way he did in 2010.

Read next: The 7 exciting teenage prodigies set to light up IPL 2026

The post Revealed: The greatest IPL one-season wonders of all time appeared first on Cricket365.

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IPL predictions: GT to outdo KKR? RCB to beat DC? CSK too strong for SRH

Prepare for more big games in the Indian Premier League this week.

These IPL predictions will give you good insight.

Read on for more.

Gujarat Titans v Kolkata Knight Riders

Key talking points

GT

The Titans enter this contest with a balanced 2-2 record, recently finding momentum through consecutive victories.

Skipper Shubman Gill (165 runs) and Jos Buttler (176 runs) are in sparkling form at the top, providing the platform for a middle order bolstered by new acquisition Tom Banton.

Defensively, Prasidh Krishna has been lethal, leading the attack with 10 wickets in just four games.

Statistically, GT remains dominant at home, though they must guard against the middle-order “underperformance” that cost them games earlier this season.

KKR

KKR find themselves in a precarious position, sitting bottom of the table with zero wins and four losses.

Despite record-breaking investments in Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana, the team has struggled to close out games, most recently falling by 32 runs to CSK.

Form-wise, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has shown promise, but overseas stars Green and Finn Allen have yet to fire.

A glaring anomaly is KKR’s reliance on all-rounders for new-ball duties, highlighting a lack of a specialist pace unit which has left them looking vulnerable in the powerplay.

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest cricket stadium, is the fortress of the Gujarat Titans.

Known for its varied pitches (both red and black soil), the ground offers a sporting balance where high totals are common, but disciplined bowling, especially in the powerplay, can be highly effective.

Captains almost universally prefer to bowl first in night games due to a significant dew factor that makes the ball difficult to grip in the second innings.

However, the overall win-loss record remains balanced, with teams batting first winning 23 matches and chasing teams winning 22.

The historical average for first innings scores is approximately 177 runs. Recent seasons have seen much higher scoring; in 2025, the average first-innings score surged to 219 runs during certain phases of the tournament.

Shubman Gill is the undisputed king of this ground, having scored 1,109 runs in 23 innings, including three centuries.

Mohit Sharma holds the record for the most IPL wickets at the stadium with 29.

The record total at the ground is 243/5, set by the Punjab Kings against the Gujarat Titans during the 2025 season.

Shubman Gill holds the record for the highest score at the ground with his explosive 129 off 60 balls against the Mumbai Indians in the 2023 Qualifier 2.

Mohit Sharma recorded the best figures at this venue with a stunning 5/10 against Mumbai Indians in 2023.

Despite being a batter’s paradise, the stadium holds the record for the lowest team total for a home side in recent years, when the Gujarat Titans were bowled out for just 89 runs by the Delhi Capitals in April 2024.

Weather

Friday is expected to be a baking hot day in Ahmedabad with the daytime high hitting 41 degrees. By the time the game starts it will have dipped to around 35 degrees with very low humidity and clear skies in this India region.

A light northwest breeze will provide minimal cooling. There is no chance of precipitation, making it a perfect night for cricket.

Form

• GT: W, W, L, L, L.
• KKR: L, L, NR, L, L.

Predicted line-ups

GT

Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj.

KKR

Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi.

Key players

Sai Sudharsan

Sudharsan has become the technical heartbeat of the Titans’ top order. Known for his remarkable consistency and ability to anchor an innings, he allows aggressive partners like Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler to play freely.

On an Ahmedabad surface that often rewards orthodox stroke play, his knack for finding gaps and maintaining a high strike rate without taking undue risks will be vital in navigating KKR’s mystery spin during the middle overs.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi

The young sensation is one of the few bright spots in a struggling KKR lineup. Raghuvanshi’s fearless approach and wristy flair have drawn comparisons to a young Shubman Gill.

As KKR searches for a spark to ignite their winless season, his ability to counter-attack against pace in the powerplay will be crucial. If he can survive the initial burst from Kagiso Rabada, he possesses the range to dictate the tempo of the chase.

Prediction: Gujarat Titans

Quite simply the home side enter the match with superior confidence and momentum, having secured two consecutive wins to level their record at 2-2.

Conversely, the Kolkata Knight Riders are struggling at the bottom of the table, remaining winless after five games. GT’s clinical execution in tight finishes and home-ground advantage make them clear favourites against a misfiring KKR unit.

Also read: Biggest IPL blowouts ever – the most dominant wins in history

Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Delhi Capitals

Key talking points

RCB

RCB have started their title defence strongly with three wins from four matches, consistently crossing the 200-run mark.

Captain Rajat Patidar (195 runs) and Virat Kohli (179 runs) are in excellent form, while Phil Salt provides explosive starts at a 180+ strike rate.

However, the team faces a selection headache with Yash Dayal ruled out for the season and Josh Hazlewood’s availability limited.

A statistical standout is RCB’s home dominance: they are finally back at a renovated Chinnaswamy Stadium after a long hiatus.

DC

The Capitals sit mid-table with a 2-2 record, struggling for consistency after narrow losses to GT and CSK. Sameer Rizvi (166 runs) and Pathum Nissanka (127 runs) have been the standout performers with the bat.

Lungi Ngidi leads the pace attack with five wickets. DC’s primary concern is their powerplay bowling, which has leaked runs in recent outings.

Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru remains one of the most high-octane venues in the IPL, famously known for its high altitude and short boundaries that heavily favour power hitters.

Teams have a strong preference for bowling first at the ground. Over 90 percent of toss winners choose to field and chasing teams have won approximately 53.5 percent of matches.

The average first innings total at the venue is approximately 168 runs. However, this ground is notorious for much higher totals; teams scoring 180-plus when batting first win about 62% of the time, while scores under 170 are rarely defended.

Given his career-long association with RCB it is no surprise that Virat Kohli is the leading run scorer at this venue — he has scored more than double the next highest scorer.

Yuzvendra Chahal is the leading wicket-taker at the ground in the IPL with 51 wickets, despite the batting-friendly conditions.

The record score at the ground is 287/3, set by Sunrisers Hyderabad against RCB in 2024, which also stands as the highest team total in IPL history.

The highest individual score at the ground belongs to Chris Gayle who smashed an unbeaten 175 off 66 balls for RCB against Pune Warriors in 2013.

Samuel Badree (RCB) holds the record for the best figures at this ground with 4/9 against Mumbai Indians in 2017, a spell that included a hat-trick.

The ground is home to the highest score in IPL history as well as one of it’s lowest ever team totals as well.

While SRH posted 287/3 here, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru were famously bowled out for just 82 runs at the same venue in the very first IPL match in 2008.

Weather

The weather in Bengaluru will be hot and sunny during the midday peak. Temperatures are expected to be around 35 degrees under clear, bright skies. Humidity will remain low at 20 percent.

Winds will be gentle from the southeast. No rain is forecast for this period. It will be hot, but it will be good conditions for cricket.

Form

• RCB: W, W, L, W, W.
• DC: L, L, W, W, W.

Predicted line-ups

RCB

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Mangesh Yadav.

DC

KL Rahul, Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, David Miller, Abishek Porel, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan.

Key players

Virat Kohli

The ‘King’ remains the psychological and tactical anchor for the league leaders. Kohli’s current form is impeccable, having provided RCB with consistent, high velocity starts alongside Phil Salt.

It is no surprise that he is the current wearer of the Orange Cap. At the Chinnaswamy, his intimate knowledge of the ground’s unique dimensions and pace makes him lethal.

Against a Delhi attack that has struggled for early breakthroughs, Kohli’s ability to dictate the powerplay and then manipulate the field during the middle overs is expected to be the defining factor.

Pathum Nissanka

As DC looks to stabilize their top order, Nissanka has emerged as their most reliable run-getter.

His role is critical on a small ground like the Chinnaswamy, where his precise timing and ability to find boundaries without over-hitting can keep the scoreboard ticking under pressure.

If DC is to upset the defending champions, Nissanka must neutralize RCB’s new-ball pair and provide the platform that allows power hitters like David Miller and Tristan Stubbs to flourish later.

Prediction: Royal Challengers Bengaluru

RCB currently sit top of the table with four wins from five games and holds a massive NRR of +1.503.

While Delhi Capitals are improving, RCB’s dominant home form and the peak performance of Rajat Patidar make them heavy favourites to continue their winning streak.

And don’t forget that without setting the competition alight, Virat Kohli is nevertheless the holder of the Orange Cap.

Sunrisers Hyderabad v Chennai Super Kings

Key talking points

SRH

SRH has had a rollercoaster start, sitting at 2-3 after five matches. Their strategy remains “attack at all costs,” led by the in-form Heinrich Klaasen, who has already cleared the ropes 18 times this season.

Travis Head remains a constant threat, though his strike rate has dipped slightly in recent home games.

Look out for SRH’s performance with the ball in the death overs – they have the league’s highest economy rate between overs 16-20, a vulnerability CSK’s finishers will undoubtedly look to exploit.

CSK

The Super Kings have successfully recovered from a three-match losing streak to start the season, winning their last two games against DC and KKR. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s leadership has steadied the ship.

Sanju Samson has been a revelation after finding form, recently smashing an unbeaten 115* against Delhi. Interestingly, despite their slow start, CSK’s bowling unit led by Matheesha Pathirana has begun to find its rhythm in the middle overs.

While CSK has significantly improved their Net Run Rate during this two-game winning streak, it remains lower than SRH’s.

Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Historically known as a balanced or even a bowling-friendly venue, it has recently evolved into one of the highest-scoring grounds in the IPL, with several all-time scoring records broken here in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Chasing remains the preferred strategy. Teams bowling first have now won 48 out of 85 matches (57%) following Punjab’s successful chase earlier this month.

The average first innings score at the ground is approximately 163 runs. However, this has surged in recent seasons; in 2024 and 2025, the average first-innings total regularly breached 200 runs.

In 2026, the average first-innings score at this ground has again surpassed the historical average of 163, with three matches at the venue seeing totals in excess of 200.

David Warner holds the record for the most IPL runs at this stadium with 1,623 runs in 32 innings, including three centuries.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the leading wicket-taker at the venue with 48 wickets.

The highest team total at the ground was 286/6, set by Sunrisers Hyderabad against the Rajasthan Royals in March 2025.  It remains the second-highest score in IPL history, only behind SRH’s 287/3 at the Chinnaswamy.

Abhishek Sharma holds the record for the highest individual score at the ground with a knock of 141 runs off 55 balls against the Punjab Kings in April 2025.

The record for the best bowling figures at the ground belongs to Alzarri Joseph of the Mumbai Indians (it is also the record for the entire IPL), he took with 6/12 against SRH in 2019.

The toss is statistically less impactful here than at other venues; approximately 62% of teams that lost the toss ended up winning the match.

This was indeed the case in the most recent game at the venue when SRH beat RR despite losing the toss and being asked to bat first.

Weather

Hyderabad will enjoy a pleasant, partly cloudy evening following a hot afternoon. By the time the game starts the temperature will have dropped to roughly 34 degrees, offering a welcome reprieve from the day’s high of 38.

Winds will be very light, with humidity at around 22 percent. With no rain expected, conditions are ideal for cricket.

Form

• SRH: W, L, L, W, L.
• CSK: W, W, L, L, L.

Predicted line-ups

SRH

Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Liam Livingstone, Aniket Verma, Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel, Harsh Dubey, Shivam Mavi.

CSK

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Matheesha Pathirana.

Key players

Heinrich Klaasen

The wearer of the Orange Cap until Virat Kohli passed him on Wednesday, Klaasen is one of the most destructive middle-order force in the tournament.

His ability to manipulate spin and dispatch even good deliveries for six makes him SRH’s primary match-winner.

At the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, where the ball often comes onto the bat nicely, his strike rate of 190+ will be the biggest threat to CSK. He has the power to take the game away in a matter of overs.

Dewald Brevis

He may be known as ‘Baby AB’ but given his proclivity for sixes and middle-order power-hitting, he could just as easily be named after Heinrich Klaasen.

Brevis missed the start of the season due to injury, but when he finally got a chance to bat, last time out against KKR, he looked in excellent touch with a brisk 41.

His role is to provide the explosive impetus that bridges the gap between the steady Ruturaj Gaikwad and the finishers. Known for his 360-degree stroke play, he is particularly effective on high-scoring decks like Hyderabad.

Against an SRH bowling unit that has leaked runs at the death, Brevis’s fearlessness and ability to clear the ropes against pace could be Chennai’s secret sauce.

Prediction: Sunrisers Hyderabad

This will be a tight one with both teams bringing identical 2-3 records into the game, but SRH’s batting firepower at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium is hard to ignore, especially with Heinrich Klaasen currently second in the Orange Cap rankings.

Although CSK has momentum from two recent wins, SRH’s ability to post or chase massive totals on their high-scoring home deck gives them the slight edge in this rivalry.

Read next: The 7 exciting teenage prodigies set to light up IPL 2026

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Ranked: The best IPL captains ever ranked by win percentage

Many people think that T20 cricket is a lottery and to some extent they may be right. Without a doubt it is easier for weaker teams to cause upsets in the shortest form of the game than in Tests, but as a rule good teams tend to prevail over bad ones most of the time.

A huge part of how things unfold is down to the captaincy, with the ability to implement plans and to adapt on the fly a key element to achieving success.

Given the lightning-fast pace at which T20s unfold, dynamic and decisive leadership is very important. With that in mind, let’s take a look at which captains have the best records in the IPL, based on win percentage.

1. Hardik Pandya – 59.01% (36 wins from 61 games)

Hardik Pandya has taken the art of modern IPL captaincy to a new level. His aggressive approach, willingness to rotate the strike, and keen sense of when to bring bowlers back into the attack have all contributed to a remarkable win rate of 59.01 percent.

Pandya led Gujarat Titans with a blend of youthful enthusiasm and tactical acuity, making bold moves when necessary while also trusting his experienced campaigners.

What makes him special is his ability to read the game situation almost instinctively, whether that’s deciding when to go for the big over or when to tighten the screws in the death overs.

Under his leadership, Gujarat become a team that could compete with anyone on its day, as he duly led them to the title in the team’s first year of existence.

Now in charge at Mumbai Indians, Pandya has shown that his leadership extends beyond his own performances as an allrounder.

2. Sachin Tendulkar – 58.82% (30 wins from 51 games)

Even at the twilight of his playing career, Sachin Tendulkar proved that he could marshal a team effectively. Tendulkar’s calm demeanour and profound understanding of the game allowed him to make decisions that often paid off in tight encounters.

He captained Mumbai Indians with authority, knowing when to let the young players flourish while also keeping the experienced pros in check.

His leadership style was subtle but effective; Tendulkar rarely needed to overmanage, instead focusing on creating an environment where players could perform at their peak.

That 58.82 percent win record is testament to his ability to inspire confidence and balance aggression with patience.

3. MS Dhoni – 57.87% (136 wins from 235 games)

Few captains have been as synonymous with IPL success as MS Dhoni. Leading Chennai Super Kings for over a decade, Dhoni perfected the art of finishing matches without creating panic.

His win percentage of 57.87 percent over 235 games underscores his consistency and longevity as a leader. Dhoni’s greatest strength lies in his decision-making under pressure.

From knowing the precise moment to bring on the spin to reading the batsman’s mind at the crease, Dhoni’s cricketing IQ is unparalleled.

Beyond tactics, Dhoni instils a sense of calm in his team, which has translated into multiple IPL titles and a culture of winning that few other franchises can match.

Also read: Biggest IPL blowouts ever – the most dominant wins in history

4. Shreyas Iyer – 55.55% (50 wins from 90 games)

Shreyas Iyer has emerged as one of the most cerebral captains in the IPL. As leader of the Delhi Capitals, Iyer showed a balance of aggression and prudence, knowing when to push his players and when to hold back.

His captaincy reflects a modern approach, leveraging analytics and data while also reading the flow of the game intuitively. At 55.55 percent, his win rate is impressive given the challenges of leading a team that is often in a rebuilding phase.

Iyer’s willingness to back young players and rotate the bowling attack creatively has made Delhi a competitive side in nearly every season he has led.

5. Rohit Sharma – 55.06% (87 wins from 158 games)

Rohit Sharma’s calm but authoritative leadership made Mumbai Indians a powerhouse in the IPL era. Rohit’s win percentage of 55.06 percent is extraordinary considering the pressure and expectations that come with leading one of the most high-profile franchises.

Known for backing his instincts, Rohit has a knack for identifying match-winning moments, whether it’s promoting a batsman up the order or deploying his bowlers at the perfect time.

He has a remarkable ability to balance star players and newcomers, ensuring the team performs cohesively even in high-stakes matches. Rohit’s success is a blend of strategic foresight, coolness under pressure, and the ability to adapt dynamically.

6. Gautam Gambhir – 55.03% (71 wins from 129 games)

Gautam Gambhir was a captain who led by example. Known for his aggressive batting and sharp cricketing brain, he guided Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles.

His win percentage of 55.03 percent reflects a leader who demanded intensity and focus from his players. Gambhir’s strength lay in motivating his squad, creating a team-first mentality that often turned tight games in his favour.

His IPL legacy is not just in victories but in shaping a culture of professionalism and fearlessness that his successors still benefit from.

7. Shane Warne – 54.54% (30 wins from 55 games)

Australia‘s Shane Warne brought his legendary cricketing intellect to the IPL, captaining Rajasthan Royals with both flair and shrewdness in the competition’s early years.

Warne’s win rate of 54.54 percent is impressive given the odds he faced with a less star-studded squad. His ability to read batsmen and bowlers, make tactical changes on the fly, and inspire belief in his players made him a formidable leader.

Warne’s brand of captaincy combined experience with the audacity to gamble when the situation demanded, resulting in several memorable upsets.

8. Virender Sehwag – 52.83% (28 wins from 53 games)

Virender Sehwag’s leadership style was an extension of his batting approach – fearless, attacking, and bold. With a win percentage of 52.83 percent, he proved that his aggressive instincts off the field were as effective as they were on it.

Sehwag’s strategy often involved taking calculated risks, whether in field placements or in promoting pinch-hitters to unsettle the opposition.

His captaincy may have been less conventional, but it yielded results, especially in games where his audacity pressured opponents into mistakes.

9. Rishabh Pant – 50.84% (30 wins from 59 games)

Rishabh Pant is one of the most exciting leaders in the IPL. Known for his fearless approach with both bat and ball, Pant has managed a win rate just above 50 percent. His captaincy style is dynamic, aggressive, and often unpredictable, reflecting his instinct-driven approach.

Pant’s ability to back his instincts and trust his players has already led to some impressive victories. Still in the early stages of his leadership career his record suggests there is plenty more to come, provided he continues to learn from the nuances of the game in India.

Read next: The 7 exciting teenage prodigies set to light up IPL 2026

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IPL predictions: CSK to beat KKR? RCB to outdo LSG? PBKS to defeat MI?

Get IPL predictions for this week’s matches.

There are three particularly key clashes coming up.

Read on for more insight.

Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders

Key talking points

CSK

Currently sitting in ninth place, having secured the only victory between these two sides this season. Despite their lowly rank there is good news for CSK.

Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has found form, anchoring the top order with two half-centuries in four games while Sanju Samson bounced back to form to strike his first century in the yellow of CSK last time out.

South African power-hitter Dewald Brevis was also fit and able to play in CSK last outing, although he was not needed to bat. However, their bowling depth has been tested by injuries to key domestic pacers.

Statistical the “Yellow Army” has been troubled this year by their uncharacteristically poor Powerplay strike rate, which currently ranks as the lowest in the league, forcing the lower order into high-pressure recovery acts.

KKR

Winless in their first four outings, KKR are anchored at the bottom of the table.

While opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been a lone bright spot with the bat, the expensive overseas bowling contingent has struggled to pick up wickets in the middle overs.

Interestingly, despite their losses, KKR boasts the highest number of sixes in the tournament so far — a statistical quirk that highlights their all-or-nothing batting approach.

History isn’t on their side either; KKR has historically struggled at Chepauk, failing to win a regular-season game here since 2012.

Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

The legendary ‘Chepauk’ is historically a slow, spin-friendly track where totals are often defended.

The average first innings score at the ground is approximately 164 runs.

There is a significant advantage to batting first here with teams setting scores having a 55.43 percent win rate. This is largely due to the pitch slowing down in the second innings.

The record for most IPL runs scored at the venue belongs to MS Dhoni who dominates the ground with 1,530 runs.

The record for the most IPL wickets at the ground belongs to Ravichandran Ashwin who has bagged 52 scalps here.

The highest team total at the ground is 246/5 made by Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2010.

The lowest team total recorded here was the 70 all out by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2019 season opener.

Andre Russell holds the record for the best bowling figures here (he took 5/15 in 2021), a rare feat for a quick on this spin-friendly deck.

Weather

Chennai is expecting a warm and humid Tuesday evening. By the time the game starts temperatures will hover around 32 degrees, though it may feel closer to 39 due to the high humidity.

Skies will likely remain partly cloudy with a light easterly breeze. There is no significant rainfall predicted for the night, making it a typical sticky coastal night.

Form

• CSK: W, L, L, L, W.
• KKR: L, NR, L, L, L.

Predicted line-ups

CSK

Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Sarfaraz Khan, Matthew Short, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed.

KKR

Ajinkya Rahane (c), Finn Allen (wk), Sunil Narine, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Rachin Ravindra, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Matheesha Pathirana, Varun Chakravarthy.

Key players

Sanju Samson

Now a vital cog at the top of the CSK middle order, Samson’s ability to take down both pace and spin makes him the perfect weapon for the tacky Chepauk surface.

After a slow start to the 2026 season, he struck form last time out with a brilliant and undefeated 115 from 56 balls against Delhi. His tactical awareness and calm temperament under pressure have quickly made him a fan favourite.

Cameron Green

The Australian powerhouse appears to be shaking off the weight that comes with being the most expensive foreigner ever bought on the IPL auction.

Unable to bowl at the start of the season he is now fully fit and bring value with bat and ball.

Green’s ability to hit the deck hard is particularly effective on Chennai’s bounce-starved pitch, while his aggressive batting at number four can dismantle any bowling attack.

Fresh from a rapid forty and two wickets against MI, Green is the X-factor KKR needs to disrupt CSK’s fortress at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.

Prediction: Chennai Super Kings

Playing at the Chepauk Stadium gives CSK a massive tactical advantage; their spin-heavy attack, led by Noor Ahmad, is perfectly suited to the slower surface.

While KKR’s Cameron Green is a threat, CSK’s superior familiarity with these conditions and their disciplined middle-order batting should see them defend their home fortress.

KKR are low on confidence and without a win while CSK’s stars are starting to find form at just the right time.

Also read: Seven deadly bowlers who could dominate the IPL 2026 Purple Cap race

Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Lucknow Super Giants

Key talking points

RCB

The reigning champions started the season well and seem to be improving with almost every outing. They are currently sitting 3rd on the table with three wins and just one loss from four matches.

They come into this game with high confidence after an 18-run victory over the Mumbai Indians.

Virat Kohli is in exceptional form, having just crossed 4,000 career runs while chasing.

A notable statistical highlight is RCB’s dominant home record at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where they have won both of their fixtures so far this season.

LSG

LSG are currently 6th on the table with a 2-2 record and a negative net run rate of -0.427.

They are looking to bounce back after a lack-lustre 7-wicket defeat to GT, where their batting struggled to set a competitive total.

Prince Yadav has been their most consistent performer with the ball, leading the team with five wickets in three matches.

Interestingly, LSG has won their last two away matches in the 2026 season, making them a dangerous “road” team despite their mid-table position.

Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru remains one of the most high-octane venues in the IPL, famously known for its high altitude and short boundaries that heavily favour power hitters.

Teams have a strong preference for bowling first at the ground. Over 90 percent of toss winners choose to field and chasing teams have won approximately 53.5 percent of matches.

The average first innings total at the venue is approximately 168 runs. However, this ground is notorious for much higher totals; teams scoring 180-plus when batting first win about 62% of the time, while scores under 170 are rarely defended.

Given his career-long association with RCB it is no surprise that Virat Kohli is the leading run scorer at this venue — he has scored more than double the next highest scorer.

Yuzvendra Chahal is the leading wicket-taker at the ground in the IPL with 51 wickets, despite the batting-friendly conditions.

The record score at the ground is 287/3, set by Sunrisers Hyderabad against RCB in 2024, which also stands as the highest team total in IPL history.

The highest individual score at the ground belongs to Chris Gayle who smashed an unbeaten 175 off 66 balls for RCB against Pune Warriors in 2013.

Samuel Badree (RCB) holds the record for the best figures at this ground with 4/9 against Mumbai Indians in 2017, a spell that included a hat-trick.

The ground is home to the highest score in IPL history as well as one of it’s lowest ever team totals as well. While SRH posted 287/3 here, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru were famously bowled out for just 82 runs at the same venue in the very first IPL match in 2008.

Weather

Bengaluru will enjoy a relatively pleasant but warm weather on Wednesday evening. By the time the game starts the temperature is expected to settle near 26 degrees.

The sky will be mostly clear with low humidity, offering relief from the afternoon heat. A gentle southerly wind will keep the air moving, making it an ideal evening for cricket.

Form

• RCB: W, L, W, W, W.
• LSG: L, W, W, L, L.

Predicted line-ups

RCB

P Salt, V Kohli, D Padikkal, R Patidar (c), K Pandya, J Sharma, T David, R Shepherd, B Kumar, S Sharma, N Thushara.

LSG

A Markram, M Marsh, N Pooran, R Pant (c), A Samad, M Breetzke, S Ahmed, M Shami, A Khan, M Yadav, M Khan.

Key players

Phil Salt

The English wicketkeeper-batter has become a defining force at the top of the order for the defending champions.

Fresh off a blistering 78 off 36 balls against Mumbai Indians, Salt’s fearless approach is designed to exploit the short boundaries at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

His ability to generate rapid Powerplay starts, already striking at over 216 this season, allows RCB to dictate the game’s tempo early, making him their most dangerous attacking asset.

Rishabh Pant

As the most expensive player in IPL history, Pant is under immense pressure to lead LSG from the front.

Now promoted to the critical number three batting slot, his role is to anchor the innings while maintaining his signature aggressive counterattacks.

Coming off a calculated match-winning fifty against SRH, his tactical maturity and ability to dismantle both spin and pace will be vital in navigating the middle overs against RCB’s varied bowling attack.

Prediction: Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Expect this to be a high-scoring encounter. Playing at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium heavily favours RCB’s aggressive batting philosophy, particularly with Phil Salt and Virat Kohli in clinical form.

While LSG’s Rishabh Pant is a massive threat, RCB’s familiar home conditions and their ability to out-muscle teams in the final overs usually prove decisive on this notoriously small ground.

Mumbai Indians v Punjab Kings

Key talking points

MI

Mumbai Indians enter the game with a poor record of one win from four and a negative net run rate of -0.772.

Rohit Sharma has been in good form for Mumbai so there will be plenty of concern about the state of his hamstring after he was forced to retire hurt last time out against RCB.

If he is not able to play Quinton de Kock could get a chance at the top of the order alongside compatriot Ryan Rickelton.

Innovations from Suryakumar Yadav in the middle overs remain their greatest threat but the India T20 skipper has failed to properly dominate this season with scores of 33, 6, 51 and 16.

Statistically, MI holds a strong historical record at the Wankhede, winning 57 of 93 matches there.

However, Jasprit Bumrah is still searching for his first wicket of the 2026 campaign, an anomaly the franchise hopes to correct on Thursday.

PBKS

PBKS are riding high in second place with seven points, having secured three wins and one “no result” from four matches.

Captain Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh have provided stability, both averaging near the top of the league’s scoring charts.

Arshdeep Singh continues to be their primary weapon with the ball, despite being challenged by Rohit’s aggressive approach in past encounters.

PBKS and MI share a perfectly balanced head-to-head record with 17 wins each in 34 IPL meetings.

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Teams heavily prefer to chase at Wankhede due to the evening issues with dew. Historically, teams batting second have won approximately 55 percent of matches (65 wins out of 119 games).

The average first innings score is approximately 171 runs. However, the ground often sees higher scores due to its short boundaries and a fast outfield.

Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most IPL runs at this stadium, with 2,470 runs scored in 85 innings.

Lasith Malinga remains the leading wicket-taker at Wankhede with 68 wickets.

The record team score at the venue is 240/1, set by Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians in the previous game at the venue on Sunday.

The highest individual score at the ground belongs to AB de Villiers who struck an unbeaten 133 off 59 balls during that same 2015 match for RCB.

The best bowling figures at the ground are shared by Harbhajan Singh (5/18 vs CSK in 2011) and Wanindu Hasaranga (5/18 vs SRH in 2022).

Thursday will be the third home outing for MI. In their first appearance here this season, against KKR, MI pulled off the highest successful run chase at Wankhede, scoring 224/4 to chase down 220.

Weather

Mumbai is expecting a sultry Thursday evening under overcast skies. By the time the game commences the mercury will be around 31 degrees, but the ‘feels like’ temperature will be significantly higher due to heavy coastal moisture.

Light winds from the sea may provide slight ventilation, though the air will remain thick. While widespread rain is unlikely, the high humidity will persist throughout the night, ensuring a warm, tropical atmosphere.

Form

• MI: L, L, L, W, L.
• PBKS: W, NR, W, W, L.

Predicted line-ups

MI

R Rickelton, Q de Kock (wk), S Yadav, T Varma, H Pandya (c), W Jacks, S Rutherford, S Thakur, D Chahar, J Bumrah, T Boult.

PBKS

P Singh (wk), P Arya, S Iyer (c), N Wadhera, M Stoinis, S Singh, A Omarzai, M Jansen, H Brar, Y Chahal, A Singh.

Key players

Ryan Rickelton

The South African wicketkeeper-batter has become a cornerstone of MI’s top order after a breakout 2025 season.

Known for his aggressive intent, Rickelton has maintained his form into 2026, already recording a high score of 81 off 43 balls against KKR.

His ability to exploit the Powerplay alongside Rohit Sharma is essential for MI’s strategy, especially at the high-scoring Wankhede.

Rickelton’s reliability behind the stumps and his capacity for quick-fire starts make him an indispensable asset for the five-time champions and he is currently keeping teammate Quinton de Kock out of the starting XI.

If Rohit Sharma is not fit in time for the game fans could see the South Africa lefties in tandem.

Shreyas Iyer

As captain, Shreyas Iyer has transformed PBKS into a formidable chasing unit, recently leading them to a record-breaking victory over SRH with an unbeaten 69 off 33 balls.

Averaging 68.5 in the 2026 season so far, Iyer has mastered the role of a situation player’, anchoring innings during high-pressure pursuits.

His tactical leadership and ability to strike at over 200 when required make him the primary threat to MI’s bowling attack as he eyes the 2026 title.

Prediction: Mumbai Indians

This will be a tight one, but we are backing MI to bag a second win of the season. MI’s batting depth, led by Suryakumar Yadav and Ryan Rickelton, is tailor-made for this high-scoring venue.

While Shreyas Iyer makes PBKS a dangerous chasing unit, the sheer pace and precision of Jasprit Bumrah in the death overs should be the deciding factor in stifling Punjab’s middle-order charge under the lights.

Read next: The most unbelievable IPL records that you really need to know

The post IPL predictions: CSK to beat KKR? RCB to outdo LSG? PBKS to defeat MI? appeared first on Cricket365.

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Three IPL clashes analysed: RR vs MI, DC vs GT, KKR vs LSG

Read our big predictions for the next three matches in the Indian Premier League.

There are some interesting fixtures coming up in the 2026 IPL.

Find out more.

Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians

Key talking points

Rajasthan Royals

Under the leadership of Riyan Parag, RR has had a perfect start with two wins from two, including a recent 6-run victory over GT.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is in fine form with a rapid fifty in the last game, while Ravi Bishnoi (4/41) is the primary bowling threat.

Mumbai Indians

Hardik Pandya’s MI have one win and one loss thus far and head into Tuesday’s encounter sitting sixth in the table.

Suryakumar Yadav (51) and Rohit Sharma (35) are finding their touch, but the team needs more from their middle order after a humbling 6-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals last time out.

Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati

Guwahati’s stadium has a limited but high-scoring IPL history, having hosted several Rajasthan Royals home games as a secondary venue.

There’s an even split between winning while batting first (3) and winning while chasing (3).

The average first innings score at the ground is a very high 180 due largely to the pure batting pitch and small dimensions.

Riyan Parag (the local hero) is the leading run scorer at the venue with 137 runs in five innings.

The bowlers with the most wickets at the venue is Yuzvendra Chahal with six scalps.

The highest individual score: at the ground is an undefeated 97 by Quinton de Kock (KKR) against RR in 2025.

The highest team total at the ground is 199/4 by Rajasthan Royals against DC in 2023.

The best bowling figures returned at the ground are 4/30 by Nathan Ellis (PBKS) in 2023.

Weather

Expect a warm and humid evening as the city prepares for a potential shift in weather.

While much of the day will be sunny or partly cloudy with highs around 30 degrees, a 35 percent chance of light rain or thunderstorms develops toward the night.

By the time Tuesday’s game is scheduled to start the temperature will have dropped to around 22 degrees, though it may feel more like 25 due to 85 percent humidity. Winds will be light, coming from the west.

Form

• RR: W, W, W, L, L.
• MI: L, W, L, W, L.

Predicted line-ups

RR

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande.

MI

Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya (c), Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.

Key players

Dhruv Jurel

Fresh off a stellar domestic season, Jurel has evolved into a vital middle-order anchor for Rajasthan. His ability to handle high-pressure chases and rotate strike against quality spin will be crucial at the Barsapara Stadium.

With RR’s top order occasionally prone to early collapses, Jurel’s composure provides the safety net needed to set or hunt down big totals.

His lightning-quick glovework also adds immense value, making him a dual-threat player capable of swinging the game’s momentum in the death overs.

Tilak Varma

Tilak remains Mumbai’s most consistent performer in the middle order, often acting as the glue between the explosive openers and the finishers.

His proficiency against both pace and spin makes him a nightmare for opposition captains to set fields to.

In a week where MI desperately needs a statement win, Varma’s knack for finding boundaries in the middle overs will be key to countering RR’s tactical spin duo.

His maturity under pressure ensures MI remains competitive even when the big guns fail.

Prediction: Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan hold a distinct advantage playing at their secondary home in Guwahati, where they recently brushed aside CSK.

With Ravi Bishnoi leading the wicket charts and Yashasvi Jaiswal in explosive form, the Royals’ momentum outweighs MI’s current inconsistency following their loss to Delhi.

On paper the MI side is stacked, but they have yet to perform to their full potential, while RR have been excellent.

Also read: Five big IPL coaching moves that could shape the 2026 season

Delhi Capitals v Gujarat Titans

Key talking points

Delhi Capitals

DC sit in fourth place on the table, one of four teams who have yet to lose a game. Young sensation Sameer Rizvi is in scorching form, hitting 90 runs off 51 balls in the last outing.

The bowling unit is clicking, with Mukesh Kumar leading the wicket charts.

Gujarat Titans

GT are languishing at ninth on the table with two losses from two. Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill have shown flashes of brilliance, but the team lacks finishing power.

A statistical anomaly to note is their high net run rate despite being winless, suggesting they aren’t far off a breakthrough.

Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

Once known for its sluggish pitches, the Delhi stadium now features a fast outfield and short boundaries that favour power hitters.

Chasing is slightly more successful here, with 49 wins for chasing teams versus 47 for teams batting first.

Traditionally the average first innings score at the ground has been around 160-165, though the more batting friendly pitches of recent seasons have often seen scores above 180.

The highest individual score at the ground is 128, shared between Chris Gayle (RCB) and Rishabh Pant (DC).

Amit Mishra is the venues leading wicket taker with 58 scalps.

The Arun Jaitley Stadium features short square boundaries (approx. 65m), making it difficult for spinners to contain runs under lights.

Home team Delhi Capitals have a poor recent record at the venue with a 90 percent loss rate in their last 10 games when batting first.

The highest team total posted at the ground is a massive 278 runs.

Weather

The capital will enjoy a clear and relatively pleasant evening on Wednesday following a series of active western disturbances.

After daytime highs of 26 degrees, the temperature by game time is expected to be approximately 20 degrees. Humidity will be around 70 percent with gentle easterly winds at 8 mph.

There is no chance of rain at this hour, making it an ideal night for cricket.

Form

• DC: W, W, W, L, L.
• GT: L, L, L, L, L.

Predicted line-ups

DC

KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mukesh Kumar, Mohit Sharma.

GT

Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler, Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Jason Holder, Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, T. Natarajan, Kagiso Rabada.

Key players

Axar Patel

As the captain and premier all-rounder, Axar is the heartbeat of the Delhi Capitals. On the relatively slow Arun Jaitley pitch, his stump-to-stump accuracy and subtle variations are expected to stifle the Gujarat Titans’ scoring rate.

Beyond his bowling, Axar has transformed into a reliable power-hitter, often promoted up the order to counter matchups.

His leadership and clutch play ability make him one of the most influential figures for DC as they look to maintain their unbeaten streak at home.

Sai Sudharsan

Sudharsan is the technical backbone of the Titans’ batting unit. While others look for the long ball, his ability to play through the line and find gaps ensures GT stays ahead of the required rate without taking undue risks.

He has a particularly strong record in Delhi, where his classical stroke play thrives on the true bounce.

If GT are to overcome DC’s disciplined bowling attack, Sudharsan will need to play the long innings that allows their finishers to explode later.

Prediction: Delhi Capitals

Delhi enters this clash as the clear favourite after a clinical victory over Mumbai.

Young Sameer Rizvi is currently the league’s top scorer (160 runs), and playing on a spin-friendly Delhi surface perfectly suits captain Axar Patel’s tactical strengths against a struggling, winless Titans side.

Kolkata Knight Riders v Lucknow Super Giants

Key talking points

Kolkata Knight Riders

KKR may have bagged a point from Monday’s rained out meeting against PBKS, but they are still looking for their first win after two losses.

Ajinkya Rahane leads a side missing key pacer Matheesha Pathirana while Rinku Singh remains their most consistent performer with the bat.

Lucknow Super Giants

Rishabh Pant’s LSG has one win from two, sitting seventh. They come off a 5-wicket win over SRH where the middle order finally fired. Interestingly, LSG has never lost a game at Eden Gardens when batting second.

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

In recent seasons this historic ground has transformed from a spin-bowling minefield into one of the league’s batting heavens with a sky-high scoring rate.

Teams strongly prefer to bowl first at Eden Gardens; chasing teams have won 57 matches compared to 43 for those batting first.

The average first innings Score at the ground is 165.88, but in the 2024–2025 period, it frequently exceeded 190.

The leading run-scorer at the ground is Gautam Gambhir who struck 1,407 runs.

Sunil Narine is the king of Eden Gardens, holding the IPL record for most wickets at a single venue with 72.

The highest team total recorded at the venue is 262/2 made by the Punjab Kings against KKR in 2024.

The lowest team total at the ground is 49 all-out posted by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2017.

Since 2023, the scoring rate of 9.95 at Eden Gardens is the highest of any venue that has hosted five or more games.

Weather

The ‘City of Joy’ will likely see a break from the week’s earlier storms. Although scattered thunderstorms are forecast for the daytime with highs of 31 degrees, conditions are expected to clear by the evening.

By the time play starts skies should be mostly clear with periodic clouds and a temperature of roughly 26 degrees.

Humidity will remain high at around 80 percent, while gentle south-westerly winds at 4–5 mph provide some relief. The chance of precipitation on Thursday night is low, at roughly 15 percent.

Form

• KKR: NR, L, L, L, A.
• LSG: W, L, L, W, L.

Predicted line-ups

KKR

Finn Allen (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing Muzarabani.

LSG

Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Kyle Mayers, Aiden Markram, Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi.

Key players

Ajinkya Rahane

Entrusted with the captaincy, Rahane brings a sense of calm to a KKR side currently navigating a turbulent period. His reinvented aggressive approach in the Powerplay is essential for giving KKR the early impetus they’ve lacked.

At Eden Gardens, his experience in reading the surface and managing bowling changes will be tested against a deep LSG lineup.

Rahane’s role as the stabilizing force at the top allows stroke-makers like Rinku Singh the freedom to play their natural game.

Rishabh Pant

Now leading the Super Giants, Pant returns to the ground where he has historically enjoyed great success.

His fearless approach against spin will be LSG’s primary weapon against KKR’s mystery bowlers, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy.

Pant’s ability to turn a game in the space of a handful of overs makes him the biggest threat to KKR’s plans.

His captaincy and instinctive decision-making behind the stumps will be vital in navigating the high-scoring, high-pressure environment of a night game in Kolkata.

Prediction: Lucknow Super Giants

Despite the home advantage for KKR, LSG has never lost at Eden Gardens when batting second and holds a strong 4-2 head-to-head record overall.

With KKR reeling from consecutive losses and missing key quick Matheesha Pathirana, Rishabh Pant’s balanced LSG unit is better equipped to exploit KKR’s current powerplay bowling woes.

Read next: The ECB opening doors to private investors in the Hundred has already backfired

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The real power couples of the IPL: the 7 highest partnerships in IPL history

 

 

The nature of T20 wickets sees wickets fall regularly as batters continually chance their arm, risking their wickets as they search for the glory of the boundary. Sometimes though, two batters find a rhythm so destructive that they completely break the game, leaving the opposition with nowhere to hide. These rare ‘mega-partnerships’ of over 200 runs are the ultimate display of batting dominance. As the IPL continues in its 19th season, let’s look at the seven highest ever partnerships, produced in the competition.

 

1. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers: 229 runs

Wicket: 2nd | For: Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Gujarat Lions | Venue: Bengaluru, 2016

Widely considered the greatest display of tandem batting in T20 history, this 2016 masterclass remains the record to beat. After Chris Gayle fell early, Kohli and De Villiers combined to dismantle the Gujarat Lions attack. Both legends scored centuries in the same innings – De Villiers smashing 129* off 52 balls and Kohli accelerating to 109 off 55. The pair added 229 runs in just 96 deliveries, a feat of pure sporting alchemy that sent the Chinnaswamy Stadium into a frenzy and which set a gold standard for the IPL that has yet to be eclipsed.

 

2. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers: 215* runs

Wicket: 2nd | For: RCB v Mumbai Indians | Venue: Wankhede, 2015

A year before their world-record effort, the dynamic duo from the RCB proved they were a nightmare for even the most elite bowling units. Facing a potent Mumbai Indians side at the Wankhede, the pair came together in the fourth over and didn’t stop until the innings ended. De Villiers played the aggressor with a breathtaking 133* off 59 balls, while Kohli played the perfect foil with a steady 82*. This unbeaten 215-run stand was the third time a 200-run partnership had been recorded for the second wicket, cementing their status as the league’s premier power couple.

 

3. KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock: 210* runs

Wicket: 1st | For: Lucknow Super Giants v KKR | Venue: DY Patil, 2022

In 2022, the Lucknow Super Giants openers achieved something truly unique: they batted through the entire 20 overs without losing a single wicket. Quinton de Kock was the star of the show, bludgeoning 140* off 70 balls, while captain KL Rahul anchored the other end with a classy 68*. Their unbeaten 210-run stand is the highest opening partnership in IPL history and stands as a testament to perfect communication and clinical shot-making under pressure.

 

4. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan: 210 runs

Wicket: 1st | For: Gujarat Titans v CSK | Venue: Ahmedabad, 2024

Matching the record set by the LSG duo, the Gujarat Titans’ pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan delivered a masterclass against the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings. Playing in front of a massive home crowd in Ahmedabad, both batters reached the triple-figure mark; Gill scoring 104 and Sudharsan 103. Their 210-run opening stand was a display of effortless timing and youthful exuberance, showing that the next generation of Indian stars was ready to carry the torch.

 

5. Shaun Marsh and Adam Gilchrist: 206 runs

Wicket: 2nd | For: Kings XI Punjab v RCB | Venue: Dharamsala, 2011

Long before the modern scoring rates became the norm, two Australians set the hills of Dharamsala on fire. Veteran Adam Gilchrist (106) and a youngster Shaun Marsh (79*) rolled back the years to punish the RCB bowlers. Their 206-run partnership held the all-time record for four years and remains one of the most nostalgic performances in the league’s history, combining Gilchrist’s legendary power with Marsh’s elegant stroke-play.

 

6. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan: 205* runs

Wicket: 1st | For: Gujarat Titans v DC | Venue: Delhi, 2025

The Titans’ opening pair proved their 2024 heroics were no fluke by entering the record books again just a year later. During the 2025 season, Gill and Sudharsan took apart the Delhi Capitals’ attack in their own backyard. This unbeaten 205-run stand showcased their maturing chemistry, as they manipulated the field with ease and never allowed the bowlers to settle. They are one of two pairs on this list to feature twice with a 200-plus run partnership (along with Kohli and De Villiers), signalling a new era of dominance for the Ahmedabad franchise.

 

7. Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle: 204* runs

Wicket: 2nd | For: RCB v Delhi Daredevils | Venue: Delhi, 2012

Rounding out the list is a stand put together by two of the original “Big Three”. In 2012, at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Chris Gayle was in a particularly destructive mood, smashing 128* off 62 balls, including 13 massive sixes. Virat Kohli, then a rising superstar, supported him with a brisk 73*. Their 204-run stand was the first time the 200-run barrier had been broken in the IPL, setting the stage for the high-scoring era that would follow.

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