IPL didn’t pick them – but PSL 2026 will showcase these seven stars

While the Indian Premier League remains the marquee league in franchise cricket, its direct rival, the Pakistan Super League, is slowly making up ground as an attractive and lucrative destination for overseas players.

The 2026 staging of the PSL will be its 11th season. Making it extra interesting is the fact that it has now expanded from six teams to eight teams which naturally means more games and more players.

With the opening fixture set to take place on Thursday 26 March between the Lahore Qalandars and the Hyderabad Kingsmen, let’s take a moment to look at some of the big-name players who will be making their PSL debuts this season.

1. Marnus Labuschagne (Hyderabad Kingsmen)

Better known for his exploits in Test cricket, Labuschagne’s presence in the PSL is intriguing.

His adaptability has improved markedly in white-ball formats, and his ability to anchor an innings could prove vital on slower subcontinental surfaces.

With more T20 experience under his belt in recent years, this tournament offers him a platform to showcase a more expansive side of his game.

Marnus has played just one T20I for Australia, but he boasts franchise experience in BBL and Vitality Blast. His strike rate in the format is a modest 126.81 and he averages 26.55 per innings.

2. Glenn Maxwell (Hyderabad Kingsmen)

Maxwell remains one of the most destructive T20 players in the world. Capable of changing games in a matter of overs, his innovative stroke play and useful off-spin make him a genuine match-winner.

Although he is now at the tail-end of his career Maxwell is one of the all-time greats in the format – it is not for nothing that he earned himself the nickname ‘The Big Show’.

For Hyderabad, he brings not just firepower but invaluable experience in high-pressure franchise leagues.

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

3. Devon Conway (Islamabad United)

A model of consistency, Conway has quietly become one of the most reliable top-order batters in T20 cricket. His ability to pace an innings and find gaps with precision makes him ideally suited to PSL conditions.

Islamabad will rely heavily on him to provide stability at the top.

He also doubles as a wicketkeeper. Conway was at the recent T20 World Cup with New Zealand and is currently playing in the bilateral series against South Africa where he has struck form, posting his highest score in over two years in T20Is in the second game of the series.

4. Adam Zampa (Karachi Kings)

Leg-spin remains a prized commodity in T20 cricket, and Zampa is among the best in the business. His control in the middle overs and knack for breaking partnerships could be crucial for Karachi.

On turning tracks, he may well be one of the standout bowlers of the tournament. With 147 scalps to his credit Zampa is Australia’s leading wicket taker in T20I cricket.

Still just 33-years-old, Zampa has extensive experience in franchise cricket having played in BBL, CPL, IPL, MLC and Vitality Blast.

5. Gudakesh Motie (Lahore Qalandars)

Motie’s left-arm spin has gained increasing recognition on the global stage. Known for his control and subtle variations, he thrives in conditions that offer grip and turn.

Lahore’s attack will likely revolve around his ability to stifle opposition scoring in the middle overs. The West Indian has played 51 T20Is and averages 25.85 in the format with a strike rate of 19.5.

6. Steve Smith (Multan Sultans)

Smith’s inclusion adds a fascinating dimension.

Traditionally viewed as a longer-format specialist, he has reinvented aspects of his T20 game, adding greater intent and range and he was in superb form during the latest season of BBL, where his weight of runs earned him a late recall to the Australia squad for the World Cup.

His leadership qualities and cricketing intelligence could be just as valuable as his runs for Multan. Smith has previously played nine seasons of IPL cricket where he averages a very useful 34.51.

Interestingly his average in BBL is 48.32, with his average in the recently completed season an astounding 59.80.

7. Dian Forrester (Rawalpindi Pindiz)

One of the emerging names on this list, Forrester represents the next generation of South Africa talent. Currently on tour with the Proteas in New Zealand, he wasn’t quite good enough to make the World Cup squad, but he was certainly in the thinking.

A dynamic all-rounder, he offers versatility with both bat and ball. The PSL could provide the perfect stage for him to announce himself on the global franchise circuit. In the 2026 staging of SA20 Forrester averaged 58.33 with the bat.

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Five big IPL coaching moves that could shape the 2026 season

The Indian Premier League has always been as much a battle of the tactical minds off the field as it is a contest of skill on it.

As we approach the 2026 season, with the first game set to happen at the end of march, the coaching carousels have been spinning, with franchises recalibrating their support staff to find the winning edge.

From internal promotions to the return of legends, here are five key coaching moves that will define the upcoming tournament.

1. KKR promote homegrown architect – Abhishek Nayar

In perhaps the most significant move for the three-time former champions, Abhishek Nayar has been elevated to the role of Head Coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Replacing Chandrakant Pandit, Nayar is no stranger to the KKR setup having joined them last season after exiting his role as assistant coach of the India team.

Nayar has also spent years as the “brains” behind their academy and scouting systems, he has been credited with the rise of players like Rinku Singh. This transition signals a shift toward a more modern, player-centric leadership style as KKR looks to build a long-term dynasty.

2. The return of the legend – Kumar Sangakkara at RR

After a brief hiatus where Rahul Dravid took the reins, Kumar Sangakkara is officially back as the Head Coach of the Rajasthan Royals.

While Sangakkara remained a fixture as the Director of Cricket, his return to the “dugout-active” head coach role is a massive boost for the Pink City – he is also set to continue with the Director of Cricket role.

The Sri Lankan great brings a calming influence and a deep understanding of the Royals’ data-driven philosophy. His dual role ensures a seamless synergy between the front office and the tactical decisions made on the boundary line.

Also read: Explained – How the first ever The Hundred auction will work and who has signed up

3. A star-studded support room – Watson and Southee join KKR

KKR isn’t just changing its head coach; it’s building a “super-room” of assistants. Joining Nayar’s staff are Shane Watson and Tim Southee.

Watson, a two-time IPL MVP, brings an invaluable winning mentality as an assistant coach, while Southee transitions from active player to bowling coach.

Southee’s recent experience in the T20 circuit provides KKR’s pace battery with real-time tactical insights that few retired veterans could offer.

4. Technical refinement – Ian Bell heads to Delhi

The Delhi Capitals have looked to England for technical expertise, appointing Ian Bell as an assistant coach under Hemang Badani. Bell, known for his classical technique and high cricket IQ, is tasked with stabilizing a DC batting order that has often been brilliant but brittle.

His experience in high-pressure international environments will be vital for the younger Indian batters in the squad who are looking to take the next step toward national honours.

5. Fresh firepower – Varun Aaron leads SRH bowling

Sunrisers Hyderabad has opted for a fresh perspective by naming former India pacer Varun Aaron as their new bowling coach. Replacing James Franklin, Aaron brings a modern understanding of the “pace-is-pace” philosophy that SRH has traditionally favoured.

Having recently moved from playing to coaching, Aaron’s knowledge of modern T20 variations and the specific demands of Indian pitches will be a critical asset for a bowling unit led by Pat Cummins.

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Revealed: Cricket365’s most underwhelming T20 World Cup XI

Picking a team of the tournament is a common occurrence after a major event – we have gone and picked ours.

But as much as there are always the stars that shine, there are also those that fail to find form and which disappoint. The T20 World Cup had plenty of underperforming players, those who got ‘must try harder’ written on their report cards.

Let’s take a moment to compile our underwhelming eleven now that the tenth T20 World Cup has been completed.

1. Jos Buttler (England)

England arrived at the World Cup with their openers, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt firmly ensconced in the top five of the ICC batting rankings.

Big things were expected from them. Neither really came to the party, but Buttler was far and away the most underwhelming. Buttler managed just 87 runs at an average of 10.87.

England’s inability to make solid starts was one of the reasons they never produced the sort of fluent performance that was hoped for.

2. Travis Head (Australia)

Australia‘s campaign was a disaster. For a team that boasts an exceptionally proud record in ICC events, for Australia, who came into the competition as the second ranked side in the world, their failure to exit the pool stages was a low.

It was a campaign that struggled on so many fronts. They were badly hit by injury, but their preparation was poor and their players low on confidence and experience. On player who was expected to shine was Travis Head.

Not only is Head a T20 star and an IPL regular, but he had also been in great form during the Ashes, smashing the ball all over the park. As much as they are different formats, Head was a man in form when he left Australia. In all he managed just 111 runs with one 50 plus score.

3. Phil Salt (England)

Salt was the world’s number two batsman heading into the competition and there was plenty expected from him. Like Head (above), Salt passed 50 once.

He ended the tournament as the 47th highest scorer, which is not bad if you are a middle order batsman for a mid-ranked team; but if you are an opener for a top side, you should be doing a lot more.

Granted he was under pressure from the repeated failures of his opening partner, but to end the tournament with just an average of 16.25 is a long way short of what he would have been hoping for.

4. Abhishek Sharma (India)

Abhishek looked good in the final as he smashed a brisk 52 from 21 balls to give the innings the unassailable momentum that could never be arrested. But for the most part, his tournament returns were underwhelming.

He made ducks in each of his first three innings before finally opening his account. But 141 runs at an average of 17.62 is simply not good enough for the man who was (and still is) ranked number one in the world at the start of the competition.

What’s more, Abhishek boasts the highest career strike rate in T20Is, but even that was way below par for him at the World Cup where he scored his runs at (by his standards) a pedestrian rate of 158.42 for India.

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5. Cameron Green (Australia)

The most expensive overseas player ever to be purchased on the IPL auction, there was a lot expected to the big Australian allrounder.

Green was so disappointing that he wasn’t even the highest-ranking Green at the competition – that honour fell to Namibia’s Zane Green (hmmm… me neither).

Cameron contributed 24 runs to Australia’s faltering cause, averaging just eight for the campaign. KKR will hope he brings a bit more to the party when he arrives to play for them at the end of the month.

6. Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Once the number one white-ball player in the world, Babar has lost his touch in spectacular fashion.

Seemingly weighed down by the burden of his past brilliance and his inability to rediscover the magic, Babar always looked as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders when batting.

He finished with just 91 runs at an average of 22.75. Most alarming though was his strike rate which at 112.34 was far too slow and guaranteed to be placing pressure on the batsmen who followed him.

7. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Another Australian who could not live up to his reputation. A player who was known as the ‘Big Show’, Maxwell is now almost 38-years-old and sadly, well past his prime.

He struggled in IPL last season, and he looked badly out of touch in a struggling Aussie line-up at the World Cup. Gone are the days where Maxwell could come in and turn the momentum of game with his power hitting.

He managed 62 runs in the tournament at an average of 20.66.

8. Keshav Maharaj (South Africa)

The veteran South African spinner is a wily campaigner with plenty of experience. Maharaj is a brave performer who always gives his best, but at 36-years-old you can’t help but feel that he is running out of career runway.

Maharaj managed just five wickets at the tournament, three of them coming in just one over, ironically all caught at long off by Tristan Stubbs who was perfectly placed to stop them clearing the rope for six.

Maharaj ended the competition with a bowling average of 35.80 and a strike rate of 25.2.

9. Nathan Ellis (Australia)

After Adam Zampa, Ellis was Australia’s second highest ranked bowler coming into the tournament.

As much as a lot has been made about the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood, Ellis has been the form man for the Baggy Greens for the last little while and there was plenty expected from him in India.

In all he managed just five wickets, four of them coming in Australia’s first game against Ireland. He failed to make an impact against either Zimbabwe or Sri Lanka, which is ultimately where Australia dropped out of the competition.

10. Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan)

The Afghan spinner has a big reputation and has been a consistent performer in franchise leagues around the world. Alongside Rashid Khan he was expected to be a handful on the wickets of India and Sri Lanka, but his competition was over almost before it began.

Afghanistan were desperately unlucky not to advance from the pool stages as they were drawn alongside dual semi-finalists South Africa and New Zealand. But Noor played in just two games and failed to take a wicket, a disappointing return.

11. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)

Feared in Test cricket and with a huge reputation as a destroyer, Rabada was disconcertingly out of form for the Proteas.

Rabada managed just five wickets all tournament, his scalps coming at an average of 43.40, numbers that are so far removed from his teammates like Lungi Ngidi and Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen.

The form of his teammates meant that Rabada’s poor form wasn’t more cruelly highlighted, but his horror show final over against Afghanistan nearly cost South Africa dearly.

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

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Revealed: Cricket365’s best T20 World Cup XI from the tournament

The T20 World Cup has come and gone, and India have retained their title. Sunday’s final was a one-sided affair as the hosts crushed New Zealand by 96 runs in Ahmedabad.

While the final was not the spectacle everyone was hoping for, the tournament was nevertheless packed with plenty of thrilling games and outstanding performances.

Now that it is all done, let’s take a moment to pick our team of the tournament.

1. Sanju Samson – (wicketkeeper, India)

He was named player of the tournament, but curiously Samson was something of a non-entity until the business end of proceedings.

Having said that, once he got going, Samson was simply unstoppable and there is lots to be said about scoring your runs when it matters as opposed to in early pool play.

Samson ended the tournament as the third highest scorer with 321 runs at an average of 80.25. His strike rate of 199.37 was remarkable.

2. Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan)

The leading scorer of the tournament, Farhan scored two centuries and ended the competition with 383 runs at an average of 76.60.

His total runs is more than 50 ahead of the player in second place (Tim Seifert), who played two more games.

It wasn’t an easy tournament for Pakistan who battled with political issues and a batting line-up that struggled, but through it all, Farhan kept going like a metronome at the top of the Pakistan order.

3. Aiden Markram (captain, South Africa)

He batted at the top of the order for South Africa, but we have placed him at three in this team to accommodate Samson and Farhan as openers.

Markram marshalled his South African team superbly executing his strategies and bowling changes to perfection – until it went wrong in the semi-final.

But aside from his leadership, Markram scored a bucketload of run and he scored quickly. This was a tournament where he really imposed himself. It’s no coincidence that under his leadership South Arica were the only team in the competition to defeat India.

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4. Ishan Kishan (India)

Kishan started as the opener of choice for India but was eventually replaced at the top of the order by Samson. He was replaced, not due to his lack of performance but rather because of the focus, wrath and frenzy and Samson rained down on his opponents.

Kishan was nevertheless outstanding finishing as the tournaments fourth highest scorer with 317 runs at an average of 35.22 and a strike-rate of 193.29. He was also excellent in the field.

5. Hardik Pandya (India)

A genuine allrounder and a man for the big occasion, Pandya just kept doing the business whenever he was called on. A powerful striker of the ball, on several occasions he added late ballast to India totals with his whirlwind hitting.

He also took key wickets and bowled crucial overs – both at the top and tail of innings.

6. Will Jacks (England)

There were plenty of players expected to shoot the lights out for England – Will Jacks wasn’t one of them.

But in a tournament where England struggled for fluency more than results, the one player who kept on performing with bat, ball and in the field was Will Jacks. His impact and his consistency were both outstanding.

He averaged 56.50 with the bat at a strike-rate of 176.56. Meanwhile with the ball he bagged nine wickets with an average of 21.66 and a strike rate of 13.33.

7. Adil Rashid (England)

The veteran England spinner makes our team ahead of Varun Chakravarthy, but it is a close call. Rashid took one wicket less than the Indian mystery spinner, but he ended the tournament with a better average and economy rate.

By the end of the tournament it felt like many of the more established teams had managed to demystify Chakravarthy.

Rashid however just kept on doing his thing, not only taking wickets, but also keeping the run rate down and therefore helping to create pressure and wickets for the rest of the team.

8. Jasprit Bumrah (India)

Former Protea skipper Faf du Plessis said that having a player like Bumrah in the team was like having a genie in the side. He is more than a little bit magic, and he always brings it in the big games.

Bumrah ended the tournament as the leading wicket taker with 14 scalps at an average of 12.42, an economy rate of 6.21 and a strike rate of a wicket two overs.

Bumrah is a generational talent, and as much as the India batting line-up get most of the attention, it is Bumrah’s role defending scores that truly sets India apart from their opponents.

9. Lungi Ngidi (South Africa)

South Africa is a country obsessed with fast bowlers, which makes Ngidi’s prowess with the ball even more special given he makes the side due to his slower balls.

Make no mistake, Ngidi can send the white ball down at pace, but it is his variations that can make him unplayable. Ngidi had an outstanding tournament, claiming 12 wickets at 15.58 with a strike rate of 13.00.

In a squad that includes Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen as strike options, Ngidi has firmly established himself as South Africa’s premier white-ball bowler.

10. Shadley van Schalkwyk (USA)

The veteran American quick makes this team despite playing just four games in the competition. America was knocked out after the pool stages but despite that the South African-born paceman almost finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker.

It was only in the final that he was nudged out of top spot. Van Schalkwyk was prolific, taking 13 wickets – his associated statistics are almost off the charts. He averaged 7.76 per scalp, had an economy rate of 6.80 and a preposterously low strike rate of 6.84.

11. Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe)

Zimbabwe were superb and fully deserved their spot in the Super Sixes at the expense of an undercooked Australia. The Chevrons played as a team, and they played for each other and their country.

They were a joy to watch. One of the stars was Muzarabani who was good enough to walk into almost any team at the tournament. Tall and intelligent, Muzarabani played with confidence and aggression, always coming hard at his opponent.

He ended the competition tied in third place as leading wicket taker with 13 scalps. He finished with a best return of 4/17, an average of 14.46 and a strike rate of 11.00.

12th man: Brian Bennett (Zimbabwe)

The Zimbabwean youngster was a star, and he edges players like Marco Jansen and Jacob Bethell out of this team to claim the 12th man spot.

It is hard to argue with the selection given that he ended the competition with a batting average of 146 and the sixth most runs in the tournament. He was also outstanding in the field, pulling off one of the catches of the tournament in pool play.

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India were preordained to win this T20 World Cup and they did not disappoint

India were preordained to win this T20 World Cup and they did not disappoint

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Can New Zealand stop India winning the T20 World Cup final?

After a month of compelling cricket, the field has been reduced to just two teams still standing.

It’s defending champions and hosts, India, up against serial semi-finalists New Zealand.

Both sides advanced to the final off the back of compelling batting efforts in the semis, with openers Finn Allen and Sanju Samson the two men who blazed the trail for their respective teams.

Sunday’s game will be compelling. India have lost just once all tournament, while New Zealand have suffered two reversals (each side has been beaten by South Africa).

If India win, they will claim their third title, while if the Kiwis are victorious, it will be their first.

T20 World Cup final – India v New Zealand

Key talking points

India

The World’s number one ranked side are playing at home, and they head into Sunday’s game as the clear favourites. But the favourite tag brings with it certain pressures that the underdog doesn’t have to worry about.

Heading into the final India will be very conscious of the fact that they haven’t been at their fluent best this tournament. Instead, they have relied on standout performances from individuals to get them over the line.

Sanju Samson has been the key in the last two games, while before that Ishan Kishan was the star. Varun Chakravarthy has been amongst the wickets, but he has been more expensive than usual.

New Zealand

New Zealand have never won this competition, but they will fancy their chances in 2026 especially given the way they destroyed previously unbeaten South Africa in the semi-final.

The Black Caps are a superbly balanced team with a mixture of sensational power hitters, excellent all-format cricketers and useful allrounders. Above everything, New Zealand are consistent.

Their opening partnership has been the most consistent all tournament while with the ball the wickets have been shared between several bowlers, with Rachin Ravindra surprisingly their best performer.

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Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

With a capacity of 132,000 this is the largest cricket stadium in the world. It will be sold out for Sunday’s final.

New Zealand have never won a game at the Narendra Modi Stadium, having played there on two previous occasions.

India have an excellent record at the ground, they have played there ten times, winning seven and losing three.

Sunday’s final will be just the 15th T20I to be held at the venue.

The side that won the toss has fielded first in 11 of the 14 games played at the ground.

The average first innings score at the ground is 174.

In what is perhaps a bad omen for the Black Caps, the highest score made at the ground was India’s 234 for four from 20 overs scored against New Zealand in 2023.

The Kiwis’ reply to that score was the lowest ever total at the ground – they were dismissed for just 66 runs.

The highest score successfully chased at the ground was South Africa’s 178 for three from 17.1 overs, made against New Zealand earlier this tournament.

Afghanistan chased 187 against South Africa, which was enough to tie the game but not to win it.

Weather

Sunday evening in Ahmedabad is forecast to be warm and pleasant. Temperatures will gradually cool from approximately 32 degrees down to 27. Skies will remain perfectly clear with no chance of rain.

Expect a light north-westerly breeze, as humidity levels stay low at roughly 25 percent.

Form

• India: W, W, W, L, W
• New Zealand: W, L, W, NR, W

Key players

Sanju Samson

Samson lost his spot in the India team for a while as Ishan Kishan found form and usurped him at the top of the order and behind the stumps.

But Samson is a quality performer and he hs battled his way back into contention to reclaim his openers spot alongside Abhishek Sharma.

Samson has come into form at exactly the right time as without him India may well have bowled out in the Super Eights.

His 97 from 50 balls was the mainstay of the chase against the West Indies, while his 89 from 42 in the semi-final against England was, unbelievably, even more fluent.

Samson has hit 11 sixes in his last two games. There are only two batsmen in the tournament who have scored more than 50 runs who have strike rates of over 200 – one is Samson, the other is Finn Allen.

Finn Allen

What Allen did to the Proteas on Wednesday was truly impressive. It will go down as one of the greatest ever T20 World Cup knocks.

Allen will know it won’t count for much if New Zealand don’t go on to secure the title and he will be looking to continue his good run of form in the final.

His partnership with Tim Seifert at the top of the Black Caps order has been the most fruitful of all opening combinations at the tournament.

Allen’s knock against South Africa took him up to third on the list of top scorers in the tournament (he has 289 runs from seven innings at an average of 57.80).

His opening partner Seifert is sixth on the list with 274 at 45.66. They make for an imposing combination, especially given they are striking at 203.52 (Allen) and 161.17 (Seifert) respectively.

Prediction: New Zealand

No team has ever defended its title, and no home side has ever won the competition. These stats are based on a relatively small sample size of nine previous tournaments, but there is something there.

A final is a one-off and T20, more than any other format, is a lottery. Any team can beat another on its day and this Sunday the time has come for it to be New Zealand’s day.

India have been good this tournament, but as the loss to South Africa showed, when they are fronted up to India can fold just like any other side.

If New Zealand can get onto the front foot and hush the 120 000 people who will pack the stadium, it could have a big effect on the hosts.

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

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Bethell makes brilliant century but England fall agonisingly short against India in semi-final

Bethell makes brilliant century but England fall agonisingly short against India in semi-final

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