IPL 2026 Captains (AFP)
On Wednesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the schedule for the highly-anticipated IPL 2026. The opening fixture of the 19th edition of the multi-billion-dollar league will be played between the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28 at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
It is worth noting that the schedule has been announced only for the first 20 games of the IPL 2026 season due to the upcoming state elections. Nonetheless, with the fixtures being revealed, the craze for the premier T20 league is reaching heights.
In this article, we take a look at the leaders of all IPL teams for the fast-approaching season.
IPL 2026 captains for all 10 franchises
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Chennai Super Kings
Ahead of the IPL 2024, MS Dhoni handed over the CSK captaincy to young Ruturaj Gaikwad. This move came after Gaikwad proved his mettle, leading India to a Gold Medal at the 2023 Asian Games. Notably, stepping into the shoes of the five-time IPL-winning captain, Dhoni, the new CSK captain has had a decent run in the IPL so far.
Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians
After impressing as Gujarat Titans' captain, winning the IPL 2022 trophy and reaching the final in the following edition, Hardik Pandya was named Mumbai Indians’ leader in the 2024 season, returning to his original franchise.
However, in his first captaincy campaign, the star all-rounder struggled in leading the side, with MI ending at the bottom of the table. MI made a decent comeback in the coming season under Pandya.
Rajat Patidar, Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Rajat Patidar was officially named the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the IPL 2025 season on February 13, 2025. In his very first edition as the captain, the 31-year-old middle-order batter made history by taking the Bengaluru-based franchise to their maiden IPL trophy in 18 years.
Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings
Shreyas Iyer will lead Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2026, after being named the captain in the 2025 season. Ahead of the auction, Iyer was released by KKR, despite winning the IPL 2024 title under him. PBKS, who were in search of a reliable captain, signed for a record-breaking ₹26.75 crore in the mega auction.
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Changing the team’s fortunes, he led the team to the playoffs, becoming the first captain in IPL history to take three different teams (DC, KKR, PBKS) to this stage.
Shubman Gill, Gujarat Titans
Succeeding Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill is the captain of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL, taking over the leadership role in 2024. He has led the team through the 2024 and 2025 seasons and is set to continue as captain for the IPL 2026 season. Under his captaincy, the team remains a competitive force in the league.
Ajinkya Rahane, Kolkata Knight Riders
On Wednesday evening, KKR management announced that Ajinkya Rahane is set to continue as the captain in the IPL 2026, which begins on March 28. The Kolkata-based franchise had revamped the squad at the mini auction in December, keeping him in mind as the leader. The Knight Riders finished eighth under his captaincy with 12 points from 14 matches last season.
Pat Cummins, Sunrisers Hyderabad
Australia’s Pat Cummins will continue as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for a third consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The 31-year-old took over SRH's captaincy in 2024 after being acquired for a staggering ₹20.50 crore at the auction, then the highest bid in IPL history. SRH is set to play against the defending champions, RCB, in the opening fixture of the IPL 2026.
Rishabh Pant, Lucknow Super Giants
After moving on from KL Rahul, LSG appointed Rishabh Pant the captain ahead of the IPL 2025 season. He was acquired for a record-breaking ₹27 crore in the auction, becoming the most expensive player in IPL history. After a disappointing 2025 season, Pant will hope to prove his mettle in the upcoming season.
Axar Patel, Delhi Capitals
After a decent IPL 2025 as the captain, Axar Patel will continue to lead Delhi Capitals in the next season. The India all-rounder initially joined the Capitals in 2019 and has since emerged as one of the franchise's the performers across the six seasons, thanks to his ability to step up to the occasion.
Riyan Parag, Rajasthan Royals
A new name in the IPL captaincy list, Riyan Parag, has been named as the captain of RR for the IPL 2026. Riyan, who has already served as the stand-in captain for the side last season, will take up the role full-time in the 19th edition.
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