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 franchisesRuturaj 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 IndiansAfter 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 BengaluruRajat 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 KingsShreyas 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.Also read: Most Expensive Players In IPL HistoryChanging 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 TitansSucceeding 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 RidersOn 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.Ishan Kishan, Sunrisers HyderabadAhead of the IPL 2026, Ishan Kishan was named the interim captain of the SRH in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins. The Australian cricket team captain, who is recovering from a prolonged back injury, has been ruled out of the initial few matches. Moreover, Kishan will have Abhishek Sharma as his deputy. The decision to promote Ishan as the new SRH captain comes after he led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in 2025-26. Moreover, not only did he guide the team tactically, but he also delivered with the bat, scoring a remarkable 517 runs at a strike rate close to 200.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.Also read: Sachin Tendulkar Forced To Retire? Former Selector Makes Explosive Claim
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