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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in IPL 2026 (Source: AFP)
The IPL 2026 season has entertained fans with high-scoring thrillers and record-breaking performances. As the league stage nears its end, discussions about star performers have already started on social media in India.
Amid this excitement, Star Sports recently released the list of the 'Top 5 Most Talked About Players' of IPL 2026 based on social media conversations tracked by Distillery, the broadcaster's analytics arm.
Virat Kohli continues to dominate the list
The list featured big names that include Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Sanju Samson, and KL Rahul. However, what surprised many was the absence of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's name.
According to the data shared by Star Sports, Virat Kohli dominated the social conversation charts with 44% of the total engagement.
MS Dhoni followed with 21%, while Rohit Sharma secured 3rd place with 18%. Sanju Samson and KL Rahul completed the top five with 10% and 8% respectively.
It is important to mention that Virat Kohli has been at the top of the list, which clearly shows that the RCB star batter has remained the centre of online discussions throughout the IPL 2026.
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RCB currently sit at the top of the IPL 2026 points table with 14 points and a strong NRR of +1.103. Although the former India captain recently faced a slight dip in form with consecutive ducks against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI), his overall numbers remain impressive.
Virat Kohli has scored 379 runs in 11 innings at an average of 42.11 and a strike rate above 163.
Sanju Samson and KL Rahul shine in IPL 2026
Sanju Samson has enjoyed a remarkable season for CSK after moving from Rajasthan Royals before the tournament. The stylish batter has become one of CSK's most dependable players in IPL 2026.
In the ongoing cash-rich league, the Kerala player has made 430 runs in 11 matches at an average of 53.75 and a strike rate of 169.29.
Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals batter KL Rahul also enjoyed a consistent season. KL Rahul has scored 477 runs in 12 matches at an average of 43.36 and a strike rate of 177.98.
MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma also remained among the most discussed players despite different situations. It is important to note that MS Dhoni has not featured in IPL 2026 so far, yet his popularity among fans continues to generate huge engagement online.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not included in the list
The biggest talking point after the release of the list was the absence of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old youngster has emerged as one of the most talked-about players in IPL 2026.
His fearless batting style and ability to dominate experienced bowlers have made him one of the most exciting players to watch this season.
However, this is not the first IPL season that he has been in the limelight. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been in the talks since IPL 2025. The player from Bihar first gained the limelight when he secured an IPL contract worth ₹1.1 crore at the age of 13.
From then on, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has never taken a step back, and in IPL 2025, he scored a century in 35 balls, the youngest in the league's history.
Overall, that season, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played 7 matches and scored 252 runs at a strike rate of 206.55. He has been consistent with his batting approach and has made 440 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 236.55 this season so far.
Along with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, players like Abhishek Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, and Ishan Kishan were also not present in the list.
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