The IPL has never been an easy place to lead, but captaincy here can turn on you very quickly. One good run and you are praised for every move; a few losses in a row and the questions start coming thick and fast. IPL 2026 has just hit the halfway stage, and already five captains have seen things shift from steady to shaky in the space of a couple of weeks.
T20 captaincy has changed, even if it has not been spoken about enough. It is no longer just about setting fields or rotating bowlers. It is about staying ahead of the game, reading situations early, and reacting before things slip. Even something like keeping a left-right batting combination going has become a constant factor. Teams plan for it, bowlers adjust to it, and captains are forced to think on their feet all the time. Get one call slightly wrong and the game can move away very quickly. This season also stands out because all ten teams are being led by Indian captains, which means every decision is under the scanner.
At its core, good captaincy is still about getting the basics right. Cutting off easy runs, making batters play shots they are not fully comfortable with, and setting fields with a clear plan. A deep extra cover for the inside-out shot, a fine leg moved at the right time, a mid-wicket placed for the slog. These are simple things, but they shape how an over plays out. And in this format, one over can change everything.
A lot of matches this year are also being driven by tactical match-ups coming from analysts in the dugout rather than the captain’s instinct in the middle. The obsession with left-right combinations or avoiding left-arm spin to left-handers has become almost rigid. Match-ups matter, but they are a guide, not a rulebook. The best captains know when to follow them and when to trust what they see. At times this season, it has felt like the art of captaincy is being squeezed out of the game.
The captains who have looked the most in control are the ones who have kept things simple. Shreyas Iyer has been clear in his approach and backed his instincts, while Rajat Patidar has stayed calm under pressure and kept his side steady. They have not got everything right, but they have got enough right at the right time.
Others are still searching for that rhythm. Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel have all had phases where defensive calls around bowling changes or batting order have stalled momentum. Shubman Gill and Riyan Parag, meanwhile, have looked like they are reacting to the game rather than shaping it.
There have been specific calls that stand out. Axar holding himself back against SRH, Ruturaj Gaikwad handing the third over to a part-timer like Short. These are not just isolated errors. They point to a pattern.
In contrast, Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar have largely kept things on track, trusting simple plans and making timely calls.
It is not just about what is happening on the field either. Backroom decisions have been just as questionable. Team selections have lacked clarity, batting orders have been shuffled without logic, and toss calls have often gone against conditions. Put it all together, and it feels like more matches this season are being lost in the planning room than on the pitch.
SHREYAS IYER – 9/10
Shreyas Iyer has settled into the Punjab Kings captaincy in a way that now feels effortless. When he took over last season, there was curiosity around how he would shape the side. By the end of it, he had led them to the final. This year, he has carried that momentum forward with greater assurance. Punjab are the only unbeaten team so far, sitting at the top with five wins from six games, and Iyer has been at the centre of it.
What stands out is the clarity in his leadership. There is no sense of overthinking or chasing perfect match-ups. The calls have been simple, but timely. He has managed phases well, rotated his bowlers smartly, and kept the side steady in key moments. That calmness has reflected in how Punjab have gone about their games.
His batting has only strengthened that impact. Iyer has not just scored runs, he has controlled games. With 208 runs in five innings at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 182.46, including three fifties, he has set the tone at the top. The tempo of his innings has often put Punjab ahead of the game early.
His overall record backs it up. Across seven seasons and 93 matches, he has a win percentage of 59.30, among the best for active IPL captains. This is not a short burst of form, but a consistent pattern.
If Punjab are to carry this run through the second half, they will once again look to Iyer. Not just for runs, but for the control and clarity he has brought to their campaign.
RAJAT PATIDAR – 7.5/10
Rajat Patidar has carried forward the momentum after ending RCB’s 18-year wait for a title last season. This year, he has looked even more assured, both as a leader and as a batter. There is a sense of control in how he has approached games, making measured decisions and adjusting his batting order based on the situation rather than sticking to rigid plans.
What has stood out is his awareness of the moment. He has rotated himself smartly, stepped in when the game has demanded more, and kept the innings moving without losing intent. The balance between aggression and control has been key.
With the bat, he has been one of the most impactful players this season. In six innings, he has scored 230 runs at a striking rate of 213, including two half-centuries. These are not just quick runs, but runs that have shifted momentum in RCB’s favour.
RCB, as a result, have looked like a settled side. Four wins from six games has them placed second on the table, and much of that stability has come from the way Patidar has led from the front.
ISHAN KISHAN – 7/10
Ishan Kishan’s stint as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad has been a promising debut leadership season, marked by strong individual batting form and steadily improving tactical control.
Taking over the role without prior IPL captaincy experience and stepping into the shoes of Pat Cummins was always going to be challenging. Kishan, however, has shown resilience and has not allowed early pressure to derail his approach.
SRH began the season on a disappointing note, losing the opening match and struggling through three defeats in their first four games. But Kishan responded well, helping the team bounce back with a three-match winning streak that revived their campaign.
One of the key turning points has been SRH’s bowling unit. Initially seen as a weak link, Kishan backed his resources rather than overhauling them. His trust in young players like Praful Hinge, Shivang Kumar, and Sakib Hussain has paid off, with the trio contributing positively in crucial moments.
Importantly, captaincy has not affected Kishan’s batting output. He has remained one of SRH’s most impactful batters, scoring 238 runs at a strike rate close to 190, consistently providing aggressive starts at the top.
His leadership growth is also backed by prior success; Kishan had earlier guided Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, and his transition into IPL captaincy suggests a maturing cricketing mind.
RIYAN PARAG – 5/10
Rajasthan Royals’ season has had a bit of everything. A flying start, a couple of reality checks, and then a steady climb back. On the surface, it looks like a team doing a lot right. But look closer, and most of the heavy lifting has been done by the batters, not the captain.
At the top, it has been box-office stuff. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi playing fearless cricket, taking on even the best from ball one. Yashasvi Jaiswal has looked in control, ticking off another phase in his T20 evolution. Dhruv Jurel has chipped in when needed. The runs have flowed, the momentum has been there, but very little of that has come from Riyan Parag himself.
And that is where the problem begins. 81 runs in seven matches at an average of 13.50 is not just a lean patch, it is a pressure point. In T20 cricket, your middle overs define the game, and Rajasthan have had to work around that gap.
Then come the calls. The one against Sunrisers Hyderabad still stands out. Not using Ravindra Jadeja against left-handers raised eyebrows, and not just a few. It felt like a moment where experience was left unused when it was needed the most.
There have been other phases too where the bowling changes have felt like they are chasing the game instead of shaping it. Early on, that lack of clarity showed. When things got tight, there wasn’t always a clear move to pull them back.
But it is not all bleak. That win against Lucknow Super Giants, defending 159, showed what it can look like when Parag gets it right. The field placements made sense, the bowlers were used better, and for once, it felt like Rajasthan were dictating terms.
Right now, Parag’s season feels like a work in progress. The team is doing enough to stay afloat, the batters are carrying the load, and the captain is still figuring out how to turn moments into control.
SHUBMAN GILL – 5/10
There is a calmness to Shubman Gill the batter. There is still a bit of a wait-and-watch feel to Gill the captain.
Gujarat Titans have not been a mess this season. In fact, they have stayed competitive largely because Gill has kept things ticking at the top. The runs are there, the starts are solid, and on most days, he has given his team something to build on.
But captaincy in this format is not about holding things together. It is about breaking games open. And that is where Gill has looked a step behind.
The Punjab Kings game is a good example. The match was there to be wrestled back, wickets were needed, but Prasidh Krishna came on only in the 13th over. By then, the game had already tilted. It was less a wrong call and more a late one.
That has been a bit of a pattern. DRS calls that feel uncertain, field placements that do not quite match the plan, and an overall sense that Gill is reacting to the game instead of getting ahead of it.
There have also been moments where he has looked a touch passive. In high-pressure phases, you want your captain to step in, shuffle things around, make something happen. With Gill, it has sometimes felt like he is watching the game unfold from close quarters.
The positive is that the base is there. He understands the game, he has the respect of the group, and his own batting form gives him a cushion. But the jump from good to very good captaincy comes down to timing.
Right now, Gill is still getting there. The instincts are forming, the decisions are coming, but just a fraction late. And in T20 cricket, that fraction is everything.
AXAR PATEL – 4/10
Axar Patel came into this season with a fair bit of expectation around him. Delhi Capitals had come close to a playoff spot in his first year as captain, and there was a feeling he would be better prepared this time, especially after being part of Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership group during India’s T20 World Cup-winning run.
But it hasn’t quite gone that way. Axar has looked a little off his game, both as a player and as a captain. The runs haven’t come, the wickets have been limited, and more importantly, there have been moments where he hasn’t backed himself enough — either with the ball or in his decisions. That uncertainty has shown in how Delhi have gone about their games.
In six matches, he has scored just 34 runs and picked up six wickets. But beyond the numbers, it is the calls in key moments that have stood out. The loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad summed it up. Axar chose not to bowl himself and didn’t fully use Kuldeep Yadav, instead turning to part-time spin through Nitish Rana to deal with left-handers. It didn’t come off, and the game drifted away.
The season had started well enough. Delhi won their first two matches and looked in control, but the results since then have been uneven. The win against defending champions RCB showed what this side is capable of, but they haven’t quite built on it.
If Delhi are to stay in the mix, they will need Axar to take a step forward. Not just with bat and ball, but in how he reads the game. Backing his instincts, trusting his strengths, and being a bit more decisive in key moments could go a long way.
RUTURAJ GAIKWAD – 4/10
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s captaincy in IPL 2026 has been a mixed bag so far. CSK started the season in disappointing fashion, losing their first three matches on the trot, which immediately put Gaikwad under pressure and raised questions over his leadership.
There was, however, some recovery as CSK produced a dominant 103-run win over Mumbai Indians. The victory stood out as a statement performance, with the team showing improved balance and intent. CSK controlled the game across departments, and Gaikwad earned credit for his proactive use of spinners and better tactical clarity in that match. The result also marked CSK’s biggest win over MI in IPL history, briefly easing scrutiny on his captaincy.
Despite that high point, criticism has persisted around his team selections. One major talking point has been CSK’s handling of West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, who was left out in the early matches.
Notably, CSK have won all games in which Hosein has played, strengthening the argument that he has been an effective option. Questions have also been raised over CSK’s decision to invest Rs 14.2 crore in all-rounder Prashant Veer but not utilise him as a bowler, which has added to scrutiny of Gaikwad’s utilisation of resources.
Overall, CSK have yet to find full consistency in IPL 2026, and Gaikwad’s own form has added to the concerns. In seven matches, he has scored only 104 runs at an average of 14.85 and a strike rate of 119.54, reflecting an underwhelming season with the bat as well.
RISHABH PANT – 1/10
There was a sense of optimism around Rishabh Pant heading into the season. The work behind the scenes, the build-up, and the expectation that he would take charge of this Lucknow Super Giants side all pointed towards a fresh start.
That promise has not translated.
Neither his own performances nor the team’s results have reflected that preparation. Pant’s season has been marked by inconsistency, and more importantly, by decisions that have raised questions around his leadership.
There have been moments that stand out. The game against Rajasthan Royals is one such example, where the tactical calls did not quite add up. More broadly, there has been a lack of clarity in how he has structured his side, particularly with the batting order.
The decision to push himself up the order has been one of the more puzzling moves. Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh at the top, along with Nicholas Pooran at No.3, had already established a strong foundation last season, each crossing 500 runs. Breaking that structure to accommodate himself only made sense if it improved the side.
It hasn’t.
If anything, it has disrupted a working combination while not delivering returns of its own. That, in many ways, sums up Pant’s season. The intent has been there, but the execution and awareness of what the team needs in the moment have been lacking.
Leadership in T20 cricket is about clarity and direction. So far, Pant has struggled to provide both, and until that changes, both his place and his captaincy will continue to be under scrutiny.
AJINKYA RAHANE – 1/10
Kolkata Knight Riders have taken a hit this season with the absence of Mustafizur Rahman and Harshit Rana. For a side already in a rebuilding phase, those are significant gaps. But even within those constraints, the bigger concern has been how the available resources have been used.
There have been decisions that have not aligned with match context. Opting to bat first despite rain in the forecast was one such call, especially in a format where conditions can quickly shape the outcome. Similarly, the use of their biggest strengths has lacked clarity. The spin pairing of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine remains one of the most potent in the league, yet it has rarely felt like there is a defined plan around how to maximise them together.
The concerns extend to Rahane’s own understanding of his role. He has spoken about having one of the better strike-rates at the top, but that claim has not been backed by numbers. If anything, his scoring rate has often been among the slower ones in the top order. In a format where tempo is crucial, that mismatch between intent and output has put added pressure on the rest of the batting lineup.
KKR do have players capable of turning games individually, and that has kept them competitive in phases. But T20 cricket demands more than moments. It requires clarity, direction, and an awareness of what the game needs. Those elements have been inconsistent so far, and that has reflected in Rahane’s season as captain.
HARDIK PANDYA – 0/10
Mumbai Indians have been a horror story this season, one that not even Akash Ambani seems willing to sit through, and much of the blame has rightly been directed at the man competing for the “most outstandingly auraless captain of the season” tag.
Hardik Pandya, a player known for his aura, has just been farming the wooden spoon for his franchise this Indian Premier League season. The ‘main character energy’ that defined his stint at Gujarat Titans has curdled into a visible lack of authority in the MI dugout.
Hardik’s on-field decisions have been abysmal, to say the least. Whether it is handing crucial death overs to a rookie Kris Bhagat or opting not to start with one of the team’s most lethal bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah, his choices have consistently raised questions.
His struggles to settle on a stable batting order, frequently shuffling his star players without clear results, add to the woes.
Despite Mumbai Indians being above Ajinkya Rahane’s Kolkata Knight Riders on the points table, Hardik still finds himself at the bottom of our captain’s ranking. While Rahane’s struggle feels like a sunset, Hardik’s feels like a mismanagement of a golden generation. He isn’t just losing games; he’s a leading contender for an unwanted legacy.
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Published By:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published On:
Apr 25, 2026 10:47 IST
