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IPL 2026 Team of the Tournament: Best XI, captain and impact player featuring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

IPL 2026 Team of the Tournament: Best XI, captain and impact player featuring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The Cricket News announced their IPL 2026 Team of the Tournament.
Rajasthan Royals' teen prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opens the batting.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar is leading the team with SRH's Ishan Kishan as the wicket-keeper.
Virat Kohli misses out, with Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill taking the opening spot alongside Sooryavanshi.

CN best XI:Openers | No. 3 | No.4/5 | No. 6 | No. 7 | No. 8 | No. 9 | No. 10 | No. 11 | Impact players | Biggest snubs

The Cricket News' IPL 2026 Team of the Tournament

The IPL 2026 season began under the shadow of India's T20 World Cup triumph and the fatigue that followed but it gradually turned into one of the most memorable editions.

Record-breaking batting, breakout stars, fall of the giants and surprise playoff runs. IPL 2026 delivered almost everything fans could have asked for.

The biggest story of them all was the emergence of Rajasthan Royals sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenage prodigy transformed into the league's newest superstar with a season of staggering six-hitting. At the other end of the spectrum were veterans such as Virat Kohli, who once again showcased experience and consistency through his 19th season.

MORE:Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the 'Pele' of cricket?

With only the final left to be played, here is Cricket News' provisional IPL 2026 Team of the Tournament.

Openers: Shubman Gill (GT), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR)

The opening slots generated perhaps the fiercest debate in this Team of the Tournament. Virat Kohli, Sai Sudharsan, Abhishek Sharma and KL Rahul all had compelling cases but we've opted for a left-right combination that perfectly captures two contrasting batting philosophies: fire and ice.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the fire.

At just 15 years old, the Rajasthan Royals sensation became the youngest batter to score more than 700 runs in an IPL season. He also came within touching distance of Chris Gayle's fastest IPL century record and even surpassed the Universe Boss for most sixes in a single season.

The scary part? It still feels like he left runs on the table. Sooryavanshi was dismissed in the 90s three times, narrowly missing out on what could have been an even more ridiculous season. Opposition teams spent the season searching for answers. Few found any.

International stars such as Pat Cummins saw their plans fail against him, while domestic bowlers (like Praful Hinge) who found some success often paid the price (2 wickets, 57 runs off 17 balls at a strike rate of 335) when they met him again.

At the other end is Shubman Gill - the ice.

The Gujarat Titans captain has had his fair share of doubters about his T20 strike rate, which may even have led to him being dropped from India's T20 World Cup squad. He answered those critics in style.

Gill crossed the 700-run mark once again this season and has continued to forge a strong partnership with Sai Sudharsan at GT. He also became the first player in IPL history to score two centuries in the playoffs.

Together, Gill and Sooryavanshi offer the perfect opening combination for us. Gill absorbs pressure and punishes mistakes while allowing Sooryavanshi to bat like a kid playing a video game.

BCCI/Creimas

No. 3: Ishan Kishan (SRH, wicket-keeper)

We were tempted to shoehorn Sai Sudharsan into the No. 3 spot despite him opening for GT. RCB's Devdutt Padikkal also had a case of his own but ultimately, Ishan Kishan brings the kind of chaos we love and something this XI needs.

Whether it's the fearless approach with the bat or his presence behind the wickets (or a bit of post-match jab at opponents), there's going to be entertainment when the Jharkhand batter is around.

2026 has also been a redemption season for the left-hander. After helping India win the T20 World Cup, Kishan carried that form into the IPL, scoring just over 600 runs at a strike rate north of 180 while registering six fifty-plus scores.

BCCI/Creimas

No. 4 and 5: Rajat Patidar (RCB, Captain) and Heinrich Klaasen (SRH)

Heinrich Klaasen has mostly batted at No. 4 this season but we're happy to interchange him with Rajat Patidar if needed.

Patidar gets the captaincy in our team. The RCB skipper is on the verge of joining an exclusive club. If Bengaluru lifts the trophy, he will become only the third captain after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to win back-to-back IPL titles.

Patidar's greatest strength is his calmness. The Madhya Pradesh batter rarely looks flustered, regardless of the occasion. Behind the poker face lies one of the most destructive batters of the season - 486 runs at a strike rate touching 200. His stunning 93 off 33 balls in Qualifier 1 against GT was a statement that he not only belongs among the IPL's elite players but also in the Indian side.

Alongside him is Klaasen, who is arguably the most feared middle-order batter in the competition. The South African became the first middle-order batter to score more than 600 runs in an IPL season while batting exclusively at No. 4 or lower.

Few bowlers escaped his wrath. Not even Josh Hazlewood, one of the world's premier T20 quicks, was spared as Klaasen smashed 27 runs in an over - the most expensive over of Hazlewood's T20 career.

Both Klaasen and Patidar can dismantle spin and pace alike, making them the ideal enforcers in this XI.

No. 6: Krunal Pandya (RCB)

This might be one of our most contentious selections in the XI but Krunal Pandya is probably the glue holding together this team. We needed a spin-bowler or an all-rounder who could contribute in both departments and Krunal ticks those boxes better than anyone else this season.

With the bat, Krunal delivered when RCB needed him most. His match-winning 73 off 46 balls against the Mumbai Indians and crucial contributions against the Sunrisers Hyderabad and GT. He was RCB's problem-solver of sorts.

With the ball, 14 wickets in 13 matches isn't the return of a frontline strike bowler but Krunal's value lies in his variations and game awareness.

Few spinners in the competition were willing to innovate as much as he did. Bouncers from a spinner? It sounds absurd on paper, yet Krunal repeatedly used them to disrupt batters' rhythm and force mistakes.

Sportzpics, BCCI

No. 7: Jason Holder (GT)

Excuse us, there's another contentious pick in this XI besides Krunal and it's Jason Holder.

The biggest casualty of this pick is Holder's GT teammate, Kagiso Rabada, who is a leading contender for the Purple Cap but due to the four-overseas-player constraint, difficult decisions have to be made.

Holder spent the opening weeks of the season watching from the sidelines before forcing his way into the XI. Once he got his chance, he made himself impossible to drop.

MORE:Jason Holder's fiery celebration in front of Virat Kohli after dismissing him again in IPL 2026

Heading into the final, the West Indies all-rounder has claimed 17 wickets in just 10 matches at an average of 16.11 and an economy rate of 7.54. More importantly, he offers versatility. Holder can take the new ball, operate through the middle overs with his deceptive pace-off deliveries and return at the death if required.

GT rarely needed him with the bat, but at No. 7, Holder can provide some batting insurance without weakening the bowling attack.

BCCI/Creimas

No. 8: Sunil Narine (KKR)

If there is a synonym for reliability in the IPL, the Kolkata Knight Riders would probably call it Sunil Narine.

The WI spinner has been a mainstay since arriving in Kolkata in 2012 and in IPL 2026, Narine added another milestone to his remarkable legacy by becoming the first overseas bowler to take 200 wickets in the tournament.

At first glance, 15 wickets in 13 matches is hardly a Purple Cap-worthy return. But judging Narine solely on wickets misses the point. He once again suffocated teams through the middle overs, finishing the season with an economy rate of just 6.64.

Even without major batting contributions, Narine remained one of KKR's most impactful players in a campaign that ended earlier than the franchise would have hoped.

No. 9: Jofra Archer (RR)

RR's decision to spend ₹12.5 crore on Jofra Archer at the IPL 2025 mega auction has aged beautifully.

After years of battling injuries, Archer finally looked like the bowler who once terrorised batters as the England quick produced arguably the best IPL season of his career.

MORE:'97? WTF': Did Jofra Archer predict Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's IPL 2026 heroics a decade ago?

Archer claimed 25 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 22.36 and is on course to finish as the third-highest wicket-taker this season. He has been particularly devastating with the new ball, ranking third in the most wickets in that phase.

But his impact wasn't limited to the ball. In RR's must-win clash against the Mumbai Indians to keep their playoff hopes alive, Archer delivered one of the best POTM performances of the season. He smashed 32 off just 15 balls before returning figures of 3/17 and dragging RR over the line almost single-handedly.

Without that performance, RR may not even have made the playoffs.

No. 10: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar continues to age like fine wine and will be contending for the Purple Cap award during the final, trailing Rabada by just 2 wickets.

With the new ball, his economy rate of 7.03 is the best among regular powerplay bowlers (minimum 25 balls) this season, while his 16 wickets in the phase rank second-highest behind Rabada.

Bhuvneshwar has also been one of the most effective death bowlers in IPL 2026, claiming nine wickets at the back end of the innings through his trademark blend of yorkers and subtle variations.

BCCI/Creimas

No. 11: Prince Yadav (LSG)

Prince Yadav might be the least glamorous name in this XI but he could end up becoming one of the most important Indian fast bowlers to emerge from IPL 2026.

His performances certainly haven't gone unnoticed. Despite LSG missing out on the playoffs, Yadav's impressive campaign earned him a maiden India call-up for the Afghanistan series.

MORE:'Want to play 2027 World Cup with Virat and Rohit': LSG's Prince Yadav dreams of winning ODI World Cup with India legends

The right-arm quick picked up 16 wickets in 14 matches despite operating on some of the most batting-friendly surfaces of the season. While he possesses decent pace and the ability to move the ball, it is his control that has stood out most.

Time and again, Yadav remained effective during the season, hitting challenging lengths, mixing up his pace intelligently and showing a maturity beyond his experience.

While he makes it into the XI with Rabada missing out as a result of the overseas quota limit, sometimes, it isn't always about the biggest names. Yadav has been one of IPL 2026's biggest success stories and fully deserves his place in this side.

Impact Player: Ashutosh Sharma or Nitish Reddy

As for the impact player, we have to pick an Indian, given that we have already selected four overseas players in the XI. Ashutosh Sharma could be our pick if the team needs some explosive hitting to finish the innings.

On the other hand, Nitish Reddy could offer some batting support in case of collapses, especially in the first innings, as he could also stay in as an extra bowling option in the second innings.

MORE:Bowling average over 100: Jasprit Bumrah ends IPL 2026 as first bowler in T20 history with unwanted record

Biggest snubs

Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Abhishek Sharma: Gill, and Sooryavanshi's opening combo meant several stars had to miss out.
Sai Sudharsan: Perhaps the toughest batting omission after another 700-run season and a record-breaking partnership with Gill.
Kagiso Rabada: Missed out due to the four overseas quota, as Holder was preferred for depth.
No CSK, MI, PBKS, DC players.

CN's IPL 2026 team of the tournament

Shubman Gill
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Ishan Kishan (wk)
Rajat Patidar (c)
Heinrich Klaasen
Krunal Pandya
Jason Holder
Sunil Narine
Jofra Archer
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Prince Yadav
Impact: Ashutosh Sharma or Nitish Reddy

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