Table of Contents
Over the years, the Indian Premier League has seen some really iconic leaders like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who have shaped their teams with sharp calls and that calm vibe under pressure.
Now with the IPL 2026 season just around the corner, the leadership trends are shifting a bit. Some fresh faces stepping up, even a few relatively inexperienced captains ready to prove themselves on the big stage.
Let's look at the captains of all 10 teams in IPL 2026:
1. Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad will once again lead Chennai Super Kings and the task in front of him is quite big. The five-time champions had a rough season last year, finishing last in the table, and Gaikwad himself missed a chunk of the tournament after an injury in the middle phase.
Now with MS Dhoni still around the squad, he gets another chance to steady things. Gaikwad already proved his value with the bat. This season, though, it’s more about how he grows as a leader.
2. Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel
Axar Patel will be leading Delhi Capitals and it will be the first time he captains an IPL side full-time. The franchise had many senior names in the group but still backed the all-rounder for the role.
Axar has been one of the most reliable players for the team in recent years. Now he gets a bigger responsibility. How he handles the pressure will be something only time will tell.
3. Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill continues as the captain of Gujarat Titans. The franchise had its glory moment back in 2022, and Gill later took over the leadership in 2024. The two seasons since then have been decent but not really perfect.
Last year the Titans had a strong run in the league stage but missed the top two spots in the table. Gill already has a good amount of international and captaincy experience now. Gujarat Titans will hope this season goes one step further.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane
Kolkata Knight Riders will be led by Ajinkya Rahane for the second consecutive season. The three-time champions have gone for an experienced head this time. Rahane has played the game for many years and understands pressure situations well.
His calm nature and tactical thinking could help the side during tight games. KKR have a balanced squad and the aim will be simple - push for another title and make it number four.
5. Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant will once again captain Lucknow Super Giants. The wicketkeeper batter had a rather disastrous run with the bat in the previous season, and things didn’t always click with captaincy either.
Still, Pant is known for his fearless style and attacking mindset.That’s what makes him different. LSG will depend a lot on his energy and leadership for a strong campaign this year.
6. Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya continues to lead Mumbai Indians, one of the most successful teams in IPL history. The expectations are always huge with this franchise, and Pandya has shown before that he can handle the captaincy role.
Mumbai also have plenty of match winners in the squad, which makes them dangerous. If things click together, they can easily turn into one of the strongest sides of the season.
7. Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer remains the captain of Punjab Kings and the responsibility on him is massive. The franchise came painfully close to their first IPL title last year. They lost the final by just six runs, which still hurts the fans.
Iyer played a big role in that journey with the bat and also with his leadership. Punjab Kings will be hoping their captain can once again guide them deep into the tournament.
8. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar
Rajat Patidar returns as the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions. The right-hand batter already wrote his name in RCB history after leading them to their first-ever IPL title.
The wait had lasted 18 long years. Patidar’s calm approach and smart decisions stood out during that run. Now the challenge will be different. Try and repeat that magic once again.
9. Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins will be leading Sunrisers Hyderabad again. The Australian fast bowler hasn’t been very active in international cricket recently, which means he should come fresh into the tournament.
Hyderabad have built a strong squad, especially their batting looks powerful. Cummins’ experience will be important for balancing the side and making those key calls during crunch moments.
10. Rajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag steps in as the captain of Rajasthan Royals. The young batter has led the side a few times before but not really as a full-time leader.
This season things are different. With Sanju Samson moving to another franchise, the responsibility now falls on Parag’s shoulders, a big moment in his career. The Royals will hope their young captain grows quickly into the role.
IPL 2026: Punjab Kings have unfinished business and 18 years of history standing in their way
