IPL 2026 team of the tournament: Kohli, Sooryavanshi Headline XI

Sooryavanshi tops the IPL 2026 run charts
Kohli shines in RCB’s title-winning campaign
Rabada and Bhuvneshwar lead elite bowling attack

The IPL 2026 season was defined by fearless batting, relentless scoring and standout performances under pressure. At the forefront stood Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose record-breaking campaign made him one of the easiest selections in recent Team of the Tournament history.

With Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad contributing four players each, the final XII reflects the teams and individuals who shaped one of the most explosive seasons the league has witnessed.

Openers set the tone

Virat Kohli 🤝 Vaibhav Sooryavanshipic.twitter.com/f19uAyPpwc
— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) June 1, 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

16 innings | 776 runs | Average 48.50 | Strike Rate 237.30

No player dominated IPL 2026 quite like Sooryavanshi. The teenage sensation finished with the most runs in the tournament and did so at a strike rate that left the rest of the field scrambling to keep pace.

His season was packed with memorable knocks. There was a blistering 78 off 26 against the defending champions, a breathtaking 36-ball century and a stunning 93 off 38 in a must-win fixture. He then lit up the playoffs with 97 off 29 on debut before carrying his side with 96 off 47 in Qualifier 2. It was a campaign that combined volume, power and remarkable composure.

Virat Kohli

16 innings | 675 runs | Average 56.25 | Strike Rate 165.84

At 37, Kohli once again proved that class remains permanent. The RCB veteran crossed the 600-run mark for a fourth consecutive season while unveiling a more aggressive version of his game.

Rather than building slowly, Kohli attacked from the outset and became one of the most effective powerplay batters in the competition. His willingness to take risks at the top helped fuel Bengaluru’s successful title-defence campaign. The season ended with the fastest fifty of his IPL career, a fitting reward for another exceptional year.

Middle order stars make their mark

Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper)

15 innings | 602 runs | Average 40.13 | Strike Rate 182.42

Kishan produced the finest IPL season of his career and repeatedly delivered in the biggest moments for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

His explosive 80 off 38 in the opening game set the tone before innings of 91 off 44, 74 off 31 and 79 off 46 helped power SRH through the season. Yet perhaps his most impressive contribution was a composed 70 off 47 during a tricky chase at Chepauk, showcasing a maturity that complemented his natural attacking instincts.

Rajat Patidar (captain)

15 innings | 501 runs | Average 41.75 | Strike Rate 192.69

Patidar joined an elite group of captains by guiding RCB to back-to-back IPL titles, but his contributions with the bat were equally significant.

Only a select few players scored faster while maintaining similar consistency. From a rapid 31 off 12 in the season opener to a match-defining knock in Qualifier 1, Patidar consistently shifted momentum in Bengaluru’s favour. His leadership and batting made him one of the defining figures of the tournament.

Heinrich Klaasen

15 innings | 624 runs | Average 48.00 | Strike Rate 160.00

Klaasen produced a season unlike any other middle-order batter in T20 history. Batting outside the top three, he became the first player to score more than 600 runs in a single tournament from that position.

What made the achievement even more impressive was the responsibility he carried. Klaasen regularly balanced aggression with control, anchoring an inexperienced batting line-up while still delivering match-winning innings, including a brilliant 65 not out off 30 during a chase of 244.

All-rounders provide balance

Nitish Kumar Reddy

14 matches | 302 runs | Strike Rate 171.59 | 8 wickets

Reddy’s impact extended far beyond the scorecard. His late-order hitting frequently transformed innings while his medium pace provided crucial breakthroughs.

Several of his wickets came against established batters, underlining the value he brought to Sunrisers as a genuine multi-dimensional option.

Krunal Pandya

16 matches | 226 runs | 14 wickets

Krunal quietly assembled one of the most influential all-round seasons in the tournament. Despite limited opportunities with the bat, he delivered important contributions when called upon, including a match-winning 73 off 46 balls against Mumbai Indians.

With the ball, he thrived in conditions heavily tilted towards batters. His economy rate remained impressive throughout and his wicket list included several of the league’s biggest names.

Sunil Narine

13 matches | 15 wickets | Economy 6.64

While batters dominated headlines across IPL 2026, Narine reminded everyone that elite spin bowling still has a place in the modern game.

His economy rate of 6.64 stood out in a season where scoring rates approached double digits. Time and again he slowed opponents during the middle overs and played a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ late-season push for the playoffs.

Also read: Top 3 highest scores in IPL final history

IPL 2026 Team of the Tournament bowling attack shines

Jofra Archer

16 matches | 25 wickets

Archer remained Rajasthan Royals’ most dependable performer throughout the campaign. His ability to strike early with the new ball gave RR a platform in nearly every match.

One of his finest displays came in a crucial victory over Mumbai Indians where he smashed 32 off 15 before removing Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir and Hardik Pandya to secure a playoff berth.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

16 matches | 28 wickets | Economy 7.95

Years after winning consecutive Purple Caps, Bhuvneshwar once again rolled back the clock with a magnificent season.

The veteran seamer excelled at both ends of the innings, claiming 17 powerplay wickets while remaining equally effective at the death. His dismissals of Shubman Gill in Qualifier 1 and Sai Sudharsan in the final were among the standout moments of RCB’s title-winning run.

Kagiso Rabada

17 matches | 29 wickets | Economy 9.68

Rabada finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker and was instrumental in Gujarat Titans reaching the final.

His dominance with the new ball was unmatched. The South African claimed 20 powerplay wickets, setting the tone for GT’s attack and consistently putting opponents on the back foot from the outset.

Sakib Hussain

11 matches | 15 wickets

The final spot goes to one of the season’s breakout performers. The 21-year-old was handed some of the toughest overs in the competition, regularly bowling during the high-pressure closing stages of innings.

His figures only tell part of the story. Sakib’s willingness to embrace difficult situations and deliver under pressure marked him out as one of the brightest young fast-bowling prospects in the league.

Further reading: Top 3 innings with the highest strike rates in IPL history