A panel of experts, including Faf du Plessis, Harbhajan Singh and others, have shared their predictions for the top four teams likely to reach the playoffs in IPL 2026. Across all selections, Mumbai Indians emerged as the only team consistently backed by every expert.
Over the course of 18 IPL seasons, multiple franchises have reached the playoffs, and nearly all teams have appeared in at least one final. The only exception remains the Lucknow Super Giants, who have participated in the tournament for the last four seasons.
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians stand as the most successful sides in IPL history, each winning the title five times. Other champions include Kolkata Knight Riders (3), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (1), Rajasthan Royals (1), Deccan Chargers (1), Sunrisers Hyderabad (1), and Gujarat Titans (1).
Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and Delhi Capitals are the only franchises yet to win the tournament.
Mumbai Indians Lead Experts’ Picks
Mumbai Indians featured in every expert’s top-four list, making them the standout consensus choice ahead of IPL 2026. The expert panel included names such as Faf du Plessis, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Aakash Chopra, Cheteshwar Pujara, Mohammad Kaif, Piyush Chawla, Hanuma Vihari, Saba Karim, among others.
None of the experts left Mumbai Indians out of their playoff predictions. With Suryakumar Yadav, a World Cup-winning captain, and a strong squad led by Hardik Pandya, the team is widely regarded as one of the strongest contenders this season.
Even former players who competed against the franchise selected Mumbai Indians as a key team, while Rohit Sharma could also have an important season ahead.
RCB Backed by Former Skipper
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions, also received significant backing from several experts. The team, led by Rajat Patidar, secured their maiden IPL title and will now aim to retain it in 2026.
Faf du Plessis included RCB among his top four picks. However, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Hanuma Vihari did not select them in their respective lists.
Virat Kohli is expected to play a key role again, following his recent performances with the bat after stepping away from two formats of international cricket.
Experts’ Top Four Predictions
Star Sports experts’ picks for IPL 2026 playoffs:
- Faf du Plessis – MI, RCB, PBKS, CSK or DC
- Irfan Pathan – MI, DC, PBKS, RR
- Harbhajan Singh – MI, SRH, PBKS
- Aakash Chopra – MI, RCB, DC, PBKS
- Cheteshwar Pujara – MI, GT, CSK, KKR
- Mohammad Kaif – MI, RCB, PBKS, DC
- Hanuma Vihari – MI, SRH, DC, PBKS
- Piyush Chawla – MI, RCB, KKR, PBKS
- Saba Karim – MI, RCB, DC, CSK
- Sanjay Bangar – MI, RCB, PBKS, DC
- Lakshmipati Balaji – MI, RCB, CSK, SRH
- Varun Aaron – MI, RCB, SRH, CSK
Mixed Opinions Beyond Mumbai Indians
While Mumbai Indians were a unanimous choice, opinions varied for the remaining playoff spots. Royal Challengers Bengaluru were frequently selected, but not by all experts.
Punjab Kings received strong backing from several names, including Faf du Plessis, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Aakash Chopra, Mohammad Kaif, Piyush Chawla, and Sanjay Bangar. Only Varun Aaron and Lakshmipati Balaji did not include them.
Other teams such as Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Delhi Capitals were also mentioned across different lists. However, Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans did not feature prominently in the predictions.
