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As we roughly approach the halfway stage, the IPL sees a return to the chaotic, maximum-hitting barrage that was associated with the competition in the 2024 season. Many teams are beginning to find their form, and the competition for the playoff stage has started to heat up.
One of these teams is the Kolkata Knight Riders, who finally got their first win of the season against the Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. Varun Chakravarthy and Rinku Singh starred with the ball and bat respectively, after a dull start despite expectations. Chakravarthy’s 3/14 muzzled the Rajasthan batting lineup to just 155/9, and in the chase from 85/6, Rinku pulled Kolkata back into the game with a knock of 53*, getting the three-time champions their first win of 2026.
Later in the day, Punjab Kings smashed the Lucknow Super Giants by 54 runs, extending their unbeaten run. Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly breezed through Lucknow with knocks of 93 and 87 to get Punjab to 254/7. A slow start and a lack of a big knock brought Lucknow to just 200/5 as their slump continued.
Mumbai Indians got a much-needed win against the Gujarat Titans on Monday, beating them by 99 runs. Mumbai were driven almost solely by Tilak Varma in the batting, who took them from 103/4 in the 15th over to 199/5, with a 45-ball 101*. Gujarat, in response, were quick but not careful, getting bowled out for 100 in just the 16th over, with Ashwani Kumar taking 4/24.
Varma’s rapid-fire ton was just the first of six centuries this week. Abhishek Sharma scored the second the very next day as Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Delhi Capitals by 47 runs. His 135* from 68 balls single-handedly got SRH to 242/2. Delhi fought hard with aid from Nitish Rana and Sameer Rizvi but could not muster enough, ending the chase at 195/9.
Lucknow’s poor form continued against Rajasthan as the Super Giants were beaten by 40 runs. Mohsin Khan helped limit the Royals to just 159/6, but a slow and toothless Lucknow batting lineup faltered against Rajasthan’s bowling. Bowled out for just 119, Lucknow’s problems became very apparent.
On Thursday, the IPL ‘Clasico’ the biggest derby in the competition between the two most successful teams, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, took place. Unfortunately for Mumbai fans, this was no clash of titans as the hosts were pummeled by 103 runs. Sanju Samson officially put his doubters to rest with his second hundred of the season. The ton got Chennai to 207/6, and Mumbai crumbled from the start at 11/3. Varma and Suryakumar Yadav gave some hope, but it was not enough as Mumbai were bowled out for just 104.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru pulled off a team effort on Friday to beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets. Sai Sudarshan, the 2025 top scorer, rediscovered his form with a hundred off 58 deliveries to bring Gujarat to a respectable 205/3. But that proved insufficient against Virat Kohli, who took charge in the absence of his opening partner Phil Salt, scoring 81 off 44 balls. Devdutt Padikkal backed him with a much-needed half-century, and Krunal Pandya and Tim David saw out the chase comfortably in the final over.
Saturday featured a fireworks display when Delhi Capitals hosted Punjab Kings. KL Rahul went ballistic, scoring 152* from 67 balls, just the third 150-plus score in IPL history and the first since Chris Gayle’s record-breaking 175* in 2013. Rahul was supported by Nitish Rana, who made 91 from 44, taking Delhi to 264/2. It appeared Punjab’s winning run might end with this daunting target, but they completed a record chase with an over to spare. With 20 sixes, contributions of 43 from Arya, 76 from Prabhsimran Singh, and 71 from Shreyas Iyer, Punjab achieved the improbable with ease.
In the evening game, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered another standout performance, scoring a 37-ball 103 against Hyderabad. Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball century in 2010 had held the record for the fastest hundred by an Indian in the IPL for 15 years, before Sooryavanshi was even born, and the 15-year-old has now matched that pace on multiple occasions. His innings took Rajasthan to 228/6, which still proved insufficient. Another Abhishek Sharma fifty, along with 74 off 31 from Ishan Kishan, helped Sunrisers chase the target with nine balls to spare, securing their fourth consecutive win.
Stars of the Week
Prabhsimran Singh: In a batting lineup featuring Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, and Shreyas Iyer, the 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has stood out. Scores of 76 from 26 against Delhi and 80* from 39 against Mumbai highlight his consistency and a striking rate of 192. Currently the highest-scoring player in IPL history without an international cap, Singh may soon earn one.
Mohsin Khan: While Lucknow struggle on the field, Khan has excelled despite personal challenges. After spending nearly 15 months in rehabilitation recovering from injury and coping with the loss of his mother, he has returned as an economical and effective bowler. He has the potential to emerge as a breakout star this season but will need stronger team support to gain wider recognition.
Upcoming fixtures
Monday, April 27 – Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, 7:30 PM IST (10:00 AM EST)
Tuesday, April 28 – Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh, 7:30 PM IST (10:00 AM EST)
Wednesday, April 29 – Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, 7:30 PM IST (10:00 AM EST)
Thursday, April 30 – Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM IST (10:00 AM EST)
Friday, May 1 – Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, 7:30 PM IST (10:00 AM EST)
Saturday, May 2 – Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians, M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 7:30 PM IST (10:00 AM EST)
Sunday, May 3 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, 3:30 PM IST (6:00 AM EST); Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM IST (10:00 AM EST)
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