Senior leg spinner and IPL legend Amit Mishra have shared their initial predictions for the 2026 season, leaving the five-time champions out of their top contenders. Speaking on an episode of MensXP’s YouTube podcast recently, the former India international identified five teams whom he sees as key in the upcoming season as they look to reshuffle their rosters following the high-stakes mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi.
During the open discussion, Mishra was asked which teams have the most chances of reaching the playoffs in the 19th edition of the league. Without hesitation, he selected five particular franchises whose recent squad depth and strategic acquisitions have been notable. Mishra has Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians (MI), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)And Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Took the name of. They Gujarat Titans (GT) Also included in the list.
“KKR, MI, SRH, RCB, and GT. I think four of these teams will reach the playoffs,” Mishra said during the podcast.
Mishra’s predictions appear to be influenced by the aggressive recruitment strategies seen in the recent auctions. KKR signed Australian star cameron green They were acquired for a record ₹25.20 crore, marking a sea change in the strength of their middle-order. Similarly, to strengthen its local core, RCB Venkatesh Iyer included. SRH has liam livingstone Further strengthened his team with. MI focused on ‘homecoming’ and sustainability. They Rohit Sharma For just ₹1 crore to partner with quinton de kock Brought it back—which is a big deal.
Although Mishra did not explicitly explain why he left out the five-time champions, his comments come at a time when CSK has undertaken a significant ‘youth restructuring’. Mishra ignoring CSK is probably to his high-risk strategy. while he Sanjeev Samson Acquired in a big trade, he bought Rajasthan Royals Ravindra Jadeja And Sam Curran Like lost key players. CSK spent ₹28.40 crore on only two uncapped players: Prashant Veer And Karthik SharmaAnalysts argue that Mathisha Pathirana By letting go of KKR, CSK has left a huge void in death bowling, which will be filled with new signings. matt henry Has not been fully addressed by.
