All ten Indian Premier League franchises have finalized their captains for the 2026 season, set to begin in late March. Notable changes include Riyan Parag taking over at Rajasthan Royals and Ruturaj Gaikwad returning for Chennai Super Kings after an injury. This lineup features a mix of young leaders and experienced skippers aiming to guide their teams through the T20 tournament.
The Indian Premier League's 19th edition is scheduled to start in the last week of March 2026, with teams having confirmed their leadership ahead of the season. Rajasthan Royals announced Riyan Parag as their new captain, replacing Sanju Samson, who was traded to Chennai Super Kings. The 24-year-old all-rounder, an Under-19 World Cup winner, has been with RR since 2019 and scored 573 runs in IPL 2024, the highest for the team that year.
Rajat Patidar will lead defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, having captained them to their maiden IPL title in 2025 by defeating Punjab Kings in the final. Shubman Gill continues as Gujarat Titans' skipper since 2024, with 14 wins from 27 matches and the Orange Cap in IPL 2023. Ruturaj Gaikwad returns to captain Chennai Super Kings after playing only five matches in 2025 due to injury, during which MS Dhoni took over; Gaikwad had 635 runs and the Orange Cap in 2021.
Rishabh Pant remains Lucknow Super Giants' leader, having joined for a record Rs 27 crore in the 2025 auction, though his team missed the playoffs that year. Shreyas Iyer leads Punjab Kings after guiding them to their first final since 2014 in 2025, where they lost to RCB; Iyer previously captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 title. Axar Patel continues with Delhi Capitals, who started strongly in 2025 but failed to reach the playoffs.
Pat Cummins stays on at Sunrisers Hyderabad, Ajinkya Rahane is set to lead Kolkata Knight Riders after a disappointing 2025, and Hardik Pandya remains Mumbai Indians' captain, aiming to end their six-year title drought. These appointments reflect a blend of continuity and fresh leadership as teams prepare for the mega-auction and new strategies.
