IPL 2026 Is Already Delivering
The IPL 2026 season kicked off March 28 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the tournament has been electric ever since. If you’re betting on the matches through My99Exch, knowing which players are in form is half the battle. This guide covers the top 20 cricketers to watch in 2026, broken down by role, with actionable thoughts on how to use their form in your betting decisions.
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Top Batsmen to Watch
Virat Kohli (RCB). Still the heartbeat of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and still finding ways to produce big knocks at age 37. Early 2026 form has been solid. His IPL career average is above 38 with a strike rate pushing 132. For batting run markets (over/under on his runs in a given match), the key question is whether RCB bat first or chase. Kohli averages noticeably higher chasing.
Rohit Sharma (MI). Back with Mumbai Indians in an anchor role after some positional experiments last year. Expect him to open and hold one end together for 10 to 12 overs in most matches. For head-to-head markets (Rohit vs another opener), his form against specific bowlers is more predictive than recent average.
Shubman Gill (GT). The captain of Gujarat Titans and arguably the form player of Indian cricket in 2026. His ability to go big in powerplays and kick on has been central to GT’s early campaign. High strike rate at the top of the order. Good bet for runs-scored markets.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR). 24 years old, already has multiple IPL centuries, and opens for Rajasthan Royals. His ceiling is higher than his floor, which means volatile bets. For over/under markets you want to look at the venue: Jaiswal loves batting in Jaipur and Mumbai.
Travis Head (SRH). Sunrisers Hyderabad’s overseas batting destroyer. His strike rate in powerplays can touch 180 when he’s on. A classic first-six-overs bet. Less reliable in middle overs where he struggles against quality spin.
Top Bowlers to Watch
Jasprit Bumrah (MI). The best death bowler in T20 cricket. His economy in the last 5 overs is in the 7.2 range which is absurd given how hard batsmen go in that phase. For wicket markets, Bumrah in the death is one of the most consistent “over 1.5 wickets” bets across a season.
Rashid Khan (GT). Still the most economical top-class wrist spinner in the IPL. Averages under 7 runs per over across all phases. Bowling first change after the powerplay is where he’s most damaging. Watch his match-ups against left-handers.
Mohammed Siraj (RCB/GT). Moved to GT in 2026 and is giving them a new-ball enforcer. His away swing to right-handers in helpful conditions is the biggest threat in the RCB-GT derby.
Varun Chakravarthy (KKR). The mystery spinner who has been KKR’s middle-overs weapon. Hard to read off the hand. His figures suffer against lefties who sweep well, so look at the opposition batting order before backing him.
Arshdeep Singh (PBKS). Punjab Kings’ left-arm pacer who bowls both new ball and death. Strong yorker at the death. For “wickets in final over” markets, Arshdeep is a solid backup bet.
Top All-Rounders to Watch
Hardik Pandya (MI). Captain, finisher, and fourth bowler all in one. His usefulness to Mumbai Indians is harder to price in markets because it’s distributed across batting and bowling. For “players of the match” markets, Hardik is underpriced in most books because the market underweights his dual contribution.
Ravindra Jadeja (CSK). The Chennai Super Kings veteran who still delivers at 37. Mostly a bowling-all-rounder now. His economy rate in tough middle-overs against set batsmen is a quiet strength. For CSK team totals, Jadeja keeping things tight is usually the difference between a 165 and a 185 total conceded.
Glenn Maxwell (RCB). Explosive batter, part-time off-spin. When Maxwell fires, RCB wins. When he doesn’t, they struggle. This makes Maxwell’s “runs scored” markets extremely volatile. Good for acca bets where you want variance.
Krunal Pandya (LSG). Left-arm spin all-rounder who often bowls 4 overs and bats 6 at Lucknow Super Giants. Reliable rather than spectacular.
Washington Sundar (SRH). Powerplay off-spinner with increasing batting responsibility. His ability to bowl 2 overs of powerplay spin is rare and valuable in T20.
Young Indian Talents Worth Watching
Vaibhav Suryavanshi (RR). 14 years old, scored a record-breaking century in 2025, now a regular in the Rajasthan Royals top order. His youthful fearlessness makes him a wildcard for “first fifty of the innings” markets. Lower floor, huge ceiling.
Abhishek Sharma (SRH). Left-hand opener for SRH. Struck at 205 through powerplay phases of several matches in 2025. One of the highest ceiling batters in the league when he gets going.
Ishan Kishan (SRH). Wicket-keeper batter. Moved from MI to SRH in the 2025 auction. Big stage performer; his aggressive powerplay bat combined with keeping duties makes him a strong player of the match candidate.
Tilak Varma (MI). Number 3 for Mumbai Indians. Consistent at building innings and accelerating through middle overs. A quieter bet for total run markets because of his rhythmic batting rather than explosive moments.
Yash Dayal (RCB). Left-arm pacer, good swing, dangerous with new ball. One of the breakout bowlers of 2025 for RCB. Backing him for early wickets in the powerplay is a steady-return market.
The 10 IPL 2026 Captains
Captaincy matters for certain markets (toss, field placements, bowling changes). Here’s the lineup in 2026:
- Rajat Patidar (RCB) took over from the rotation in 2025, now leading
- Hardik Pandya (MI) still in the role after the 2024 transition
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) continuing his captaincy at Chennai
- Shreyas Iyer (PBKS) leading Punjab Kings for a second season
- Shubman Gill (GT) Gujarat Titans captain
- Pat Cummins (SRH) Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Rishabh Pant (LSG) Lucknow Super Giants
- Ajinkya Rahane (KKR) Kolkata Knight Riders
- Axar Patel (DC) Delhi Capitals
- Sanju Samson (RR) Rajasthan Royals
Most captaincy-related betting revolves around toss markets. If you have strong reads on a captain’s preference at a specific venue, those are exploitable edges.
How to Bet on These Players on My99Exch
My99Exch offers several player-specific markets that aren’t always prominent on mainstream books:
- Runs scored by named batter (over/under). Very liquid on star players like Kohli, Gill, Jaiswal.
- Wickets taken by named bowler (over/under). Standard bet, but My99Exch’s line is often slightly more generous than mainstream books.
- Fifty scored yes/no. Binary market, useful for players with high variance.
- Player of the match. Pricing can be sharp but occasionally has value on under-the-radar picks.
- Head-to-head batter vs batter. Useful when two opening partners are in form.
- Fall of first wicket over/under. Indirectly bets on how long the openers survive against the new ball.
The exchange model means you can both back and lay any of these positions, which is a genuine edge over pure bookmaker formats. If you think a market is overpriced, you can lay it and effectively “be the bookie” for that bet.
A Few Betting Pointers for IPL 2026
Some practical reminders that apply across all of these players:
- Recent form beats season averages. A player who has scored back-to-back fifties is more likely to continue than a player whose numbers are inflated by a hot spell two months ago.
- Venue matters. Chepauk favors spinners. Chinnaswamy favors batters. Wankhede is batting-friendly in the first innings. Factor this in before backing totals or bowler markets.
- Toss is not as decisive as it used to be. In the 2022 to 2024 seasons, chasing teams won roughly 60 percent of matches. In 2025 and early 2026 that has narrowed to about 54 percent. Don’t overweight the toss.
- Check the team news before betting live. If a star player is rested or injured, the market moves fast and you can get caught on the wrong side of a line.
- Bankroll discipline matters. Never bet more than 2 to 3 percent of your total bankroll on a single market. Variance is real, even with strong reads.
Where to Track Form
During the season, the best sources we use for form tracking are IPL official stats pages, ESPN Cricinfo for match-specific data, and the My99Exch live markets themselves (which respond to form faster than most cold data sources). For live bets, having the app installed is essential because odds move on delivery-by-delivery timescales. If you haven’t yet, grab the My99Exch app for faster live market access.
FAQ
Which player has scored the most runs in IPL 2026 so far?
Changing week by week, but as of early April the top 3 are typically drawn from Gill, Jaiswal, and Head. Check live stats for the current leaderboard.
Is there a “player of the tournament” market?
Yes, it’s a futures market that opens before the season and continues through the playoffs. Early-season value tends to be on consistent all-rounders rather than pure batters.
How does My99Exch handle bets if a player is replaced?
If your bet is on a player who is replaced before the toss, the bet is usually voided. If the replacement happens during the match (injury), different markets have different handling. Check the specific market rules.
Can I bet on IPL 2026 without an ID?
No. You need a verified My99Exch account to place real-money bets. Start with our WhatsApp signup.
Do demo IDs work on player markets?
Yes, demo IDs work on almost all live markets including player-specific ones. Use them to practice without risking real money. Details on our demo ID page.
What if the IPL schedule changes mid-season?
Historically this has happened only for weather delays. Matches rescheduled within 48 hours keep their bets active. Longer delays typically lead to void and refund.
Final Word
IPL 2026 is a 70-match tournament. That’s 70 opportunities to either build a sharp betting edge or lose your bankroll, depending on how disciplined you are. The players we’ve listed here are the ones most likely to influence outcomes, but form is fluid and the best bettors adapt week to week rather than sticking to pre-season assumptions.
Set up your account, pull up the live markets, and most importantly: bet within your means. IPL is long, the season rewards patience, and the exchange model on My99Exch gives you flexibility that pure bookmakers don’t. Good luck.