5 captains who might get sacked after IPL 2026

Some of the big names have failed to deliver as a captain in IPL 2026.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 tournament has reached its halfway point, and the chasm between the top five teams and the bottom five teams is visible. Most of the teams have grasped what has to be done in order to win the tournament and have adapted to the same.

On the other hand, some of the teams are struggling due to poor tactical decisions, /kweak leadership, and poor captaincy on the field by their captains. There are many candidates for captains who can be sacked after the IPL 2026 in case the team they lead fails to get into the playoffs this season.

5 captains who could get sacked after IPL 2026 due to poor performances

5. Axar Patel

Delhi Capitals (DC) had made a shocking choice to give their captaincy to Axar Patel in IPL 2025 over the likes of KL Rahul. DC had a very good start in IPL 2025 but failed to qualify for the playoffs after a poor run of form and losses. Now the same thing has happened in the IPL 2026.

Axar Patel-led DC started with three wins in their first four games. They were well poised in the top four in the points table, but now they have suffered three straight losses. The focal point was Patel’s captaincy in both seasons, as he has looked clueless when DC have been under pressure. His captaincy has been defensive with the ball, and he himself has not taken the initiative to lead from the front.

4. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya’s appointment as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain in IPL 2024 was a controversial one. Rohit Sharma, MI’s five-time IPL-winning captain, was dethroned unceremoniously, and Pandya was booed by even the MI fans in Mumbai. However, the backlash lessened after Pandya captained MI to the playoffs in IPL 2025.

However, with MI languishing at the 9th spot in the IPL 2026 points table with just 2 wins in 7 games, Hardik Pandya’s chances of continuing as MI captain seem bleak in the future. To add to the misery, Pandya hasn’t been able to perform with the bat or the ball this season, and some of his captaincy decisions were questionable as well.

With Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, and other overseas players capable of leading the MI team, if the franchise fails to qualify for the playoffs, Pandya might be sacked as captain.

3. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad was picked for captaincy by MS Dhoni and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team management in IPL 2024. But since Gaikwad has taken over as captain, CSK’s fortunes have tumbled to new lows. CSK even finished in the 10th spot in IPL 2025, for the first time in their history.

The captaincy pressure has also affected Gaikwad’s batting, as he has managed only 178 runs in 8 games this IPL 2026 season. He had made 122 runs in 5 games in IPL 2025 before injury ended his tournament. CSK is on the verge of suffering another elimination from the IPL, and if that happens, the team management might be forced to take the ultimate step and remove Gaikwad from captaincy, especially with Sanju Samson joining the team and providing a more successful option.

2. Riyan Parag

Rajasthan Royals (RR) took a huge punt and traded their successful captain, Sanju Samson, before the IPL 2026 auction. They put their faith in young Riyan Parag as the RR franchise seemed to bank on his popularity in Northeast India and Assam, his home state. However, Riyan Parag’s tenure as captain has only invited criticism of his planning.

In a crucial game against SRH, while defending 228 runs, Parag only bowled his two main spinners in Ravi Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja, for one over each, while other bowlers were getting hit by SRH batters. His decision to do so and some other tactical choices in previous matches have led to calls for his removal as captain.

In addition to that, he has only scored 117 runs in 9 games, and with Yashasvi Jaiswal showing captaincy aspirations and aptitude for the same, Parag might lose his captaincy if RR fails to go all the way and if his performance continues to be hampered by captaincy responsibilities.

1. Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant was bought by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for INR 27 crores, making him the most expensive buy in the IPL ever. LSG had moved on from KL Rahul, who had led them to two playoffs in their first two seasons, and put faith in Pant, who had huge captaincy aspirations and left DC after they wanted him to play as a keeper-batter. However, Pant’s captaincy tenure in two seasons for LSG has been below par.

LSG failed to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2025, finishing in seventh place. Pant struggled with the bat, only to score a century when LSG were on the verge of elimination. And now in the IPL 2026, Pant’s leadership is being questioned a lot as LSG is in last spot in the points table, with 2 wins in 8 games.

They have lost games from winning positions, and Pant has struggled with the bat, scoring 189 runs in 8 games. Sanjiv Goenka, LSG owner, is not known for his patience, and if he could remove KL Rahul despite one poor season, Pant might have used up all of his good points with Goenka and might be on his way out.

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