Well, IPL 2026 is not only turning into a dramatic season, but it is also beginning to look like a watershed moment for several franchises. With the tournament almost reaching the end of its first half, many teams are already struggling to find momentum, while others have managed to establish themselves as serious contenders.
The Indian Premier League 2026 points table is beginning to reveal which teams are genuine playoff contenders and which sides are struggling to survive in the tournament.
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Along with team performances, captaincy has also come under the spotlight this season. Leadership decisions often play a massive role in shaping results, and several franchises could now be considering changes ahead of IPL 2027. Here are three teams that may enter the next season with new captains.
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians made one of the biggest leadership decisions in IPL history when Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as captain in 2024. However, the move has not produced the desired outcomes so far.
Mumbai finished at the bottom of the table in 2024 and have once again struggled for consistency in 2026. Although the franchise reached the playoffs in 2025, they failed to make a major impact. Questions have continued to grow around both the team’s balance and Hardik’s leadership.
The all-rounder’s individual form has also been inconsistent, which has added further pressure. If Mumbai fail to qualify for the playoffs again this year, the management could rethink their captaincy plans ahead of IPL 2027.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders handed captaincy duties to Ajinkya Rahane before the 2025 season. While Rahane enjoyed a decent campaign with the bat last year, both his form and the team’s performances have dipped in 2026.
KKR had a disastrous start to the current season, failing to register a single win in their opening six matches. The poor run immediately brought Rahane’s leadership under scrutiny, with critics questioning the side’s tactics and on-field decision-making.
Although Kolkata have bounced back with consecutive victories in recent games, inconsistency continues to remain a concern. If the team fails to finish strongly, the franchise could explore younger captaincy options ahead of the 2027 season.
Lucknow Super Giants
Lucknow Super Giants spent heavily on Rishabh Pant during the IPL 2025 mega auction, hoping he would guide the side into a new era.
However, the results have been disappointing. Lucknow finished seventh in 2025 and currently sit at the bottom of the points table in 2026 with just four points from eight matches. Pant’s performances with the bat have also failed to meet expectations, with only 458 runs across the last two seasons combined.
With the team struggling badly and playoff hopes fading quickly, Lucknow could seriously consider a leadership change before IPL 2027.
