IPL 2026 Predictions: What to bet on in the new season

By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: 26 March, 2026, 09:00

The Indian Premier League returns at the end of March. Once again, it looks set to deliver two months of non-stop action. With its high-scoring matches and star-studded line-ups, the IPL brings together some of the best players in the world, making it one of the most unpredictable tournaments in cricket.

The fast pace of the format, combined with a busy schedule, creates plenty of opportunities across different betting markets. Whether you're looking at outright winners, match results, or player performances, you’ll surely find something worth thinking about.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will try to defend their maiden title, Mumbai Indians have strengthened their already impressive squad, and Chennai Super Kings continue to move into a new era without MS Dhoni at the centre of it all. With fresh squad changes and new leaders stepping up, IPL 2026 is shaping up to be another unpredictable and betting-friendly event.

• Dates: 28 March - 31 May 2026
• Number of teams: 10
• Total matches: 84
• Opening match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
• Defending champions: Royal Challengers Bengaluru

The outright market for IPL 2026 looks competitive. Several franchises are entering the season with realistic title ambitions. Mumbai Indians lead the early odds, but the gap to the chasing pack is not significant.

Several teams come into the new Indian Premier League season with clear strengths, but also visible weaknesses. Squad balance, especially between batting depth and bowling reliability, will likely decide who goes deep into the playoffs.

Mumbai Indians look the most complete side on paper, while teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings offer strong upside. At the same time, franchises such as the Gujarat Titans and the Delhi Capitals may struggle due to a lack of depth in key areas.

RCB's title defence: Can they stay on top?

The defending champions finished second in the league stage and won the 2025 title. Their core remains intact. Virat Kohli, who made 657 runs last season, continues to lead the batting unit. However, there are concerns in the bowling department.

RCB rely heavily on experienced seamers like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with limited backup options. In addition to that, Hazlewood didn't compete in this year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup because of a knee injury. He will also miss the IPL season opening. Royal Challengers have enough firepower to compete again, but from a betting perspective, squad balance makes them slightly less reliable than other contenders over a long tournament.

The post-Dhoni era

Chennai Super Kings are clearly transitioning into a new phase. After finishing bottom in 2025, major changes were needed, particularly in batting. The arrival of Sanju Samson has added quality at the top, and younger players like Dewald Brevis bring more attacking intent.

However, the bowling unit still looks thin compared to the top contenders. CSK's home conditions and spin options will keep them competitive, but unless the bowling improves, a deep playoff run is questionable.

Mumbai Indians' reboot

Mumbai Indians look like the most complete team heading into IPL 2026. They finished fourth last season, with Suryakumar Yadav scoring 717 runs and Trent Boult taking 22 wickets. That core remains, and the return of Quinton de Kock strengthens the top order further.

With Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, and Hardik Pandya leading the attack, MI have match-winners in every department. This balance is the reason why they sit at the top of the outright market, and realistically, they are the team to beat.

The 2026 squad changes were more about strengthening cores than full rebuilds, but a few moves could still have a major impact on both teams' success and betting markets.

IPL 2026 should once again reward bettors who look beyond simple match winners. Squad construction has made several teams more specialised, which creates clearer betting angles.

• Mumbai Indians look built for consistency across a long season, so they stand out in outright and playoff markets.
• Sunrisers Hyderabad have one of the most explosive top orders in the league, which makes them especially interesting for high-total and powerplay run betting.
• Kolkata Knight Riders deserve attention in wicket markets, as the arrivals of Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana add more depth to a bowling unit already built around Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.

Player-based markets could be particularly attractive this season. Virat Kohli remains one of the safest options in top batter and run-scorer markets. Rishabh Pant's move to Lucknow gives him a bigger role and more chances to influence games with the bat. In bowling props, death-over specialists and spinners should again be crucial, especially on slower surfaces.

The best approach in IPL betting is still to follow form, team balance, and venue conditions rather than the reputation alone. In a league this volatile, momentum often matters more than big names.

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