NEW DELHI: With IPL 2026 just around the corner, former England cricketers have shared their predictions on who might lift the trophy, sparking debate among fans.
While teams like Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are all in the mix, opinions differ on who has the edge this season.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan is confident about Mumbai Indians’ chances and didn’t hold back, saying, “Only 1 team wining this year and it’s @mipaltan.”
He also doubled down on the “Stick to Cricket” podcast, adding, “I’ll throw the first name out there. Mumbai Indians will win it this year. They have not won it for a few. They’ve got an incredible team.”
MI, one of the most successful teams in IPL history, will be led by Hardik Pandya this season.
With experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah in the squad, they are expected to be strong contenders despite falling short in the playoffs last year.
Not everyone agrees with Vaughan.
Alastair Cook has backed defending champions RCB to retain their title, putting his faith in the team setup and coaching of Andy Flower.
Phil Tufnell initially agreed with RCB but later leaned towards CSK as another strong option due to the Sanju Samson factor.
RCB, however, could face early challenges with key players like Yash Dayal unavailable and Josh Hazlewood set to miss initial matches due to fitness issues.
Historically, only MI and CSK have successfully defended IPL titles, so RCB will be aiming to join that elite list this season.
