 "While Sanju Samson has joined CSK, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is set to play his second IPL season at age 14. Image: CSK/IPL")
The (Indian Premier League) IPL 2026 season is all set to start on March 28, and the excitement is already building for the tournament. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opener at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Some teams are chasing history, while some players are trying to prove themselves on the biggest T20 stage. The IPL 2026 season could also mark the end of an era for a few legends, while opening doors for the next generation of cricketers. Here are some of the most interesting storylines to watch this season.
Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals chasing their first title
Among the original teams from 2008, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals are the only ones who have never won the IPL title. Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally ended their long wait last season, which has increased the pressure on these two teams. Punjab Kings reached the final last year but missed out again, and they will be eager to go one step further this time.
This season, Shreyas Iyer is leading Punjab Kings, while Axar Patel has been given the captaincy of Delhi Capitals. Both players have a big opportunity to create history by guiding their teams to a maiden IPL trophy.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s next chapter after record-breaking debut
Youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi grabbed headlines last season when he became the youngest player to play in the IPL at just 14 years of age. The Bihar cricketer stunned everyone by smashing the second-fastest century in IPL history and becoming the youngest player to score a hundred in the league.
Since then, he has continued his good form at the Under-19 level and even helped India win the U19 Cricket World Cup for a record sixth time. Fans will be curious to see whether he can continue his impressive run in the 2026 season as well.
Auqib Nabi’s highly anticipated IPL debut
Another big storyline this season is the debut of Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi Dar . After performing brilliantly in domestic cricket over the last two seasons, he was picked by Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2026 auction for Rs 8.4 crore.
Auqib finished as the highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy and also played a key role in helping Jammu & Kashmir win their maiden title. With such performances behind him, many believe he could become one of the breakout players of the season, and the Indian selectors will also be watching closely.
Sanju Samson joining CSK and the Dhoni transition
One of the most surprising moves before the season was Sanju Samson joining Chennai Super Kings after spending most of his IPL career with Rajasthan Royals. Samson is expected to take on a bigger role in the team as the franchise prepares for life after MS Dhoni.
Dhoni is likely to play his final IPL season, and the team management is reportedly planning a gradual transition where Samson could take over more responsibilities. How this change works out will be one of the most closely followed stories this year.
Quick Reads
View AllRavindra Jadeja’s return to Rajasthan Royals
To bring Samson into the squad, Chennai Super Kings had to trade their star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The India star has now reunited with Rajasthan Royals, the team with whom he started his IPL journey and even won a title.
Rajasthan Royals have not won the IPL since 2008, and Jadeja’s return has created a lot of excitement among fans. It will be interesting to see whether his experience and all-round abilities can help the team challenge for the title again this season.