Kamal Ghorui
TOI presents an IPL 2026 pre-season Dream XI to challenge the Suryakumar Yadav-led World Cup-winning squad.With four overseas players and a core of Indian talent, the TOI XI blends explosive Powerplay hitters, a versatile middle order and multi-dimensional bowlers:PHIL SALT (RCB; overseas) Edges out Travis Head. Salt played a vital role in the title-winning run of the last two IPL champs (RCB in 2025 and KKR in 2024). The England batter has one of the best Powerplay numbers. IPL matches: 34, Runs: 1056, Ave: 34.06, 100s/50s: 0/10, SR: 175.7YASHASVI JAISWAL (RR) Brings controlled aggression. Has the rare ability to accelerate without recklessness. M: 67, Runs: 2166, Ave: 34.38, 100s/50s: 2/15, SR: 152.8SHREYAS IYER (c) (PBKS) Proven IPL leader and middle-order stabiliser. Adds tactical clarity while handling match-ups. M: 133, Runs: 3731, Ave: 34.23, 100s/50s: 0/27, SR: 133.3NICHOLAS POORAN (LSG; overseas) The Trinidadian edges out Heinrich Klaasen for one key reason — being a big-hitting left-hander in the middle order. Has finishing ability across phases. A genuine game-breaker against India’s death specialists like Bumrah and Arshdeep. M: 90, Runs: 2293, Ave: 34.22, 100s/50s: 0/14, SR: 168.9RIYAN PARAG (RR) Pips Nitish Reddy on maturity and role clarity. IPL form has shown recent improvement. Unorthodox offspin provides balance. M: 84, Runs: 1566, Ave: 26.10, 100s/50s: 0/7, SR: 141.8JITESH SHARMA (wk) (RCB) Quintessential modern T20 wicketkeeper — fearless, quick between the wickets, destructive at the death. Dangerous lower middle-order weapon. M: 55, Runs: 991, Ave: 25.41, 100s/50s: 0/1, SR: 157SUNIL NARINE (KKR; overseas) Noses out one of the best-ever T20 spinners, Rashid Khan, due to his dual impact. The Trinidadian boasts unmatched versatility as power-hitter and mystery spinner. M: 189, Runs: 1780, Ave: 17.62, 100s/50s: 1/7, SR: 166.5, Wkts: 192, ER: 6.7KRUNAL PANDYA (RCB) Thrives under pressure. Darting left-arm spin can stifle righthanders in the middle. Lower-order striking provides depth. M: 142, Runs: 1756, Ave: 22.22, 100s/50s: 0/2, SR: 132.4, Wkts: 93, ER: 7.4BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR (RCB) Powerplay specialist. Swing bowling remains elite quality. Brings experience and an assortment of deliveries. M: 190, Wkts: 198, Ave: 27.33, SR: 21.3, ER: 7.6, 4w/5w: 2/2KHALEEL AHMED (CSK) Reliable left-arm seamer, especially in the Powerplay. Moves the ball across the right-handers. Can provide India’s swashbuckling top order a challenge or two when paired with Bhuvi’s swing bowling. M: 71, Wkts: 89, Ave: 26.15, SR: 17.4, ER: 8.9, 4w/5w: 0/0JOSH HAZLEWOOD (RCB; overseas) Edges out Marco Jansen for control and bigmatch reliability. Hard lengths and variations can neutralise India’s power hitters. However, Jansen walks if Hazlewood is unable to regain full fitness. M: 39, Wkts: 57, Ave: 20.9, SR: 15.2, ER: 8.2, 4w/5w: 2/0Impact subs: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR), Ashutosh Sharma (DC), Mohammed Shami (LSG), Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS).INDIA’S ICC TWENTY20 WC-WINNING SQUAD:
- Sanju Samson (wk; IPL team CSK), Abhishek Sharma (SRH), Ishan Kishan (SRH),
Suryakumar Yadav (c; MI), Rinku Singh (KKR), Axar Patel (DC), Shivam Dube (CSK),Hardik Pandya (MI), Tilak Varma (MI), Washington Sundar (GT), Arshdeep Singh (PBKS), Jasprit Bumrah (MI), Mohammed Siraj (GT), Kuldeep Yadav (DC), Varun Chakravarthy (KKR).
