New Delhi, April 2: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has seen five matches played by Thursday. In the midst of the action, cricket legends have made their predictions regarding which teams will reach the playoffs this season.
On ‘JioHotstar’, Faf du Plessis selected either Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings, or Delhi Capitals/Chennai Super Kings as his top four playoff teams. Former Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan opted for Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals as his choices for the playoffs.
Cheteshwar Pujara named Gujarat Titans, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Kolkata Knight Riders among his top four teams. Mohammad Kaif predicted that Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings, five-time champions Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, and current champions RCB would secure playoff spots.
Harbhajan Singh mentioned only three teams: Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings, while Aakash Chopra also supported Mumbai Indians, alongside Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings for playoff qualification.
Hanuma Vihari selected Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Mumbai Indians as his top four teams for IPL 2026. Piyush Chawla included his former teams, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders, along with current champions RCB in his Playoff Predictions. Additionally, Saba Karim named RCB, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, and Chennai Super Kings as his top four teams.
Among the experts on JioStar, Delhi Capitals emerged as a strong favorite. Seven out of eleven experts chose this team, led by Axar Patel, to make the top four, alongside last year’s two finalists, RCB and Punjab Kings, and five-time champions Mumbai Indians. Sanjay Bangar also favored these four teams for the playoffs, while Lakshmipathy Balaji named Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, RCB, and Sunrisers Hyderabad as his preferred playoff contenders.