IPL 2026: Rating all teams based on their middle order

Each team competing at the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season possesses some of the best batting talent on offer, including some great middle-order batters that have the capabilities to not only score quickly but also anchor the innings should they find their teams in a bit of a problem. The biggest advantage of batting in the middle order is that it can give players an opportunity to one in early, evaluate the conditions and play according to the situation. This also offers them the chance to register some big individual scores. The upcoming season of the cash-rich event is stacked with quality middle-order batters up and down the country. Here are IPL 2026 teams ranked on the basis of their middle order: 10. Kolkata Knight Riders Angkrish Raghuvanshi (Source: IPL/X) The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) come into the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) with a lot of uncertainties in their squad. Their middle order this season could include the likes of Anukul Roy, Rahul Tripathi and the new signing of Cameron Green. KKR paid INR 25.20 crore to secure the services of the Australian all-rounder. Green, however, has not been in the best of form recently despite two excellent IPL campaigns in the past with the Mumbai Indians in 2023 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024. The three-time winners could also see Angkrish Raghuvanshi feature in the middle order should they open with Sunil Narine. 9. Punjab Kings Nehal-Wadhera. (Photo source: IPL) Last year’s runner-up side Punjab Kings (PBKS) could have a middle order of two Australians in the form of Mitch Owen and Marcus Stoinis along with the former Mumbai Indians player Nehal Wadhera. Wadhera had a great debut season for PBKS last year, where he scored 369 runs at an average of almost 31. Owen, on the other hand, is capable of playing in the middle order while also scoring at a very high strike rate. The Punjab-based side, however, does not have much IPL experience in their middle order. 8. Gujarat Titans Shahrukh Khan. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The Gujarat Titans (GT) have a middle order formed out of Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan and either Jason Holder or Glenn Phillips. Sundar is expected to play a major role in this GT side, not only with the ball but with the bat as well. The all-rounder played in the top four last season where he would need more game time to cement himself. Shahrukh, on the other hand, did score at a strike rate of 179 and averaged 30 last time around. The 30-year-old could play in at around number five, though he is also a very handy player down the order as a finisher. 7. Chennai Super Kings Dewald-Brevis. (Photo source: IPL) The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) took a huge gamble in the mini auction when they paid INR 14.20 crore to secure the services of Kartik Sharma. The 19-year-old could feature in the middle order of the five-time champions along with Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube. Both Dube and Brevis have the ability to go big in the middle overs. Brevis, who joined CSK midway through the 2025 season, scored 225 runs at an average of 37.50 and a strike rate of 180. A lot of eyeballs will be on Brevis’ performances in the CSK middle order as his first full season in yellow beckons. 6. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Rajat Patidar. (Photo source: Getty Images) Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) possess a middle order of captain Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David and Romario Shepherd. The defending champion's middle order has the tendency of going big when required or take things easy should the circumstance require it. Patidar & Co. have the option of playing England prodigy Jacob Bethell in the middle order. The 22-year-old was recently named captain of the Birmingham Phoenix side in The Hundred and scored 105 against India in the T20 World Cup semi-final, coming in at number 4 for the Three Lions. 5. Lucknow Super Giants Rishabh-Pant-and-Nicholas-Pooran. (Photo source: X) A lot will depend on the form of Rishabh Pant if the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) want to have a successful time at the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). The skipper could lead his side’s middle order along with the likes of Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad. Pant had an underwhelming 2025 IPL campaign, scoring just 269 runs. However, he did redeem himself by scoring an unbeaten 118 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru while batting at number three. The current LSG squad also has Nicolas Pooran in their ranks should they want their captain to play in the top-order. 4. Delhi Capitals Axar Patel (Source: IPL) The Delhi Capitals (DC) have a very strong middle order heading into the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Skipper Axar Patel is the flag bearer of DC’s middle order alongside the likes of Tristan Stubbs and David Miller. They also have the flexibility of playing someone like Nitish Rana there who has been a floater for the Kolkata Knight Riders for many seasons. Stubbs had a 300-run IPL season last time around, averaging 50.00, while Axar scored 263 runs at a strike rate of around 157. Both these stars possess the ability to score quickly in the middle overs, reducing the pressure on the lower order to go big. 3. Rajasthan Royals Riyan Parag. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) middle order remains consistent, comprising new captain Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer to give themselves some much-needed firepower towards the end. RR’s strength this season would be their dangerous opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, with an ever-reliable middle order to follow afterwards. They can also use the floating ability of Sam Curran in their middle order if they need a left-handed batter up the order. 2. Sunrisers Hyderabad Heinrich-Klaasen. (Photo source: IPL) With the likes of Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy in their ranks, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have one of the most dangerous middle orders in the tournament this year. SRH will once again want Klaasen to have an outstanding tournament and take control of the middle overs. The South African wicketkeeper-batter has had constant 400-plus-run seasons over the past three campaigns while scoring at a strike rate of above 170. A strong middle order like SRH’s reduces the burden on the likes of Liam Livingstone to score big during the backend of the innings. 1. Mumbai Indians Tilak Varma. (Source:MumbaiIndians) Mumbai Indians (MI) have a middle order that could possess Tilak Varma, captain Hardik Pandya and Naman Dhir. This strong Indian core could also include Suryakumar Yadav should they decide to send Varma in at number three. The five-time champions have a great batting lineup coming into the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), with excellent players at each batting position. From Rohit Sharma as opener to Tilak Varma in the middle to Will Jacks at the end, the five-time champions have one of the most feared batting units this time around.

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IPL 2026: Rating all teams based on their middle order

The biggest advantage of batting in the middle order is that it can give players an opportunity to one in early, evaluate the conditions and play accordingly to the situation.

8. Gujarat Titans

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