Top 5 most dramatic comebacks in IPL 2026

The 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has finally come to an end, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru beating the Gujarat Titans by five wickets to retain their crown.

The 2026 season saw multiple players step up and perform for their team. Be it consistent performances or recoveries after poor starts to the season, players have come into their own and played vital roles in their team's key successes. As is a trend with all big tournaments, there are always players who endure setbacks at the start of the season and come back all guns blazing towards the latter half. 

Here are five players who made dramatic comebacks in IPL 2026:

Finn Allen - Kolkata Knight Riders

Finn Allen came into the IPL with a dangerous reputation of being one of the format’s most dangerous batters. Prior to the start of the season, he was a major talking point after putting South Africa to the sword with a 33-ball century in the semifinal of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Despite the big reputation, he endured a slow start for the Knight Riders, before being dropped from the side for compatriot Tim Seifert. 

On his return, Allen lit up the IPL. His ability to take on bowlers was on full display, scoring vital runs at the top of the order. He scored a 47-ball century against the Delhi Capitals, taking their bowlers on in a calculated effort. He followed it up with a 38-ball 93 against the Gujarat Titans. The Kiwi batter scored 349 runs, and his strike rate of 214.11 was bettered only by the prodigious Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.