Calibrated against betting markets. 2.19% mean error vs bet365. Here's what the model says, and where it's wrong.
By sheets.works · The Data Drop #037
SCROLL
The Model
Here's what the data says, and where everyone else is wrong.
We analyzed every ball bowled across seven T20 leagues: the IPL, ICC T20 World Cups, Big Bash, PSL, CPL, LPL, and every T20 International ever played. 7,775 matches. 1,709,714 deliveries. 7,788 players rated.
Then we built a model. Every player gets a rating from 0 to 100, based on their ball-by-ball performance. Not opinions, not reputation, not auction price. Calibrated against bet365 odds with a 2.19% mean error. Bumrah is a 95. Kohli is an 81. Dhoni, at 47, shows the model doesn't care about reputation.
We fed these ratings into a Monte Carlo engine and simulated the entire IPL 2026 season. All 74 matches, plus playoffs, fifty thousand times.
Step 1
Every player gets a number.
We rate every player from 0 to 100, purely on ball-by-ball performance across seven T20 leagues. The model blends three data sources for each player: their recent IPL form (2024-25), their full IPL career, and their international T20 record (BBL, PSL, CPL, T20I). Different leagues have different quality, so IPL data is weighted 2-3x heavier than overseas leagues.
Batters are scored on impact, average multiplied by strike rate. It's a simplification that misses match context, but it captures the 80% that matters. Bowlers on wickets per match, economy rate, and dot ball percentage. If you dominate the death overs or tear it up in the powerplay, you get bonus points. If you're 35+ and your numbers are dropping, the model notices. And if we don't have enough data on you, we trust you less.
Batting
impact = avg × SR / 100
Phase: PP SR > 145 = +2, death SR > 155 = +3 final = 15 + base × 1.0, clamped [5, 93]
Bowling
value = wpm × 14 + econ_factor + dot% × 0.30
Phase: death econ < 8.5 = +3, PP wkts/over > 0.5 = +2 final = 12 + base × 2.0, clamped [5, 95]
Step 2
From players to teams.
A team is more than its best player. The weights below aren't arbitrary. They're the split that minimizes prediction error against historical IPL results. The model picks the best XI for each team (max 4 overseas), then computes one number: how strong is this squad?
Knowing which team is stronger isn't enough. Where is the match? Who's playing at home? What's the buzz on X? (A small signal, not a big one.) The model layers five factors on top of team strength. Here's how it works for today's match.
Model accuracy: 27/56 correct so far
Every venue has a personality.
At Jaipur, teams chasing win 68% of the time. At Chennai, just 45%. The toss winner at a high-chase venue will elect to field. Our model knows this.
The Result
So who wins IPL 2026?
After 50,000 simulated seasons, here's how often each team lifts the trophy. No confidence intervals yet. No error bars. Just probabilities that update after every match. Take them as directional, not precise.
Hot Takes
What the model says that fans won't like.
The model doesn't have a favourite team. It just reads the numbers. Some of these will make you angry. That's the point.
Honest Limitations
Where the model gets it wrong.
Every model has blind spots. Here are ours.
Underrates
Clutch players
Dhoni at 47 shows the problem. The model sees declining stats. It can't see leadership, composure under pressure, or the ability to win games that numbers say you should lose. MS Dhoni is worth more than 47 to CSK. The model doesn't know that.
Misses
Match context
The model treats all innings equally. A 50 in a dead rubber counts the same as a 50 in a playoff chase. It doesn't know who performs under pressure and who stat-pads in meaningless games.
Assumes
All T20 leagues are equal
We weight IPL data 2-3x heavier, but BBL, PSL, and CPL runs still count. A 150 SR in the BBL is not the same as a 150 SR in the IPL. This introduces noise.
Ignores
Matchup-specific data
Bumrah vs Kohli is different from Bumrah vs Gill. The model rates players in isolation, not against specific opponents. A spinner who destroys left-handers gets the same rating regardless of who's batting.
No
Confidence intervals
When we say "RCB 12.9% title probability," the real answer is probably 12.9% plus or minus 3-5%. We show point estimates because they're cleaner, but they're less honest. We're working on adding uncertainty ranges.
Calibrated
Not derived
The +2 and +3 phase bonuses, the 45/40/15 team weights, the clamping ranges. All validated against bet365 odds (2.19% error). They work. But they were found by testing, not by proving them mathematically.
Backtest
We ran our model retroactively on the last two full IPL seasons. Here's how it did.
+10.6%
IPL 2024
60.6%
43 of 71 correctcoin flip: 50%
+2.9%
IPL 2025
52.9%
37 of 70 correctmega auction year
Combined: 56.7% across 141 matches. Not world-beating, but consistently better than random. The model's edge comes from identifying small advantages that compound over a full season.
The 2025 season was harder to predict (52.9%) because several teams had major squad overhauls after the mega auction. When squads change dramatically, historical data loses relevance.
What we learned
16
Punjab Kings beat us 16 times
Our biggest blind spot across both seasons. The model consistently underrates them. Their unpredictability IS their strength.
58%
Our most confident miss
Predicted GT at 58.3%, Rajasthan Royals won by 8 wickets. Suryavanshi scored 101. One player going berserk breaks any model.
2.19%
Mean error vs bet365
Our season-level title probabilities differ from professional bookmakers by just 2.19 percentage points on average.
This page goes live during every match
Ball-by-ball win probability, what-if scenarios, live commentary with our model's analysis.
Never miss a match:
Match 59 · May 15 · Lucknow
Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings
Lucknow Super Giants
42.5%
vs
Chennai Super Kings
57.5%
BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow · 7:30 PM IST · Night match
A dead-rubber LSG meets a CSK on the up. Three games left to make or break Chennai\'s playoff push.
Lucknow Super Giants are mathematically eliminated (NRR -2.666, the worst of the season). The playoff dream ended after the home loss to CSK earlier in the season. Josh Inglis remains the danger man — his 85 off 33 at Ekana against CSK was the headline knock of that earlier meeting. Mitchell Marsh, Pooran, and the death pace of Mayank Yadav still make this a venue you don\'t want to take lightly. They play for pride and to spoil rivals\' qualification math.
Chennai Super Kings have won four of their last five and climbed to 5th. Sanju Samson leads CSK\'s charge with 424 runs at average 60.57 — the most consistent batter in their order. Three games left, and they need to win out to make the top four. The blow: Jamie Overton is ruled out with a thigh injury, days after his POTM performance against this exact opposition. Good news: MS Dhoni has travelled with the squad to Lucknow.
Our model has CSK at 57.5%. Reasons: CSK\'s recent form (4-1 in last 5), Samson\'s consistency, and CSK winning both 2026 meetings with LSG (including a stunning chase of 204 at Chepauk five days ago). The model docks them slightly for the Overton absence and Ekana being LSG\'s home soil. X sentiment: CSK +0.18 (Samson + Dhoni narrative), LSG -0.12 (motivation question).
Reality check:LSG have nothing to lose and Inglis at Ekana is a problem if it dews. If LSG bat first and post 200+, CSK\'s middle order without Overton becomes the question. But four-of-five momentum and a head-to-head sweep is hard to ignore.
Venue: Lucknow (Ekana)
PitchSlow black soil, two-paced
Dew factorModerate, favours chasers
Earlier meet hereCSK chased 204 (5 wkts)
Season Context
LSG position#10 (eliminated, NRR -2.666)
CSK position#5 (4 wins in last 5, chasing top 4)
Head-to-head (2026)CSK 2-0
If LSG win
Pride for LSG; massive headache for CSK. With three games left, a CSK loss here drops their top-four hopes to under 25% per the model. PBKS (now stuttering), RR and CSK all bunched around 12-13 pts — chaos for the 4th playoff slot.
CSK playoff: ~22% if they lose
If CSK win
CSK climb to 14 pts, level with PBKS at 4th (and ahead on form). They\'d be the team nobody wants to play with two games left. The Samson redemption story gets one chapter closer to a fairytale.
Tilak 75* off 33 sinks Punjab. Bumrah captains MI for the first time.
Punjab Kings
200/8
(20 ov)
vs
Mumbai Indians
205/4
(19.5 ov)
MI won by 6 wicketsWe predicted MI 61.4% ✓
PBKS reached 100/1 in 11 overs led by Prabhsimran Singh (57 off 32, 6 fours, 4 sixes). Then Shardul Thakur ripped through the middle order, taking 4/39 with two wickets in the 12th to dismiss both set batters. Azmatullah Omarzai (38* off 17) and Xavier Bartlett (18 off 7) salvaged the innings to 200/8. Chasing 201, Ryan Rickelton (48 off 23) and Rohit Sharma (25 off 26) gave MI a fast start. After Chahal bowled Rohit, Tilak Varma took control. His unbeaten 75 off 33 (6 fours, 6 sixes, SR 227) and Will Jacks (25* off 10) finished it with a six off the penultimate ball. Jasprit Bumrah led MI in IPL for the first time. PBKS slip to fifth straight defeat; the 4th playoff slot is in serious jeopardy.
Toss: MI elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Tilak Varma
PBKS Batting200/8(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Prabhsimran Singh
57
32
6
4
178.1
Azmatullah Omarzai
38*
17
-
-
223.5
Xavier Bartlett
18
7
-
-
257.1
Priyansh Arya
22
-
-
-
-
Cooper Connolly
22
-
-
-
-
MI Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Shardul Thakur
4
39
4
9.75
Deepak Chahar
4
36
2
9.00
Raj Bawa
-
-
1
-
Corbin Bosch
-
-
1
-
MI Batting205/4(19.5 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Tilak Varma
75*
33
6
6
227.3
Ryan Rickelton
48
23
-
-
208.7
Will Jacks
25*
10
-
-
250.0
Rohit Sharma
25
26
-
-
96.2
Sherfane Rutherford
20
21
-
-
95.2
Naman Dhir
9
6
-
-
150.0
PBKS Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Marco Jansen
4
55
1
13.75
Xavier Bartlett
-
53
0
-
Arshdeep Singh
4
29
0
7.25
Azmatullah Omarzai
-
36
2
-
Yuzvendra Chahal
-
-
1
-
Match 57 · May 13 · Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
Kohli 105* off 60 ends KKR\'s 4-match streak. RCB joint top on points.
Kolkata Knight Riders
192/4
(20 ov)
vs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
194/4
(19.1 ov)
RCB won by 6 wicketsWe predicted KKR 54.1% ✗
KKR posted 192/4 led by Raghuvanshi (71 off 46) and Rinku Singh\'s 49* off 29. Kartik Tyagi (3/32) was RCB\'s wrecker. Then Kohli took over with an unbeaten 105 off 60 — his sixth IPL century — anchoring a 119-run second-wicket stand with Padikkal (39 off 27) and sealing the chase with 5 balls to spare. RCB to 8-4 on 16 pts, level with GT at the top of the table (GT keep #1 on NRR). KKR slip to 9 pts and the playoff math gets thin.
Toss: RCB elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Virat Kohli
KKR Batting192/4(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
AM Rahane
19
13
3
1
146.2
FH Allen
18
8
3
1
225.0
A Raghuvanshi
71
46
7
3
154.3
C Green
32
24
3
1
133.3
RK Singh
49*
29
3
2
169.0
RCB Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
KH Pandya
4
39
0
9.75
B Kumar
4
34
1
8.50
Rasikh Salam
4
35
1
8.75
JR Hazlewood
4
35
1
8.75
JA Duffy
4
48
0
12.00
RCB Batting194/4(19.1 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
JG Bethell
15
12
2
1
125.0
V Kohli
105*
60
11
3
175.0
D Padikkal
39
27
7
0
144.4
RM Patidar
11
8
0
1
137.5
TH David
2
3
0
0
66.7
JM Sharma
8*
5
1
0
160.0
KKR Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
C Green
2
22
0
11.00
SP Narine
4
31
1
7.75
AS Roy
3
36
0
12.00
Kartik Tyagi
4
32
3
8.00
VG Arora
4
48
0
12.00
SR Dubey
2.1
21
0
9.69
Match 56 · May 12 · Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Rabada 3/28, Holder rout SRH for 86. GT go No.1.
Gujarat Titans
168/5
(20 ov)
vs
Sunrisers Hyderabad
86
(14.5 ov)
GT won by 82 runsWe predicted GT 71.1% ✓
GT 168/5. Then Rabada's 3/28 and Holder dismantled SRH for 86 in 14.5 overs, the season's lowest total. GT go top of the table with their fifth straight win.
Toss: SRH elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Kagiso Rabada
GT Batting168/5(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
B Sai Sudharsan
61
44
5
2
138.6
Shubman Gill
5
7
1
0
71.4
JC Buttler
7
11
1
0
63.6
N Sindhu
22
14
3
1
157.1
Washington Sundar
50
33
7
1
151.5
JO Holder
11*
10
0
0
110.0
R Tewatia
4*
1
1
0
400.0
SRH Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
K Nitish Kumar Reddy
3
27
0
9.0
PJ Cummins
4
20
1
5.0
Shivang Kumar
2
19
0
9.5
PP Hinge
3
17
2
5.67
E Malinga
4
46
0
11.5
Sakib Hussain
4
37
2
9.25
SRH Batting86(14.5 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
TM Head
0
4
0
0
0.0
Abhishek Sharma
6
4
0
1
150.0
Ishan Kishan
11
7
1
1
157.1
R Smaran
9
15
1
0
60.0
H Klaasen
14
16
2
0
87.5
S Arora
16
13
3
0
123.1
K Nitish Kumar Reddy
2
4
0
0
50.0
PJ Cummins
19
9
1
2
211.1
Shivang Kumar
4
6
0
0
66.7
PP Hinge
3
8
0
0
37.5
E Malinga
0*
3
0
0
0.0
GT Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
JO Holder
4
20
3
5.0
Rashid Khan
0.5
3
1
6.0
K Rabada
4
28
3
7.0
Mohammed Siraj
3
11
1
3.67
M Prasidh Krishna
3
23
2
7.67
Match 55 · May 11 · HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala
Tiwari 2/40 + 18* off 8. DC keep playoff hopes alive.
Punjab Kings
210/5
(20 ov)
vs
Delhi Capitals
216/7
(19 ov)
DC won by 3 wicketsWe predicted DC 65.6% ✓
PBKS 210/5. Tiwari took 2/40 with the ball (Connolly + Arya), then his late 18* off 8 sealed it in the penultimate over. DC win by 3 wickets, PBKS' fourth straight loss.
Toss: DC elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Madhav Tiwari
PBKS Batting210/5(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
P Arya
56
33
2
6
169.7
Prabhsimran Singh
18
15
3
0
120.0
SS Iyer
59*
36
5
3
163.9
CPL Connolly
38
27
3
2
140.7
MP Stoinis
1
2
0
0
50.0
Shashank Singh
0
1
0
0
0.0
Suryansh Shedge
21*
8
2
2
262.5
DC Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
M Tiwari
4
40
2
10.0
Auqib Nabi
4
32
0
8.0
MA Starc
4
57
2
14.25
L Ngidi
4
46
0
11.5
Mukesh Kumar
4
31
1
7.75
DC Batting216/7(19 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
KL Rahul
9
8
2
0
112.5
Abishek Porel
5
6
1
0
83.3
SU Parakh
13
6
1
1
216.7
T Stubbs
12
17
1
0
70.6
AR Patel
56
30
8
2
186.7
DA Miller
51
28
3
4
182.1
AR Sharma
24
10
2
2
240.0
M Tiwari
18*
8
2
1
225.0
Auqib Nabi
10*
2
1
1
500.0
PBKS Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
MP Stoinis
3
44
1
14.67
M Jansen
4
45
0
11.25
BJ Dwarshuis
4
51
1
12.75
Arshdeep Singh
4
21
2
5.25
Yash Thakur
4
55
2
13.75
Match 54 · May 10 · Nava Raipur Cricket Stadium, Raipur
Bhuvi 4/23 + the final-over six. RCB knock MI out of playoffs contention.
Mumbai Indians
166/7
(20 ov)
vs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
167/8
(20 ov)
RCB won by 2 wicketsWe predicted MI 53.0% ✗
MI's 166/7 looked defendable until Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 4/23 ripped the top order. The chase went down to the last over. Bhuvi himself hit the winning six. MI eliminated from playoffs contention.
Toss: MI elected to bat first · Player of the Match: Bhuvneshwar Kumar
MI Batting166/7(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
RD Rickelton
2
4
0
0
50.0
RG Sharma
22
10
2
2
220.0
Naman Dhir
47
32
5
2
146.9
SA Yadav
0
1
0
0
0.0
NT Tilak Varma
57
42
3
2
135.7
WG Jacks
10
10
1
0
100.0
RA Bawa
16
14
1
0
114.3
C Bosch
5*
5
0
0
100.0
DL Chahar
1*
2
0
0
50.0
RCB Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
KH Pandya
3
26
0
8.67
R Shepherd
3
18
1
6.0
Rasikh Salam
4
42
1
10.5
B Kumar
4
23
4
5.75
JR Hazlewood
4
33
1
8.25
Suyash Sharma
2
21
0
10.5
RCB Batting167/8(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
JG Bethell
27
27
2
0
100.0
V Kohli
0
1
0
0
0.0
D Padikkal
12
11
1
1
109.1
RM Patidar
8
8
1
0
100.0
KH Pandya
73
46
4
5
158.7
JM Sharma
18
12
1
2
150.0
TH David
0
1
0
0
0.0
R Shepherd
4
11
0
0
36.4
Rasikh Salam
3*
2
0
0
150.0
B Kumar
7*
2
0
1
350.0
MI Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
WG Jacks
2
13
0
6.5
RA Bawa
3
39
1
13.0
C Bosch
4
26
4
6.5
DL Chahar
4
33
2
8.25
JJ Bumrah
4
20
0
5.0
AM Ghazanfar
3
33
1
11.0
Match 53 · May 10 · MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Overton 3/36. CSK win a third straight at Chepauk.
Lucknow Super Giants
203/8
(20 ov)
vs
Chennai Super Kings
208/5
(19.2 ov)
CSK won by 5 wicketsWe predicted CSK 50.0% ✓
LSG posted 203/8. Jamie Overton's 3/36 included Inglis and Pant in the same over, triggering the collapse. CSK chased it with 4 balls to spare for a 5-wicket win. Third straight CSK home win.
Toss: CSK elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Jamie Overton
LSG Batting203/8(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
JP Inglis
85
33
10
6
257.6
MR Marsh
10
10
0
1
100.0
N Pooran
1
3
0
0
33.3
RR Pant
15
12
2
0
125.0
AK Markram
6
7
0
0
85.7
Akshat Raghuwanshi
18
18
1
0
100.0
Shahbaz Ahmed
43*
25
3
3
172.0
Himmat Singh
17
12
1
1
141.7
Mohammed Shami
0
1
0
0
0.0
Avesh Khan
0*
0
0
0
0
CSK Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
J Overton
4
36
3
9.0
AJ Hosein
4
49
0
12.25
Noor Ahmad
4
24
1
6.0
A Kamboj
4
47
2
11.75
Mukesh Choudhary
4
45
0
11.25
CSK Batting208/5(19.2 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
SV Samson
28
14
3
2
200.0
RD Gaikwad
42
28
3
2
150.0
UM Patel
65
23
2
8
282.6
Kartik Sharma
20
20
1
0
100.0
D Brevis
10
12
1
0
83.3
S Dube
15*
7
0
2
214.3
PR Veer
17*
12
0
2
141.7
LSG Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
AK Markram
0.2
14
0
70.0
Shahbaz Ahmed
3
30
2
10.0
Mohammed Shami
4
37
0
9.25
Avesh Khan
4
44
1
11.0
Prince Yadav
4
36
0
9.0
DS Rathi
4
45
2
11.25
Match 52 · May 9 · Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Rashid 4/33. Gill and Sai Sudharsan add 118. GT to 2nd, fourth straight win.
Rajasthan Royals
229/4
(20 ov)
vs
Gujarat Titans
152
(16.3 ov)
GT won by 77 runsWe predicted GT 61.4% ✓
GT 229/4 with an 118-run opening stand between Gill (54-ball fifty) and Sai Sudharsan. Then Rashid's 4/33 ripped RR for 152. Fourth straight GT win moves them to 2nd.
Toss: RR elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Rashid Khan
RR Batting229/4(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
YBK Jaiswal
3
4
0
0
75.0
V Sooryavanshi
36
16
3
3
225.0
DC Jurel
24
10
1
3
240.0
SO Hetmyer
6
7
1
0
85.7
RA Jadeja
38
25
3
2
152.0
D Ferreira
4
2
1
0
200.0
SB Dubey
15
14
1
1
107.1
MD Shanaka
16
11
2
0
145.5
JC Archer
5
6
1
0
83.3
TU Deshpande
1
3
0
0
33.3
Brijesh Sharma
1*
1
0
0
100.0
GT Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Washington Sundar
2
10
0
5.0
JO Holder
2.3
12
3
5.22
Rashid Khan
4
33
4
8.25
K Rabada
3
33
2
11.0
Mohammed Siraj
4
55
1
13.75
R Sai Kishore
1
8
0
8.0
GT Batting152(16.3 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
B Sai Sudharsan
55
36
6
2
152.8
Shubman Gill
84
44
9
3
190.9
JC Buttler
13
10
1
1
130.0
Washington Sundar
37*
20
2
3
185.0
JO Holder
7
7
1
0
100.0
R Tewatia
14*
4
0
2
350.0
RR Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
RA Jadeja
4
34
1
8.5
D Ferreira
1
11
0
11.0
JC Archer
3
46
0
15.33
TU Deshpande
4
52
0
13.0
Brijesh Sharma
4
47
2
11.75
Yash Raj Punja
4
37
1
9.25
Match 51 · May 8 · Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Allen 100* off 49. KKR demolish DC with 34 balls left.
Delhi Capitals
142/8
(20 ov)
vs
Kolkata Knight Riders
147/2
(14.2 ov)
KKR won by 8 wicketsWe predicted DC 60.7% ✗
DC managed 142/8. Finn Allen demolished it with an unbeaten 100 off 49 (5 fours, 10 sixes). KKR home with 34 balls to spare. DC's playoff math gets tougher.
Toss: KKR elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Finn Allen
DC Batting142/8(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
P Nissanka
50
29
5
3
172.4
KL Rahul
23
14
4
0
164.3
N Rana
8
10
1
0
80.0
Sameer Rizvi
3
7
0
0
42.9
T Stubbs
2
4
0
0
50.0
AR Patel
11
22
0
0
50.0
AR Sharma
39
28
3
3
139.3
V Nigam
3*
3
0
0
100.0
MA Starc
0
2
0
0
0.0
L Ngidi
1*
1
0
0
100.0
KKR Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
C Green
1
12
1
12.0
SP Narine
4
17
1
4.25
AS Roy
4
31
2
7.75
Kartik Tyagi
4
25
2
6.25
VG Arora
3
29
1
9.67
CV Varun
4
28
0
7.0
KKR Batting147/2(14.2 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
AM Rahane
13
9
1
1
144.4
FH Allen
100*
47
5
10
212.8
A Raghuvanshi
1
3
0
0
33.3
C Green
33*
27
0
2
122.2
DC Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
AR Patel
4
27
1
6.75
V Nigam
2
34
0
17.0
MA Starc
3
31
0
10.33
L Ngidi
2
7
0
3.5
Mukesh Kumar
0.2
7
0
35.0
Kuldeep Yadav
3
41
0
13.67
Match 50 · May 7 · Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Marsh 111 off 56. LSG win a DLS thriller at Ekana.
Lucknow Super Giants
209/3
(19 ov)
vs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
203/6
(19 ov)
LSG won by 9 runs (DLS)We predicted LSG 58.5% ✓
Mitchell Marsh smashed 111 off 56 (9 fours, 9 sixes; 90 in boundaries). LSG 209/3 in 19 overs. Rain shortened RCB's chase. They fell 9 runs short on DLS. LSG climb out of the basement; RCB's NRR takes a hit.
Toss: RCB elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Mitchell Marsh
LSG Batting209/3(19 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
MR Marsh
111
56
9
9
198.2
AA Kulkarni
17
24
1
0
70.8
N Pooran
38
23
4
1
165.2
RR Pant
32*
10
4
2
320.0
AK Markram
1*
1
0
0
100.0
RCB Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
KH Pandya
4
31
1
7.75
R Shepherd
1
16
0
16.0
B Kumar
4
34
0
8.5
JR Hazlewood
4
49
1
12.25
Rasikh Salam
4
53
1
13.25
Suyash Sharma
2
21
0
10.5
RCB Batting203/6(19 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
JG Bethell
4
5
1
0
80.0
V Kohli
0
2
0
0
0.0
D Padikkal
34
25
3
1
136.0
RM Patidar
61
31
3
6
196.8
JM Sharma
1
3
0
0
33.3
TH David
40
17
4
3
235.3
KH Pandya
28*
16
2
2
175.0
R Shepherd
23*
15
3
1
153.3
LSG Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Shahbaz Ahmed
3
33
2
11.0
DS Rathi
4
50
0
12.5
Mohammed Shami
4
33
1
8.25
Prince Yadav
4
33
3
8.25
MP Yadav
4
50
0
12.5
Match 49 · May 6 · Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
SRH posted 235/4 powered by their top order. PBKS' chase never got going. Cummins led the defense with 2/34 and two catches. PBKS suffered a fourth straight defeat, sliding out of the top four.
Toss: PBKS elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Pat Cummins
SRH Batting235/4(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Abhishek Sharma
35
13
2
4
269.2
TM Head
38
19
3
3
200.0
Ishan Kishan
55
32
2
4
171.9
H Klaasen
69
43
3
4
160.5
K Nitish Kumar Reddy
29*
13
2
2
223.1
PBKS Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
M Jansen
4
61
0
15.25
V Vyshak
4
54
1
13.5
LH Ferguson
4
41
1
10.25
Arshdeep Singh
4
43
1
10.75
YS Chahal
4
32
1
8.0
PBKS Batting202/7(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
P Arya
1
3
0
0
33.3
Prabhsimran Singh
3
4
0
0
75.0
CPL Connolly
107*
59
7
8
181.4
SS Iyer
5
5
1
0
100.0
MP Stoinis
28
14
3
2
200.0
Suryansh Shedge
25
17
1
2
147.1
Shashank Singh
4
3
1
0
133.3
M Jansen
19
16
0
1
118.8
V Vyshak
1*
1
0
0
100.0
SRH Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
K Nitish Kumar Reddy
2
11
1
5.5
PJ Cummins
4
34
2
8.5
Shivang Kumar
4
45
2
11.25
E Malinga
4
36
1
9.0
Sakib Hussain
4
40
1
10.0
HS Dubey
2
36
0
18.0
Match 48 · May 5 · Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Samson 87* off 52. CSK's third Samson POTM, fourth straight win.
Delhi Capitals
155/7
(20 ov)
vs
Chennai Super Kings
159/2
(17.3 ov)
CSK won by 8 wicketsWe predicted DC 70.2% ✗
DC slid to 69/5 before Stubbs and Rizvi recovered to 155/7. CSK chased it down with a 114-run unbeaten stand between Samson (87*) and Kartik Sharma. Samson became the first player to win three POTMs in IPL 2026.
Toss: DC elected to bat first · Player of the Match: Sanju Samson
DC Batting155/7(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
P Nissanka
19
15
3
1
126.7
KL Rahul
12
13
2
0
92.3
N Rana
15
13
2
0
115.4
KK Nair
13
13
2
0
100.0
AR Patel
2
6
0
0
33.3
T Stubbs
38
31
1
2
122.6
Sameer Rizvi
40*
24
0
4
166.7
AR Sharma
14
5
0
2
280.0
MA Starc
0*
0
0
0
0
CSK Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
J Overton
1
5
1
5.0
AJ Hosein
4
19
1
4.75
Noor Ahmad
3
22
2
7.33
A Kamboj
4
49
0
12.25
Mukesh Choudhary
4
31
1
7.75
Gurjapneet Singh
4
29
1
7.25
CSK Batting159/2(17.3 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
SV Samson
87*
52
7
6
167.3
RD Gaikwad
6
13
1
0
46.2
UM Patel
17
9
0
2
188.9
Kartik Sharma
41*
31
4
2
132.3
DC Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
AR Patel
4
25
1
6.25
MA Starc
4
30
0
7.5
L Ngidi
4
30
1
7.5
Kuldeep Yadav
3
34
0
11.33
T Natarajan
2.3
39
0
16.96
Match 47 · May 4 · Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Rickelton 83 off 32 with 8 sixes. MI chase 229 with 8 balls left.
Lucknow Super Giants
228/5
(20 ov)
vs
Mumbai Indians
229/4
(18.4 ov)
MI won by 6 wicketsWe predicted MI 59.3% ✓
LSG posted 228/5 led by Marsh. MI hunted it down on a 143-run opening stand in 10.5 overs between Rohit and Rickelton. Rickelton's 83 off 32 (8 sixes, SR 259) set the chase up for an easy 6-wicket finish.
Toss: MI elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Ryan Rickelton
LSG Batting228/5(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
MR Marsh
44
25
4
3
176.0
JP Inglis
13
5
3
0
260.0
N Pooran
63
21
1
8
300.0
RR Pant
15
10
1
1
150.0
AK Markram
31*
25
1
1
124.0
Akshat Raghuwanshi
11
7
0
1
157.1
Himmat Singh
40*
31
2
2
129.0
MI Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
WG Jacks
2
34
1
17.0
C Bosch
2
20
2
10.0
DL Chahar
4
43
0
10.75
JJ Bumrah
4
45
0
11.25
AM Ghazanfar
4
50
1
12.5
RS Sharma
4
36
1
9.0
MI Batting229/4(18.4 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
RD Rickelton
83
32
6
8
259.4
RG Sharma
84
44
6
7
190.9
NT Tilak Varma
11
13
0
0
84.6
SA Yadav
12
7
2
0
171.4
Naman Dhir
23*
12
3
1
191.7
WG Jacks
10*
4
0
1
250.0
LSG Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Mohammed Shami
4
53
1
13.25
Mohsin Khan
4
47
1
11.75
Avesh Khan
3.4
56
0
16.47
Prince Yadav
3
24
0
8.0
M Siddharth
4
47
2
11.75
Match 46 · May 3 · Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Holder 4/24. PBKS choked to 163. GT win second straight POTM for Holder.
Punjab Kings
163/9
(20 ov)
vs
Gujarat Titans
167/6
(19.5 ov)
GT won by 4 wicketsWe predicted GT 68.9% ✓
PBKS 163/9, choked by Jason Holder's 4/24. GT's chase was tight but Sai Sudharsan and Rashid steered them home with 1 ball to spare. Holder picked up his second POTM in five days.
Toss: GT elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Jason Holder
PBKS Batting163/9(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
P Arya
2
2
0
0
100.0
Prabhsimran Singh
15
14
2
0
107.1
CPL Connolly
0
1
0
0
0.0
SS Iyer
19
21
3
0
90.5
N Wadhera
0
6
0
0
0.0
Suryansh Shedge
57
29
3
5
196.6
MP Stoinis
40
31
5
1
129.0
M Jansen
20
11
1
1
181.8
XC Bartlett
0
1
0
0
0.0
V Vyshak
1*
3
0
0
33.3
Arshdeep Singh
1*
1
0
0
100.0
GT Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
JO Holder
4
24
4
6.0
Arshad Khan
3
29
0
9.67
Rashid Khan
4
32
1
8.0
K Rabada
4
22
2
5.5
MJ Suthar
1
27
0
27.0
Mohammed Siraj
4
28
2
7.0
GT Batting167/6(19.5 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
B Sai Sudharsan
57
41
5
1
139.0
Shubman Gill
5
4
1
0
125.0
JC Buttler
26
22
1
2
118.2
N Sindhu
15
11
0
1
136.4
Washington Sundar
40*
23
5
1
173.9
R Tewatia
2
6
0
0
33.3
JO Holder
5
7
0
0
71.4
Arshad Khan
8*
5
1
0
160.0
PBKS Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
MP Stoinis
2.5
26
1
10.4
M Jansen
4
33
1
8.25
XC Bartlett
4
38
0
9.5
V Vyshak
4
31
2
7.75
Arshdeep Singh
4
24
2
6.0
YS Chahal
1
13
0
13.0
Match 45 · May 3 · Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Varun 3/36 triggers middle-order collapse. KKR snap the slide.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
165
(19.4 ov)
vs
Kolkata Knight Riders
169/3
(18.2 ov)
KKR won by 7 wicketsWe predicted KKR 57.8% ✓
SRH 165 all out. Varun Chakravarthy's 3/36 wrecked the middle order. KKR chased it comfortably in 18.2 overs, an upset win that revived their slim playoff hopes.
Toss: KKR elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Varun Chakravarthy
SRH Batting165(19.4 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Abhishek Sharma
15
10
1
1
150.0
TM Head
61
28
9
3
217.9
Ishan Kishan
42
29
4
2
144.8
H Klaasen
11
8
1
1
137.5
R Smaran
4
4
1
0
100.0
AU Verma
6
8
1
0
75.0
S Arora
2
6
0
0
33.3
PJ Cummins
10
8
0
1
125.0
Shivang Kumar
1
2
0
0
50.0
HV Patel
6
5
1
0
120.0
E Malinga
2*
6
0
0
33.3
KKR Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
C Green
3
34
1
11.33
SP Narine
4
31
2
7.75
AS Roy
1
8
1
8.0
Kartik Tyagi
4
30
2
7.5
CV Varun
4
36
3
9.0
VG Arora
3
25
1
8.33
KKR Batting169/3(18.2 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
AM Rahane
43
36
4
1
119.4
FH Allen
29
13
3
2
223.1
A Raghuvanshi
59
47
5
2
125.5
RK Singh
22*
11
2
1
200.0
C Green
3*
3
0
0
100.0
SRH Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Abhishek Sharma
2
14
0
7.0
PJ Cummins
4
47
1
11.75
Shivang Kumar
4
31
1
7.75
HV Patel
2
17
0
8.5
E Malinga
3.2
42
0
13.12
Sakib Hussain
3
17
1
5.67
Match 44 · May 2 · MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Gaikwad 67* off 48. CSK do the double over MI.
Mumbai Indians
159/7
(20 ov)
vs
Chennai Super Kings
160/2
(18.1 ov)
CSK won by 8 wicketsWe predicted MI 51.9% ✗
MI managed only 159/7. Ruturaj Gaikwad anchored CSK's chase with 67* off 48, Kartik Sharma supported with a fifty. CSK won by 8 wickets with 11 balls to spare. Fourth CSK win in a row.
Toss: CSK elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Ruturaj Gaikwad
MI Batting159/7(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
WG Jacks
1
5
0
0
20.0
RD Rickelton
37
24
0
5
154.2
Naman Dhir
57
37
4
3
154.1
SA Yadav
21
12
3
1
175.0
NT Tilak Varma
5
8
0
0
62.5
HH Pandya
18
23
2
0
78.3
R Minz
5
3
1
0
166.7
Krish Bhagat
3*
6
0
0
50.0
TA Boult
7*
2
0
1
350.0
CSK Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
J Overton
4
23
1
5.75
RS Ghosh
3
24
1
8.0
PR Veer
2
25
0
12.5
Noor Ahmad
4
26
2
6.5
A Kamboj
4
32
3
8.0
Mukesh Choudhary
3
25
0
8.33
CSK Batting160/2(18.1 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
SV Samson
11
9
2
0
122.2
RD Gaikwad
67*
48
5
2
139.6
UM Patel
24
12
2
2
200.0
Kartik Sharma
54*
40
4
3
135.0
MI Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
HH Pandya
2
17
0
8.5
Krish Bhagat
2
22
0
11.0
TA Boult
3.1
37
0
11.94
JJ Bumrah
3
20
1
6.67
AM Ghazanfar
4
40
1
10.0
RS Sharma
4
24
0
6.0
Match 43 · May 1 · Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Rahul 75 off 40, Nissanka 56 off 31. DC chase 226 with 5 balls left.
Rajasthan Royals
225/6
(20 ov)
vs
Delhi Capitals
226/3
(19.1 ov)
DC won by 7 wicketsWe predicted DC 64.9% ✓
RR posted 225/6. DC's chase rode a 110-run opening stand between Nissanka and KL Rahul. Rahul anchored with 75 off 40 (6 fours, 5 sixes). DC returned to winning ways with 5 balls to spare.
Toss: DC elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: KL Rahul
RR Batting225/6(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
YBK Jaiswal
6
3
0
1
200.0
V Sooryavanshi
4
2
1
0
200.0
DC Jurel
42
30
4
1
140.0
R Parag
90
50
8
5
180.0
RA Jadeja
20
14
1
1
142.9
D Ferreira
47*
14
2
6
335.7
SB Dubey
6
6
1
0
100.0
JC Archer
1*
1
0
0
100.0
DC Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
AR Patel
4
39
1
9.75
KA Jamieson
4
48
1
12.0
MA Starc
4
40
3
10.0
Kuldeep Yadav
4
41
0
10.25
T Natarajan
4
54
1
13.5
DC Batting226/3(19.1 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
P Nissanka
62
33
6
3
187.9
KL Rahul
75
40
6
5
187.5
N Rana
33
17
3
2
194.1
T Stubbs
18*
11
1
1
163.6
AR Sharma
25*
15
4
0
166.7
RR Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
RA Jadeja
3
33
1
11.0
JC Archer
4
46
1
11.5
Ravi Bishnoi
2
28
0
14.0
N Burger
3
41
0
13.67
Brijesh Sharma
3.1
35
0
11.29
TU Deshpande
4
38
1
9.5
Match 42 · Apr 30 · Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Holder does everything. GT thump RCB by 4 wickets, lift NRR.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
155
(19.5 ov)
vs
Gujarat Titans
158/6
(15.5 ov)
GT won by 4 wicketsWe predicted GT 61.1% ✓
Jason Holder was everywhere: 12 off 10 with the bat, 2/29 with the ball, three catches in the field. RCB folded for 155. Gill made 43 and a Tewatia cameo (27* off 17) finished it in 15.5 overs with 25 balls to spare.
Toss: GT elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Jason Holder
RCB Batting155(19.5 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
JG Bethell
5
5
1
0
100.0
V Kohli
28
13
5
1
215.4
D Padikkal
40
24
5
2
166.7
RM Patidar
19
15
2
1
126.7
JM Sharma
1
3
0
0
33.3
TH David
9
6
0
1
150.0
KH Pandya
4
4
1
0
100.0
R Shepherd
17
15
0
2
113.3
VR Iyer
12
15
1
0
80.0
B Kumar
15*
15
2
0
100.0
JR Hazlewood
0
1
0
0
0.0
GT Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
JO Holder
4
29
2
7.25
Rashid Khan
4
19
2
4.75
Arshad Khan
3.2
22
3
6.88
K Rabada
4
44
1
11.0
Mohammed Siraj
4
38
1
9.5
GT Batting158/6(15.5 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
B Sai Sudharsan
6
5
1
0
120.0
Shubman Gill
43
18
4
3
238.9
JC Buttler
39
19
2
4
205.3
Washington Sundar
12
12
0
1
100.0
M Shahrukh Khan
8
8
1
0
100.0
R Tewatia
27*
17
4
0
158.8
JO Holder
12
10
0
1
120.0
Rashid Khan
7*
6
1
0
116.7
RCB Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
R Shepherd
4
30
2
7.5
B Kumar
4
28
3
7.0
JR Hazlewood
4
56
0
14.0
Suyash Sharma
3.5
44
1
12.57
Match 41 · Apr 29 · Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Travishek and Klaasen ace the 244 chase. SRH's fifth straight win.
Mumbai Indians
243/5
(20 ov)
vs
Sunrisers Hyderabad
249/4
(18.4 ov)
SRH won by 6 wicketsWe predicted MI 70.5% ✗
Mumbai's 243/5 looked imposing. Then Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma added a brutal opening stand. Klaasen finished it unbeaten 65 off 30 with 2 catches, ace-ing one of the biggest chases of the season with 8 balls to spare.
Toss: SRH elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Heinrich Klaasen
MI Batting243/5(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
WG Jacks
46
22
5
3
209.1
RD Rickelton
123*
55
10
8
223.6
SA Yadav
5
5
1
0
100.0
Naman Dhir
22
17
3
0
129.4
HH Pandya
31
15
2
2
206.7
NT Tilak Varma
7
5
0
1
140.0
R Minz
1*
1
0
0
100.0
SRH Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
K Nitish Kumar Reddy
2
31
1
15.5
PJ Cummins
4
39
0
9.75
HS Dubey
3
50
0
16.67
PP Hinge
4
54
2
13.5
E Malinga
4
29
1
7.25
Sakib Hussain
3
39
1
13.0
SRH Batting249/4(18.4 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Abhishek Sharma
45
24
4
3
187.5
TM Head
76
30
4
8
253.3
Ishan Kishan
0
1
0
0
0.0
H Klaasen
65*
30
7
4
216.7
K Nitish Kumar Reddy
21
17
3
0
123.5
S Arora
30*
10
2
3
300.0
MI Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
WG Jacks
1
19
0
19.0
HH Pandya
3.4
39
1
11.47
TA Boult
4
41
1
10.25
JJ Bumrah
4
54
0
13.5
AM Ghazanfar
4
51
2
12.75
Ashwani Kumar
2
41
0
20.5
Match 40 · Apr 28 · Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, New Chandigarh
RR chase 223 in 19.2 overs. Ferreira 52* and Dubey 31* end PBKS' unbeaten run.
Punjab Kings
222/4
(20 ov)
vs
Rajasthan Royals
228/4
(19.2 ov, target 223)
RR won by 6 wickets (4b rem)We predicted PBKS 56.7% ✗
Marcus Stoinis (62* off 22, 4x4 6x6) blew the doors off PBKS' innings with a brutal final-overs assault. Prabhsimran Singh (59 off 44, 6x4 1x6) anchored at the top, Priyansh Arya (29 off 11, 5x4 1x6) blasted in the powerplay, Cooper Connolly (30 off 14, 2x4 3x6) and Shreyas Iyer (30 off 27, 1x4 1x6) kept things flowing. PBKS posted 222/4. Yuzvendra Chahal (3/36 in 4 ov) was RR's best, Yash Punja (2/41) supported, Archer (1/40) and Burger (1/59) shared a wicket each. RR's chase was a thing of carnage. Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 off 27, 7x4 1x6) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (43 off 16, 3x4 5x6) put on 87 in 6 overs. Riyan Parag (29 off 16, 2x4 2x6) kept the rate up. Then Donovan Ferreira (52* off 26, 6x4 3x6, POTM) and Shubham Dubey (31* off 12, 3x4 2x6) added 77 off 32 balls for the 5th wicket to finish it with 4 balls to spare. PBKS bowling: Arshdeep (1/68), Lockie Ferguson (0/57), Jansen (0/41), Brar (0/25 in 4 ov, the lone bright spot), Chahal (0). PBKS' first defeat of IPL 2026 ends the unbeaten run at 6-0-1NR. RR (6-3, 12 pts) leapfrog SRH to 3rd. PBKS (6-1-1NR, 13 pts) still 1st but the lead shrinks to one point. Twenty-fourth wrong prediction.
Toss: RR elected to field first · Player of the Match: Donovan Ferreira
Why this match mattered:PBKS' aura is gone. They are still 1st on 13 pts but the lead is one point and three teams are within striking distance. RR's Ferreira-Dubey late hitting is a new selling point that turns RR's batting into a genuine 7-deep order.
Turning point:RR were 165/4 needing 58 off 30. Ferreira and Dubey put on 50 in 22 balls — Ferreira tagged Arshdeep for two sixes in the 17th over and the chase tilted. Stoinis' 62* off 22 was the third-best stranded innings of IPL 2026.
Season impact:RR jump to 3rd (12 pts) on equal points with RCB. PBKS unbeaten run done at 7 games. Sooryavanshi to 400 runs (Orange Cap leader). Prabhsimran's 4th fifty in 7 (346 runs). Twenty-fourth wrong prediction.
Key Performers
Donovan Ferreira
52*
26b · 6x4 · 3x6 · SR 200 · POTM
Marcus Stoinis
62*
22b · 4x4 · 6x6 · SR 281.8
Yashasvi Jaiswal
51
27b · 7x4 · 1x6 · SR 188.9
Yuzvendra Chahal
3/36
4 ov · econ 9.0 · PBKS' best bowler
PBKS Batting222/4(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Prabhsimran Singh (wk)
59
44
6
1
134.1
Priyansh Arya
29
11
5
1
263.6
Cooper Connolly
30
14
2
3
214.3
Shreyas Iyer (c)
30
27
1
1
111.1
Marcus Stoinis
62*
22
4
6
281.8
Suryansh Shedge
3*
2
0
0
150.0
Total: 222/4 (20 ov)
RR Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Jofra Archer
4
40
1
10.00
Nandre Burger
4
59
1
14.75
Brijesh Sharma
4
42
0
10.50
Yash Raj Punja
4
41
2
10.25
Ravindra Jadeja
4
32
0
8.00
RR Batting228/4(19.2 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Yashasvi Jaiswal
51
27
7
1
188.9
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
43
16
3
5
268.8
Dhruv Jurel (wk)
16
20
0
1
80.0
Riyan Parag
29
16
2
2
181.3
Donovan Ferreira
52*
26
6
3
200.0
Shubham Dubey
31*
12
3
2
258.3
Total: 228/4 (19.2 ov)
PBKS Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Arshdeep Singh
4
68
1
17.00
Lockie Ferguson
4
57
0
14.25
Marco Jansen
3.2
41
0
12.30
Harpreet Brar
4
25
0
6.25
Yuzvendra Chahal
4
36
3
9.00
Match 39 · Apr 27 · Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Hazlewood 4/12, Bhuvi 3/5 raze DC for 75. RCB chase it in 6.3 overs.
Delhi Capitals
75
all out (20 ov)
vs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
77/1
(6.3 ov, 81 balls remaining)
RCB won by 9 wickets (81b rem)We predicted DC 64.6% ✗
The most one-sided match of IPL 2026. RCB reduced DC to 8/6 inside the powerplay. Josh Hazlewood (4/12 in 3.3 ov, POTM) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/5 in 3 ov, econ 1.66) shared seven wickets up front. Suyash Sharma (1/7 in 4 ov, 1 maiden) was unplayable in the middle. Krunal Pandya (1/9 in 2 ov), Rasikh Salam (1/21) and Shepherd (0/21) cleaned up. Suryansh Parakh (0), KL Rahul (1), Nitish Rana (1), Sameer Rizvi (0) and Axar Patel (0) all fell cheaply. Tristan Stubbs (5 off 3) was caught attempting to launch. Abishek Porel (30 off 33) and David Miller (19 off 18) dragged DC from 8/6 to 53/7, then Kyle Jamieson (12 off 13) helped them limp to 75 all out in 20 overs — DC's lowest total of the season. The chase took 6.3 overs. Jacob Bethell (20 off 11, 1x4 2x6), Kohli (23* off 15, 1x4 2x6), and Padikkal (34* off 13, 3x4 3x6, SR 261.5) finished it with 81 balls remaining. Jamieson's 1/42 was DC's lone wicket. Natarajan went for 12 in 0.3 overs. RCB jump to 6-2 (12 pts), 2nd. DC plummet to 3-5 (6 pts) on a wrecked NRR. Twenty-third wrong prediction. The model had DC at 64.6%.
Toss: RCB elected to field first · Player of the Match: Josh Hazlewood
Why this match mattered:RCB make a statement — the M39 demolition is the season's most one-sided result and pushes them past RR into 2nd. DC's bowling, missing Ngidi, looks like the league's worst. The model's DC 64.6% pre-match call lasted 13 minutes.
Turning point:Bhuvi's first over (1/0/5/3, with the wickets of Parakh first ball, then Rana and Rizvi). DC were 5/3 inside the second over and the contest was effectively over. Hazlewood's 4-fer compounded.
Season impact:Bhuvi takes Purple Cap lead at 14 wkts. Hazlewood breaks into the top 15 with 8 wkts, econ 7.90. Padikkal (242 runs) into top 17 of Orange Cap. Kohli (351, 4th OC). RCB NRR jumps from +1.20 to +1.65. Twenty-third wrong prediction.
Key Performers
Josh Hazlewood
4/12
3.3 ov · econ 3.42 · POTM
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
3/5
3 ov · econ 1.66 · Purple Cap leader
Devdutt Padikkal
34*
13b · 3x4 · 3x6 · SR 261.5
Abishek Porel
30
33b · 3x4 · lone fight from 8/6
DC Batting75 all out(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Suryansh Parakh
0
2
0
0
0.0
KL Rahul (c, wk)
1
3
0
0
33.3
Nitish Rana
1
9
0
0
11.1
Sameer Rizvi
0
1
0
0
0.0
Tristan Stubbs
5
3
1
0
166.7
Axar Patel
0
3
0
0
0.0
Abishek Porel
30
33
3
0
90.9
David Miller
19
18
3
0
105.6
Kyle Jamieson
12
13
1
1
92.3
Kuldeep Yadav
3
11
0
0
27.3
Dushmantha Chameera
0*
3
0
0
0.0
Total: 75 all out (20 ov)
RCB Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
3
5
3
1.66
Josh Hazlewood
3.3
12
4
3.42
Rasikh Salam
2
21
1
10.50
Romario Shepherd
2
21
0
10.50
Suyash Sharma
4
7
1
1.75
Krunal Pandya
2
9
1
4.50
RCB Batting77/1(6.3 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Jacob Bethell
20
11
1
2
181.8
Virat Kohli
23*
15
1
2
153.3
Devdutt Padikkal
34*
13
3
3
261.5
Total: 77/1 (6.3 ov)
Match 38 · Apr 26 · Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
Match TIED. Mohsin Khan 5/23 in vain. Rinku 83* + Narine super over win it for KKR.
Kolkata Knight Riders
155/7
(20 ov)
tied
Lucknow Super Giants
155/8
(20 ov, target 156)
Tied. KKR won the Super OverWe predicted LSG 54.5% ✗
KKR were 93/7 in the 15th over and dead — until Rinku Singh (83* off 51, 7x4 5x6, POTM) and Sunil Narine (4* off 6) staged a rescue with 62 runs in the last 6 overs. Earlier Cameron Green (34 off 21) and an opening pair of Rahane (10) and Seifert (0) had failed; Anukul Roy fell for 0. Mohsin Khan returned to take 5/23 in 4 overs (1 maiden), his maiden IPL five-wicket haul, removing Green, Powell, Anukul, Ramandeep and Pant. Prince Yadav (0/24), Shami (0/34) were tight; Rathi went for 46 in 4. Vaibhav Arora (2/24) anchored KKR's reply, Varun Chakaravarthy (2/33), Cameron Green (1/12) and Narine (1/23) all bowled tight. LSG's chase started with Markram (31 off 27) and Pant (42 off 38) but lost wickets in clusters. Pooran (9 off 12) was suffocated, Marsh (2 off 3) failed again, Badoni (24 off 19, 2x6) tried to launch and fell. Himmat Singh (19 off 10, 2x4 1x6) and Linde (8 off 4) almost got LSG home — they needed 6 off the last ball with Shami on strike. Shami swung and connected for two runs to tie. Super Over: Narine bowled for KKR. He shattered Pooran's stumps first ball. Markram fell next. LSG mustered just 1, leaving KKR 2 to win. Rinku Singh ended it on the very first ball of KKR's super over. KKR's second win takes them to 2-5-1NR (5 pts), 8th. LSG drop to 2-6 (4 pts) and 10th. Twenty-second wrong prediction.
Toss: LSG elected to field first · Player of the Match: Rinku Singh
Why this match mattered:KKR pull off the unlikeliest two points of the season. From 93/7 to a super over win is the kind of result that re-engineers a team's season-long psychology. Mohsin Khan's 5-for in a losing cause is the most painful kind of bowling triumph.
Turning point:The 17th over of LSG's chase. Mohsin Khan's wicket of Pant left LSG 124/4 needing 32 off 18. Then Badoni's mistimed pull and Linde's run-out drained the chase of momentum. Last ball needing 6, Shami got two. Tied.
Season impact:Mohsin's 5/23 = season-best bowling figures. Rinku's 83* the season's best comeback knock. KKR climb past LSG into 8th. LSG sink to 10th. Twenty-second wrong prediction.
Key Performers
Rinku Singh
83*
51b · 7x4 · 5x6 · SR 162.7 · POTM + super over six
Mohsin Khan
5/23
4 ov · econ 5.75 · maiden IPL 5-for, season-best
Sunil Narine
SO
Bowled the super over. Pooran out 1st ball. 1 run conceded.
Rishabh Pant
42
38b · 4x4 · 1x6 · SR 110.5
KKR Batting155/7(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Ajinkya Rahane (c)
10
15
0
1
66.7
Tim Seifert (wk)
0
3
0
0
0.0
Angkrish Raghuvanshi
9
8
1
0
112.5
Cameron Green
34
21
0
3
161.9
Rovman Powell
1
4
0
0
25.0
Rinku Singh
83*
51
7
5
162.7
Anukul Roy
0
1
0
0
0.0
Ramandeep Singh
6
11
0
0
54.5
Sunil Narine
4*
6
0
0
66.7
Total: 155/7 (20 ov)
LSG Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Mohammed Shami
4
34
0
8.50
Mohsin Khan
4
23
5
5.75
Prince Yadav
4
24
0
6.00
Digvesh Rathi
4
46
0
11.50
George Linde
2
18
1
9.00
Aiden Markram
2
9
0
4.50
LSG Batting155/8(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Aiden Markram
31
27
2
1
114.8
Mitchell Marsh
2
3
0
0
66.7
Rishabh Pant (c, wk)
42
38
4
1
110.5
Nicholas Pooran
9
12
0
1
75.0
Ayush Badoni
24
19
0
2
126.3
Mukesh Choudhary
1
2
0
0
50.0
Himmat Singh
19
10
2
1
190.0
George Linde
8
4
2
0
200.0
Mohammed Shami
11*
6
1
1
183.3
Prince Yadav
0*
1
0
0
0.0
Total: 155/8 (20 ov) · Tied. KKR won the super over: KKR 2/0 vs LSG 1/2.
KKR Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Anukul Roy
2
19
1
9.50
Vaibhav Arora
4
24
2
6.00
Cameron Green
2
12
1
6.00
Sunil Narine
4
23
1
5.75
Varun Chakaravarthy
4
33
2
8.25
Kartik Tyagi
4
41
1
10.25
Match 37 · Apr 26 · MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (venue swap from Ahmedabad)
Rabada 3/25 wrecks CSK. Sai Sudharsan 87. GT cruise home with 20 balls to spare.
Chennai Super Kings
158/7
(20 ov)
vs
Gujarat Titans
162/2
(16.4 ov, target 159)
GT won by 8 wickets (20b rem)We predicted GT 66.9% ✓
GT broke the model's home-favourite curse the long way round, winning on the road at Chepauk after a venue swap from Ahmedabad. CSK posted just 158/7 with Ruturaj Gaikwad's lone-hand 74* off 60 (6x4 4x6) carrying a brittle innings. Samson (11 off 15) and Brevis (2 off 9) were strangled. Dube (22 off 17) and Overton's late cameo (18 off 6, 3x4 1x6) added some shape. Kagiso Rabada (3/25 in 4 ov, POTM) ripped through the middle, removing Samson, Khan and Brevis. Mohammed Siraj (1/23) opened with the wicket of Mhatre. Suthar (1/22), Holder (0/22), Arshad Khan (2/43) and Rashid (0/21 in 1 ov) stayed mostly contained. The chase was a procession. B Sai Sudharsan (87 off 46, 4x4 7x6) launched into Akeal Hosein and Gurjapneet, smacking seven sixes. Shubman Gill (33 off 23, 1x4 3x6) added 80 with him in 9 overs. Buttler (39* off 30, 4x4 1x6) and Sundar (1*) finished the chase with 20 balls to spare. Hosein went for 46 in 3.4 overs. CSK now 3-5 (6 pts), 6th. GT to 4-4 (8 pts), back into 5th. Sixteenth correct prediction.
Toss: GT elected to field first · Player of the Match: Kagiso Rabada
Why this match mattered:GT break out of the slide. Sai Sudharsan's M34 ton plus this 87 confirms the breakout — he is now in the top 10 of the Orange Cap. Rabada's 3/25 is his second-best return of the season.
Turning point:Mhatre out first ball of GT's bowling innings. Then Rabada removed Samson at 24/2 and CSK never built. Sudharsan in reply hit Hosein for 4-6-6 in the 14th over and the chase went from on-pace to walkover.
Season impact:GT to 8 pts, 5th. CSK NRR drops from -0.10 to -0.32. Rabada to 13 wkts (Purple Cap top 6). Sai Sudharsan to 322 runs. Sixteenth correct prediction — model was right despite the venue swap.
Key Performers
Kagiso Rabada
3/25
4 ov · econ 6.25 · POTM
B Sai Sudharsan
87
46b · 4x4 · 7x6 · SR 189.1
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
74*
60b · 6x4 · 4x6 · SR 123.3 · lone hand
Jos Buttler (wk)
39*
30b · 4x4 · 1x6 · finished the chase
CSK Batting158/7(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Sanju Samson (wk)
11
15
2
0
73.3
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
74*
60
6
4
123.3
Urvil Patel
4
3
1
0
133.3
Sarfaraz Khan
0
1
0
0
0.0
Dewald Brevis
2
9
0
0
22.2
Shivam Dube
22
17
3
1
129.4
Karthik Sharma
15
9
3
0
166.7
Jamie Overton
18
6
3
1
300.0
Akeal Hosein
0*
0
0
0
-
Total: 158/7 (20 ov)
GT Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Mohammed Siraj
4
23
1
5.75
Kagiso Rabada
4
25
3
6.25
Manav Suthar
3
22
1
7.33
Jason Holder
4
22
0
5.50
Arshad Khan
4
43
2
10.75
Rashid Khan
1
21
0
21.00
GT Batting162/2(16.4 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
B Sai Sudharsan
87
46
4
7
189.1
Shubman Gill (c)
33
23
1
3
143.5
Jos Buttler (wk)
39*
30
4
1
130.0
Washington Sundar
1*
1
0
0
100.0
Total: 162/2 (16.4 ov)
CSK Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Akeal Hosein
3.4
46
1
12.54
Anshul Kamboj
3
16
0
5.33
Jamie Overton
2
28
0
14.00
Gurjapneet Singh
3
36
0
12.00
Noor Ahmad
4
29
1
7.25
Shivam Dube
1
7
0
7.00
Match 36 · Apr 25 · Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Sooryavanshi hits 12 sixes (IPL record) in a 36-ball ton. SRH chase 229 anyway. Cummins returns.
Rajasthan Royals
228/6
(20 ov)
vs
Sunrisers Hyderabad
229/5
(18.3 ov, target 229)
SRH won by 5 wickets (9b rem)We predicted RR 53.4% ✗
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (103 off 37, 5x4 12x6) became the youngest player ever to hit 12 sixes in a T20 innings, a new IPL record for sixes in an innings (previously 11, held by Pant, Sehwag, Klaasen and Russell). His 100 came off 36 balls, the joint third-fastest IPL century. Jaiswal (10 off 8) fell early to Hinge. Sooryavanshi launched a one-man assault, pummelling Cummins, Hinge, and Sakib over leg side. Dhruv Jurel (51 off 35, 8x4 1x6) anchored the second-wicket stand of 100 in 57 balls. Donovan Ferreira (33 off 16, 3x4 3x6) blasted later. Hetmyer (11 off 10), Parag (7 off 9), Jadeja (4* off 3) and Archer (2* off 2) closed RR at 228/6. Pat Cummins (1/27 in 4 ov on his return as captain) was SRH's standout. Malinga (2/38), Hinge (1/49) and Sakib Hussain (1/62) leaked. Then SRH chased 229. Head (6 off 5) fell early to Burger, but Abhishek Sharma (57 off 29, 11x4 1x6) and Ishan Kishan (74 off 31, 11x4 3x6, POTM) put on 119 in 47 balls. They added 100 inside 7 overs. Klaasen (29 off 24, 3x4 1x6) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (36 off 18, 2x4 3x6) took SRH past 200, and Salil Arora (8* off 3, 1x6) finished with a six. RR bowling: Archer (2/34), Brijesh Sharma (2/44), Burger (0/50), Bishnoi and Jadeja came on too late and bowled an over each. SRH move to 5-3 (10 pts), 3rd. RR drop to 5-3 from 5-2, behind PBKS, RCB and SRH on NRR. Twenty-first wrong prediction.
Toss: SRH elected to field first · Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan
Why this match mattered:SRH's third win in their last four leapfrogs them past RR into 3rd. The post-Cummins-return SRH look like genuine title contenders again. RR's brittle middle order is now a real problem for a side that started 4-1.
Turning point:The 4th over of the chase. SRH 24/1, Abhishek and Kishan greeted Cummins' replacement Burger with consecutive boundaries, then went 16, 18, 16 in three of the next four overs. The required rate dropped from 11.5 to 10 inside the powerplay. The chase was effectively over by over 7.
Season impact:Sooryavanshi (357 runs, SR 234.9) jumps to 2nd in the Orange Cap. Kishan (312, POTM) cracks the top 6. Abhishek extends the Orange Cap lead to 380. Twenty-first wrong prediction. Model accuracy: 15/35 (M12 NR excluded).
Key Performers
Ishan Kishan
74
31b · 11x4 · 3x6 · SR 238.7 · POTM
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
103
37b · 5x4 · 12x6 · IPL record
Abhishek Sharma
57
29b · 11x4 · 1x6 · SR 196.6
Pat Cummins
1/27
4 ov · econ 6.75 · return as captain
RR Batting228/6(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Yashasvi Jaiswal
10
8
2
0
125.0
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
103
37
5
12
278.4
Dhruv Jurel (wk)
51
35
8
1
145.7
Riyan Parag
7
9
0
0
77.8
Donovan Ferreira
33
16
3
3
206.3
Shimron Hetmyer
11
10
1
0
110.0
Ravindra Jadeja
4*
3
1
0
133.3
Jofra Archer
2*
2
0
0
100.0
Total: 228/6 (20 ov)
SRH Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Praful Hinge
4
49
1
12.25
Pat Cummins (c)
4
27
1
6.75
Eshan Malinga
4
38
2
9.50
Sakib Hussain
4
62
1
15.50
Shivang Kumar
2
31
0
15.50
K Nitish Kumar Reddy
2
20
1
10.00
SRH Batting229/5(18.3 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Travis Head
6
5
0
1
120.0
Abhishek Sharma
57
29
11
1
196.6
Ishan Kishan (wk)
74
31
11
3
238.7
Heinrich Klaasen
29
24
3
1
120.8
K Nitish Kumar Reddy
36
18
2
3
200.0
Salil Arora
8*
3
0
1
266.7
Aniket Verma
1*
1
0
0
100.0
Total: 229/5 (18.3 ov)
RR Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Jofra Archer
4
34
2
8.50
Nandre Burger
3.3
50
0
14.28
Tushar Deshpande
3
43
0
14.33
Brijesh Sharma
4
44
2
11.00
Riyan Parag
1
12
0
12.00
Donovan Ferreira
1
14
1
14.00
Ravi Bishnoi
1
16
0
16.00
Ravindra Jadeja
1
11
0
11.00
Match 35 · Apr 25 · Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
KL Rahul 152* off 67 in vain. PBKS chase 265 in 18.5 overs. Highest successful chase in IPL history.
Delhi Capitals
264/2
(20 ov)
vs
Punjab Kings
265/4
(18.5 ov, target 265)
PBKS won by 6 wickets (7b rem) · IPL-record chaseWe predicted DC 72% ✗
KL Rahul hammered an Indian record T20 score of 152* off 67 (16x4 9x6, POTM despite the loss) to anchor DC's 264/2. Rahul reached 100 off 47 balls and 150 off 66. He added 200 with Nitish Rana (91 off 44, 11x4 4x6) for the second wicket, the second-largest stand in IPL history. Rana fell trying to launch but DC closed at 264/2 with Miller (3* off 3) seeing it home. Pathum Nissanka (11 off 7) had fallen early. PBKS bowling: Arshdeep (1/49), Bartlett (1/69), Jansen (0/45), Vyshak (0/48), Chahal (0/42), Stoinis (0/11). Then PBKS produced the chase of all chases. Priyansh Arya (43 off 17, 2x4 5x6) and Prabhsimran Singh (76 off 26, 9x4 5x6) put on 100 in 5.2 overs at the top. PBKS scored 116 in the powerplay alone. Shreyas Iyer's masterful 71* off 36 (3x4 7x6) finished the job; the seven sixes won it. He went 4-6-6 off Kuldeep Yadav in the 17th over to tilt the chase. Cooper Connolly (17 off 10), Nehal Wadhera (25 off 15), and Shashank Singh (19* off 10) all played their parts. DC's bowling fell apart: Mukesh (0/55), Natarajan (0/54), Auqib Nabi (0/41), Patel (1/44), Kuldeep (2/46), Nigam (1/24). Lungi Ngidi suffered a head injury attempting a catch off Arya in the 5th over and was hospitalised. Karun Nair came on as fielding sub and dropped Iyer twice in two balls before Iyer launched into PBKS' record win with 7 balls to spare. PBKS' 265/4 is the highest successful chase in IPL history. PBKS now 6-0-1NR (13 pts), still unbeaten and clear at #1. DC drop to 3-4 (6 pts), 6th. Twentieth wrong prediction.
Toss: DC elected to bat first · Player of the Match: KL Rahul (152* off 67)
Why this match mattered:PBKS extend their unbeaten run to 6-0-1NR and become 3 points clear at the top. The chase is now the highest in IPL history (beating their own 262/2 vs KKR in 2024). DC's bowling, missing Ngidi mid-match, looks like the league's worst.
Turning point:Iyer's 17th over off Kuldeep Yadav — the standard equation 12 balls/15 runs collapsed in three balls. 4-6-6 sealed it. The two dropped catches by Karun Nair (long off, long on) immediately preceding the over set up the moment.
Season impact:KL Rahul (357 runs) joins Sooryavanshi as Orange Cap #2/3 despite the loss. Iyer (279) and Prabhsimran (287) jump into the Orange Cap top 10. PBKS clear at the top of the title race. DC NRR craters from -0.180 to -0.700. Twentieth wrong prediction.
Key Performers
KL Rahul
152*
67b · 16x4 · 9x6 · SR 226.9 · POTM
Prabhsimran Singh
76
26b · 9x4 · 5x6 · SR 292.3
Shreyas Iyer (c)
71*
36b · 3x4 · 7x6 · SR 197.2
Nitish Rana
91
44b · 11x4 · 4x6 · SR 206.8
DC Batting264/2(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Pathum Nissanka
11
7
2
0
157.1
KL Rahul (c, wk)
152*
67
16
9
226.9
Nitish Rana
91
44
11
4
206.8
David Miller
3*
3
0
0
100.0
Total: 264/2 (20 ov)
PBKS Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Arshdeep Singh
4
49
1
12.25
Xavier Bartlett
4
69
1
17.25
Marco Jansen
4
45
0
11.25
Vyshak Vijaykumar
3
48
0
16.00
Yuzvendra Chahal
4
42
0
10.50
Marcus Stoinis
1
11
0
11.00
PBKS Batting265/4(18.5 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Priyansh Arya
43
17
2
5
252.9
Prabhsimran Singh (wk)
76
26
9
5
292.3
Cooper Connolly
17
10
1
1
170.0
Shreyas Iyer (c)
71*
36
3
7
197.2
Nehal Wadhera
25
15
3
1
166.7
Shashank Singh
19*
10
2
1
190.0
Total: 265/4 (18.5 ov)
DC Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Auqib Nabi
2
41
0
20.50
Mukesh Kumar
3
55
0
18.33
Axar Patel
4
44
1
11.00
T Natarajan
3.5
54
0
14.08
Kuldeep Yadav
4
46
2
11.50
Vipraj Nigam
2
24
1
12.00
Lungi Ngidi (DC) was concussed and replaced after taking a blow attempting a catch off Priyansh Arya in the 5th over.
Match 34 · Apr 24 · M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Sai Sudharsan's maiden ton in vain. Kohli 81 (POTM) and Padikkal 55 chase 206 with 7 balls left.
Gujarat Titans
205/3
(20 ov)
vs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
206/5
(18.5 ov, target 206)
RCB won by 5 wickets (7b rem)We predicted RCB 53.7% ✓
GT posted 205/3 powered by B Sai Sudharsan's brilliant maiden IPL century. Sudharsan (100 off 58, 11x4 5x6) launched the innings with an opening 50 stand alongside Shubman Gill (32 off 24, 2x4 1x6). Jos Buttler (25 off 16, 2x4 1x6) kept things going through the middle. Washington Sundar (19* off 12, 1x4 1x6) and Jason Holder (23* off 10, 1x4 2x6) added 28 runs in the final over and a half. RCB's attack was disciplined: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/31), Hazlewood (1/40), and Suyash Sharma (1/36) each took one. RCB's chase was anchored by a 100-run second-wicket stand off 47 balls between Virat Kohli (81 off 44, 8x4 4x6, POTM) and Devdutt Padikkal (55 off 27, 2x4 6x6). Padikkal's 50 came off 20 balls. Kohli's POTM was his 20th in IPL history. Once they fell, RCB stumbled — Patidar (8 off 5), Jitesh Sharma (10 off 6), and Tim David (10* off 9) all in quick succession. Krunal Pandya (23* off 12, 3x4 1x6) sealed it, swatting Suthar for fours and finishing with a pull off Holder with 7 balls to spare. Holder (1/35) and Rashid (2/49) were GT's best. Prasidh leaked 31 in 2 overs, Rabada went for 45. RCB move to 5-2 (10 pts), now joint 2nd. GT slip to 3-4 (6 pts). Fifteenth correct prediction.
Toss: RCB elected to field first · Player of the Match: Virat Kohli
Why this match mattered:RCB break the home-favourite jinx. The model had RCB 53.7% — well below the 60%+ threshold the model has missed five times in a row. RCB are now joint 2nd. GT's NRR slips further into the negatives.
Turning point:The 9th over of RCB's chase. Kohli and Padikkal had crawled to 100/1 in 8.6 overs; Padikkal then took 18 off Suthar's next over, including three sixes, and the required rate fell from 11 to 9. That over flipped the chase from anxious to inevitable.
Season impact:Kohli (328 runs) jumps into the Orange Cap top 5. Sai Sudharsan (235) breaks into the top 15 with his maiden IPL ton. Bhuvi (11 wkts) climbs the Purple Cap top 6. RCB are now within striking distance of PBKS at the top. Fifteenth correct prediction.
Key Performers
Virat Kohli
81
44b · 8x4 · 4x6 · SR 184.1 · POTM (20th)
B Sai Sudharsan
100
58b · 11x4 · 5x6 · SR 172.4 · maiden IPL ton
Devdutt Padikkal
55
27b · 2x4 · 6x6 · SR 203.7
Krunal Pandya
23*
12b · 3x4 · 1x6 · finished with pull off Holder
GT Batting205/3(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
B Sai Sudharsan
100
58
11
5
172.4
Shubman Gill (c)
32
24
2
1
133.3
Jos Buttler (wk)
25
16
2
1
156.3
Washington Sundar
19*
12
1
1
158.3
Jason Holder
23*
10
1
2
230.0
Total: 205/3 (20 ov)
RCB Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
4
31
1
7.75
Josh Hazlewood
4
40
1
10.00
Rasikh Salam
3
28
0
9.33
Krunal Pandya
4
50
0
12.50
Romario Shepherd
1
17
0
17.00
Suyash Sharma
4
36
1
9.00
RCB Batting206/5(18.5 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Jacob Bethell
14
10
3
0
140.0
Virat Kohli
81
44
8
4
184.1
Devdutt Padikkal
55
27
2
6
203.7
Rajat Patidar (c)
8
5
0
1
160.0
Jitesh Sharma (wk)
10
6
1
1
166.7
Tim David
10*
9
0
1
111.1
Krunal Pandya
23*
12
3
1
191.7
Total: 206/5 (18.5 ov)
GT Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Mohammed Siraj
3
25
1
8.33
Kagiso Rabada
4
45
0
11.25
Jason Holder
3.5
35
1
9.13
Prasidh Krishna
2
31
0
15.50
Rashid Khan
4
49
2
12.25
Manav Suthar
2
19
1
9.50
Match 33 · Apr 23 · Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Samson 101* solo. Akeal 4/17 ruins MI. CSK hand MI their biggest T20 defeat by runs ever.
Chennai Super Kings
207/6
(20 ov)
vs
Mumbai Indians
104
(19 ov, target 208)
CSK won by 103 runsWe predicted MI 66.3% ✗
Sanju Samson (101* off 54, 10x4 6x6, POTM) carried CSK essentially alone, the only batter to pass 25. Gaikwad (22 off 14), Brevis (21 off 11), Karthik Sharma (18 off 19), Overton (15 off 7) and Sarfaraz (14 off 8) all chipped in cameos. Samson took 33 off the last 2 overs to lift CSK from a moderate platform to 207/6. Allah Ghazanfar (2/25) and Ashwani Kumar (2/37) bowled tidy spells; Bumrah (1/31) and Santner (1/44) struck once. Then the chase imploded. Akeal Hosein (4/17 in 4 ov) was the architect, removing Malewar, Naman Dhir (3 balls of 0), Suryakumar (after he'd reached 36) and Tilak (after 37). Noor Ahmad (2/24) struck two in two balls. Mukesh Choudhary (1/31) opened with the wicket of de Kock. Kamboj (1/10), Overton (1/14), and Gurjapneet (1/7) cleaned up. CSK's spinners took 9 wickets in the innings, the most by any team in a single IPL match at Wankhede. Suryakumar (36 off 30) and Tilak Varma (37 off 29) the only MI batters to pass 20. Hardik (1) and Rutherford (0) gone for next to nothing. MI 104 all out in 19 overs. Their biggest T20 defeat by runs in any tournament, ever. CSK move to 3-4 (6 pts) and back into mid-table. MI sink to 8th (2-5, 4 pts) on a wrecked NRR. Model had MI at 66.3%. Nineteenth wrong prediction, fourth 60%+ miss in four days.
Toss: MI elected to field first · Player of the Match: Sanju Samson
Why this match mattered:CSK back into the playoff conversation. The 6-point logjam now has four teams: CSK, DC, GT (and SRH up at 8). MI's revival, which looked real after the GT thumping, lasted exactly one match. The post-Tilak narrative is gone, replaced by a more familiar one: this MI side cannot defend totals when the spinners turn up.
Turning point:Akeal's third over. After Suryakumar fell at 47/2, Akeal removed Tilak first ball of his next over for 37, then Naman Dhir three balls later for 0. MI went from 73/2 chasing to 73/4 chasing in 11 minutes. The chase never recovered.
Season impact:Samson jumps from outside the top 20 to 4th in the Orange Cap (277 runs). Akeal Hosein joins the Purple Cap top 20 with 5 wkts. Noor Ahmad climbs to 6 wkts after a two-in-two-balls double. Kamboj extends Purple Cap lead to 13. Brevis makes his case. Model accuracy: 14/32.
Key Performers
Sanju Samson
101*
54b · 10x4 · 6x6 · SR 187.0 · POTM
Akeal Hosein
4/17
4 ov · econ 4.25 · spell of the season
Noor Ahmad
2/24
4 ov · two in two balls
Tilak Varma
37
29b · 5x4 · SR 127.6
CSK Batting207/6(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Sanju Samson (wk)
101*
54
10
6
187.0
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
22
14
3
1
157.1
Sarfaraz Khan
14
8
3
0
175.0
Shivam Dube
5
8
0
0
62.5
Dewald Brevis
21
11
1
2
190.9
Karthik Sharma
18
19
0
2
94.7
Jamie Overton
15
7
2
1
214.3
Akeal Hosein
2*
2
0
0
100.0
Extras: 9 (lb 1, w 5, nb 3) · Total: 207/6 (20 ov)
MI Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Jasprit Bumrah
4
31
1
7.75
Hardik Pandya
2
38
0
19.00
Allah Ghazanfar
4
25
2
6.25
Mitchell Santner
4
44
1
11.00
Ashwani Kumar
4
37
2
9.25
Krish Bhagat
2
31
0
15.50
MI Batting104 all out(19 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Quinton de Kock (wk)
7
10
0
1
70.0
Danish Malewar
0
1
0
0
0.0
Naman Dhir
0
3
0
0
0.0
Suryakumar Yadav
36
30
5
0
120.0
Tilak Varma
37
29
5
0
127.6
Hardik Pandya (c)
1
2
0
0
50.0
Sherfane Rutherford
0
1
0
0
0.0
Shardul Thakur
6
12
0
0
50.0
Krish Bhagat
7
15
0
0
46.7
Ashwani Kumar
1*
6
0
0
16.7
Jasprit Bumrah
2
5
0
0
40.0
Extras: 7 (lb 1, w 6) · Total: 104 all out (19 ov)
CSK Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Akeal Hosein
4
17
4
4.25
Mukesh Choudhary
4
31
1
7.75
Anshul Kamboj
3
10
1
3.33
Noor Ahmad
4
24
2
6.00
Jamie Overton
2
14
1
7.00
Gurjapneet Singh
2
7
1
3.50
Match 32 · Apr 22 · Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
Jadeja 43* and 1/29 is POTM. Archer 3/20 guts the chase. LSG bundled for 119.
Rajasthan Royals
159/6
(20 ov)
vs
Lucknow Super Giants
119
(18 ov, target 160)
RR won by 40 runsWe predicted LSG 65.9% ✗
RR were 71/4 chasing nothing when Ravindra Jadeja (43* off 29, 2x4 1x6, POTM) walked in and rebuilt with measured violence. Donovan Ferreira (20 off 19) helped him steady the middle, and Shubham Dubey (19* off 11, 3x4) at the death lifted RR to a defendable 159/6. Sooryavanshi (8 off 11) and Jaiswal (22 off 12) had given hot starts but neither converted. Mohsin Khan (2/17), Shami (2/30) and Prince Yadav (2/29) all bowled tight for LSG, with Mayank Yadav (0/56 in 4) the one indulgence. The chase started badly and never recovered. Mitchell Marsh (55 off 41, 6x4 2x6) was the only batter to reach 20. Pant (0 off 3) was caught behind off Burger trying to play across the line. Markram (0 off 6) edged Archer. Badoni was run out for 0 in the second over. From 24/3 LSG never built a partnership. Archer (3/20 in 4 ov) was unplayable with the new ball, Burger (2/27) supported, and Brijesh Sharma (2/18 in 3 ov) cleaned up the lower order. Jadeja added 1/29 with the ball for the all-round POTM. RR move to 5-2 (10 points), just one point behind PBKS and firmly back in the title race. LSG slip to 9th (2-5, 4 pts) on a NRR that keeps cratering. Model had LSG favoured at 65.9% at home. Eighteenth wrong prediction, and the third 60%+ miss in three days.
Toss: LSG elected to field first · Player of the Match: Ravindra Jadeja
Why this match mattered:RR close on PBKS at the top. The 2-team race for the minor places flattens out into a genuine four-way top-4 fight. LSG, meanwhile, now need at minimum to win 5 of their remaining 7 to reach 14 points, plus some NRR repair work. The playoff math is turning very difficult very fast.
Turning point:Archer's second over. After Pant's dismissal for 0, Archer bowled Markram with the fourth ball of the following over. LSG were 8/3 after 2.4 overs. From there the chase never recovered despite Marsh's one-man rescue. The new-ball spell broke the game.
Season impact:Archer joins the 10-wicket Purple Cap club. Bishnoi takes his season to 11. Sooryavanshi (254) and Jaiswal (245) edge up the Orange Cap. Marsh (210) enters the top 20 with his lone 55. Model accuracy: 14/31.
Key Performers
Ravindra Jadeja
43* + 1/29
29b bat · 4 ov bowl · POTM
Jofra Archer
3/20
4 ov · econ 5.00
Mitchell Marsh
55
41b · 6x4 · 2x6 · SR 134.1
Nandre Burger
2/27
4 ov · dismissed Pant + Marsh
RR Batting159/6(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Yashasvi Jaiswal
22
12
4
0
183.3
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
8
11
2
0
72.7
Dhruv Jurel
0
1
0
0
0.0
Riyan Parag
20
19
2
1
105.3
Shimron Hetmyer
22
18
2
1
122.2
Ravindra Jadeja
43*
29
2
1
148.3
Donovan Ferreira
20
19
2
0
105.3
Shubham Dubey
19*
11
3
0
172.7
Extras: 5 (lb 1, w 4) · Total: 159/6 (20 ov)
LSG Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Mohammed Shami
4
30
2
7.50
Prince Yadav
4
29
2
7.25
Mohsin Khan
4
17
2
4.25
Mayank Yadav
4
56
0
14.00
Digvesh Singh
4
26
0
6.50
LSG Batting119 all out(18 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Mitchell Marsh
55
41
6
2
134.1
Ayush Badoni
0
1
0
0
0.0
Rishabh Pant (c)
0
3
0
0
0.0
Aiden Markram
0
6
0
0
0.0
Nicholas Pooran
22
25
3
0
88.0
Himmat Singh
15
15
0
1
100.0
Mukul Choudhary
7
3
0
1
233.3
Mohammed Shami
6
4
0
1
150.0
Mayank Yadav
5
5
1
0
100.0
Digvesh Singh
2*
2
0
0
100.0
Mohsin Khan
0
3
0
0
0.0
Extras: 7 (lb 2, w 5) · Total: 119 all out (18 ov)
RR Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Jofra Archer
4
20
3
5.00
Nandre Burger
4
27
2
6.75
Brijesh Sharma
3
18
2
6.00
Ravindra Jadeja
4
29
1
7.25
Ravi Bishnoi
3
23
1
7.67
Match 31 · Apr 21 · Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Abhishek 135* ties Kohli on 9 T20 tons. Malinga 4/32, Dubey 3/12. SRH win third on the spin.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
242/2
(20 ov)
vs
Delhi Capitals
195/9
(20 ov, target 243)
SRH won by 47 runsWe predicted DC 61.1% ✗
Abhishek Sharma (135* off 68, 10x4 10x6, POTM) notched his ninth T20 hundred, drawing level with Virat Kohli for most T20 tons by an Indian. He added 91 for the 4th wicket with Heinrich Klaasen (37* off 13, 3x4 3x6) as SRH exploded to 242/2. Travis Head (37 off 26, 2x4 2x6) and Ishan Kishan (25 off 13) gave the platform. Axar (1/23) was the only DC bowler to take a wicket while conceding under 40. Mukesh (0/53), Rana (0/55), Ngidi (0/41), Natarajan (0/40) all went for plenty. DC's chase had scattered starts: Rahul (37 off 23, 1x4 3x6), Nitish Rana (57 off 30, 7x4 3x6), and Sameer Rizvi (41 off 28). Nobody built a partnership long enough to take the chase deep. Stubbs (27 off 16) fell trying to accelerate. Malinga (4/32) was devastating at the death, cleaning up Rana, Miller, Stubbs and Ashutosh. Harsh Dubey (3/12 in just 2 overs) vindicated every fan who called for his return on X. Sakib Hussain (1/29) and Madushanka (1/36) contained. SRH move to 4-3 (8 points) and leap into the top 4. DC drop to 5th. Seventeenth wrong prediction.
Toss: DC elected to field first · Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma
Why this match mattered:Three wins in a row puts SRH in genuine playoff contention for the first time this season. They leapfrog DC into 4th with a +0.420 NRR and now have a top-order that feels like the most dangerous in the league. DC, meanwhile, lose their top-4 grip and slip into a 6-point logjam with GT.
Turning point:The 4th-wicket stand. SRH were 124/3 at the end of the 13th over with Abhishek on 55. Klaasen walked in, hit his first three balls for 6 4 6, and the match fundamentally changed. SRH added 118 in the final 7 overs, blowing the chase rate out of reach.
Season impact:Abhishek takes the Orange Cap (323 runs, Klaasen 320). Malinga leaps to 2nd in the Purple Cap (11 wkts, just one behind Kamboj). Harsh Dubey enters the top 20 with 8 wkts, his selection-chatter moment paid off. Model accuracy drops to 14/30. Two 61%+ predictions wrong in two days: GT and DC.
Key Performers
Abhishek Sharma
135*
68b · 10x4 · 10x6 · SR 198.5 · POTM
Eshan Malinga
4/32
4 ov · econ 8.00
Harsh Dubey
3/12
2 ov · econ 6.00 · returned to XI
Nitish Rana
57
30b · 7x4 · 3x6 · SR 190.0
SRH Batting242/2(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Abhishek Sharma
135*
68
10
10
198.5
Travis Head
37
26
2
2
142.3
Ishan Kishan (c)
25
13
2
1
192.3
Heinrich Klaasen
37*
13
3
3
284.6
Extras: 8 (w 8) · Total: 242/2 (20 ov)
DC Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Mukesh Kumar
4
53
0
13.25
Nitish Rana
4
55
0
13.75
Lungi Ngidi
4
41
0
10.25
Axar Patel
2
23
1
11.50
Kuldeep Yadav
2
30
0
15.00
T Natarajan
4
40
0
10.00
DC Batting195/9(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Pathum Nissanka
8
6
0
1
133.3
KL Rahul
37
23
1
3
160.9
Nitish Rana
57
30
7
3
190.0
Sameer Rizvi
41
28
2
2
146.4
David Miller
0
1
0
0
0.0
Tristan Stubbs
27
16
3
1
168.8
Ashutosh Sharma
14
10
2
0
140.0
Axar Patel (c)
2
3
0
0
66.7
Kuldeep Yadav
1*
2
0
0
50.0
Lungi Ngidi
0
1
0
0
0.0
Extras: 8 (lb 1, w 7) · Total: 195/9 (20 ov)
SRH Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Dilshan Madushanka
4
36
1
9.00
Nitish Kumar Reddy
4
57
0
14.25
Eshan Malinga
4
32
4
8.00
Sakib Hussain
4
29
1
7.25
Shivang Kumar
2
28
0
14.00
Harsh Dubey
2
12
3
6.00
Match 30 · Apr 20 · Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Tilak 101* off 45 ties Jayasuriya. Ashwani 4/24 on debut. MI demolish GT by 99 runs.
Mumbai Indians
199/5
(20 ov)
vs
Gujarat Titans
100
(16 ov, target 200)
MI won by 99 runsWe predicted GT 58.2% ✗
Tilak Varma (101* off 45, 8x4 7x6, POTM) hammered the joint-fastest century by an MI batter in IPL history — equalling Sanath Jayasuriya's 45-ball record. Naman Dhir (45 off 32, 6x4 1x6) provided the platform with a punchy second-wicket stand. After early trouble — de Kock (13 off 11), Suryakumar (15 off 10), and Hardik (15 off 16) all fell — Tilak finished with 96 runs in the final six overs. Rabada (3/33) was the only GT bowler with rhythm; Prasidh (1/54) and Ashok (0/38 in 3 ov) were carved up at the death. GT's chase was over before it started. Bumrah (1/15 in 3 ov) ended his five-match wicketless drought by removing Sai Sudharsan first ball. Then Ashwani Kumar (4/24 in 4 ov, IPL DEBUT) ran through the GT order — Gill (14), Tewatia (8), Shahrukh (17) and Rashid (4) all to him. Mitchell Santner (2/16) snared Sundar (26) and Phillips (6). Allah Ghazanfar (2/17) cleaned up the tail. GT bowled out for 100 in 16 overs — their second-lowest IPL total ever. MI surge from 10th to 7th, GT slip from 5th to 6th on a battered NRR. Sixteenth wrong prediction.
Toss: GT elected to field first · Player of the Match: Tilak Varma
Why this match mattered:Twenty-four hours ago MI were 1-4 with Bumrah wicketless and the season unravelling. After tonight: 2-4, NRR up +0.98, and a 7th-place jump. The defending finalists are alive again. GT, meanwhile, lose their NRR cushion and slip into a 6-point logjam with DC and SRH for the 4th playoff slot.
Turning point:Bumrah's first delivery. After speculation that Tilak would be benched, the bigger story turned out to be Bumrah finally getting the new ball back. Sai Sudharsan caught at slip first ball — suddenly the wicketless streak ended and GT were 0/1. The chase never recovered.
Season impact:Naman Dhir cracks the Orange Cap top 20 (199 runs). Tilak (144 runs) waiting at the door. Rabada joins the 10-wicket Purple Cap club. Ashwani Kumar makes the top 20 with a 4-fer on debut — a story to watch. GT's NRR collapses from +0.150 to -0.700 in a single match. Model accuracy: 14/29.
Arya 93 off 37 and Connolly 87 off 46 add 182. PBKS stay unbeaten at 254/7.
Punjab Kings
254/7
(20 ov)
vs
Lucknow Super Giants
200/5
(20 ov, target 255)
PBKS won by 54 runsWe predicted LSG 52.2% ✗
Priyansh Arya (93 off 37, 4x4 9x6, POTM) and Cooper Connolly (87 off 46, 8x4 7x6) shared a record 182-run second-wicket stand off just 80 balls — the biggest partnership of IPL 2026. Marcus Stoinis (29 off 16, 2x4 2x6) and Shashank Singh (17 off 6, 1x4 2x6) finished the assault. Shami (1/56) and Avesh (0/46 in 3) were smashed; Prince Yadav (2/25) and Siddharth (2/35) were the only LSG bowlers who kept it respectable. PBKS posted 254/7 — the highest total of IPL 2026. LSG's chase was brave but brittle. Pant (43 off 23, 1x4 4x6), Markram (42 off 22, 3x4 3x6), Marsh (40 off 28, 3x4 2x6), and Badoni (35 off 21, 5x4 1x6) all passed 35 but none reached fifty. Marco Jansen (2/37) dismissed Pooran and Markram in the middle overs. Chahal (1/36), Arshdeep (1/41), and Vyshak (1/30) kept PBKS in control throughout. LSG finished 200/5, fifty-four runs short. PBKS move to 5-0-1NR (11 points) — the only unbeaten team in IPL 2026. Fifteenth wrong prediction.
Toss: LSG elected to field first · Player of the Match: Priyansh Arya
Why this match mattered:PBKS go 5-0-1NR, three points clear of the field with a +1.42 NRR that no one else can match. They have now won four straight matches chasing or defending, and for the first time the season feels like PBKS's to lose. LSG drop to 7th and their playoff hopes just got materially harder.
Turning point:The Arya-Connolly stand. Arriving at 3/1 after Prabhsimran's first-ball duck, they added 182 in 80 balls. Arya's nine sixes and Connolly's seven detonated LSG's attack — Shami went for 26 in one over. Once they crossed 150 in 12 overs, the target was always out of reach.
Season impact:Connolly jumps to 5th in the Orange Cap (223 runs). Arya storms into 9th (211 runs). Prince Yadav joins the 10-wicket club in the Purple Cap. Marco Jansen enters the top 20 (5 wkts). Arshdeep and Vyshak climb to 6 wkts each. Model accuracy drops to 14/28.
Key Performers
Priyansh Arya
93
37b · 4x4 · 9x6 · SR 251.4 · POTM
Cooper Connolly
87
46b · 8x4 · 7x6 · SR 189.1
Rishabh Pant
43
23b · 1x4 · 4x6 · SR 186.9
Prince Yadav
2/25
4 ov · econ 6.25
PBKS Batting254/7(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Priyansh Arya
93
37
4
9
251.4
Prabhsimran Singh
0
1
0
0
0.0
Cooper Connolly
87
46
8
7
189.1
Shreyas Iyer
5
6
0
0
83.3
Marcus Stoinis
29
16
2
2
181.3
Nehal Wadhera
13
7
1
1
185.7
Shashank Singh
17
6
1
2
283.3
Marco Jansen
1*
1
0
0
100.0
Extras: 9 (lb 3, w 6) · Total: 254/7 (20 ov)
LSG Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Mohammed Shami
4
56
1
14.00
Mohsin Khan
4
43
1
10.75
Prince Yadav
4
25
2
6.25
Ayush Badoni
1
14
0
14.00
Avesh Khan
3
46
0
15.33
Manimaran Siddharth
3
35
2
11.67
Aiden Markram
1
32
0
32.00
LSG Batting200/5(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Ayush Badoni
35
21
5
1
166.7
Mitchell Marsh
40
28
3
2
142.9
Rishabh Pant
43
23
1
4
186.9
Nicholas Pooran
9
9
1
0
100.0
Aiden Markram
42
22
3
3
190.9
Mukul Choudhary
21*
17
1
1
123.5
Himmat Singh
1*
1
0
0
100.0
Extras: 9 (lb 2, w 6, nb 1) · Total: 200/5 (20 ov)
PBKS Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Arshdeep Singh
4
41
1
10.25
Xavier Bartlett
4
54
0
13.50
Marco Jansen
4
37
2
9.25
Vijaykumar Vyshak
4
30
1
7.50
Yuzvendra Chahal
4
36
1
9.00
Match 28 · Apr 19 · Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Rinku 53* seals KKR's FIRST WIN. Varun 3/14 and Narine 2/26 strangle RR.
Rajasthan Royals
155/9
(20 ov)
vs
Kolkata Knight Riders
161/6
(19.4 ov, target 156)
KKR won by 4 wicketsWe predicted KKR 68.6% ✓
Sooryavanshi (46 off 28, 6x4 2x6) and Jaiswal (39 off 29, 4x4 2x6) raced to an 81-run opening stand, but Varun Chakravarthy (3/14 in 3 ov) was devastating — the best economy in the match — and Sunil Narine (2/26 in 3 ov) choked the middle overs. RR collapsed: Parag (8 off 12), Hetmyer (7 off 10), Jurel (5 off 7) all failed. 81/0 became 155/9. KKR's chase wobbled early — Rahane (0 off 1), Seifert bowled by Archer. But Rinku Singh (53* off 34, 5x4 2x6, POTM) anchored with composure, Green (27 off 13, 4x4 1x6) counter-attacked, Powell (23 off 20, 2x4 1x6) stabilized, and AS Roy (29* off 16) finished it with 2 balls to spare. KKR's first win of the season. Fourteenth correct prediction.
Toss: RR elected to bat first · Player of the Match: Rinku Singh
Why this match mattered:KKR's season was on life support at 0-5-1NR. This win at Eden Gardens keeps hope alive and jumps them above MI to 9th. RR suffer their second loss, dropping behind RCB on NRR from 2nd to 3rd.
Turning point:Varun's spell. After Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal put on 81 in the powerplay, Varun came on and took 3/14 in 3 overs — ripping through RR's middle order. The momentum shifted completely. RR scored just 74/9 after the opening stand.
Season impact:Sooryavanshi jumps to 3rd in the Orange Cap (246 runs). Jaiswal surges to 5th (223 runs). Varun (5 wkts) and Burger (5 wkts) enter the Purple Cap. Bishnoi reaches 10 wkts (tied 3rd). Green (156 runs) enters the Orange Cap top 20. Model accuracy: 14/27.
Abhishek 59 off 22 and Malinga 3/29. SRH hold off CSK by 10 runs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
194/9
(20 ov)
vs
Chennai Super Kings
184/8
(20 ov, target 195)
SRH won by 10 runsWe predicted SRH 52.6% ✓
Abhishek Sharma (59 off 22, 6x4 4x6) blitzed the opening over, racing to fifty in just 18 balls. Heinrich Klaasen (59 off 39, 6x4 2x6) anchored the middle overs to take the Orange Cap (283 runs). Head (23 off 20, 3x4 1x6), Simran Arora (13 off 12), and NKR (12 off 8, 1x6) chipped in. Kamboj (3/22 in 3 ov) was brilliant, Overton (3/37 in 4 ov) and Choudhary (2/21 in 2 ov) shared the wickets. CSK's chase fell 10 runs short. Short (34 off 30, 3x4), Mhatre (30 off 13, 5x4 1x6), and Khan (25 off 19, 3x4) all got starts but no one converted. Eshan Malinga (3/29 in 4 ov, POTM) was the difference, NKR (2/31 in 4 ov) provided support. Thirteenth correct prediction.
Toss: CSK elected to field first · Player of the Match: Eshan Malinga
Why this match mattered:SRH's second straight win lifts them to 6th (3-3, 6 pts, NRR +0.100). CSK drop to 8th (2-4, 4 pts, NRR -0.850) — three losses from their last four.
Turning point:Malinga's spell in the middle overs. 3/29 broke the back of the CSK chase when they were building momentum through Mhatre and Khan. CSK needed 45 off the last 5 overs with 5 wickets in hand, but Malinga and Shivang Kumar strangled the run rate.
Season impact:Klaasen takes the Orange Cap (283 runs, 4 clear of Gill). Kamboj takes sole Purple Cap lead (12 wkts). Malinga (7 wkts) and Overton (7 wkts) climb into the top 10. Abhishek (188 runs) surges from 20th to 11th in the Orange Cap. Model accuracy: 13/26.
Key Performers
Abhishek Sharma
59
22b · 6x4 · 4x6 · SR 268.2
Heinrich Klaasen
59
39b · 6x4 · 2x6 · SR 151.3
Eshan Malinga
3/29
4 ov · econ 7.25 · POTM
Anshul Kamboj
3/22
3 ov · econ 7.33
SRH Batting194/9(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Abhishek Sharma
59
22
6
4
268.2
Heinrich Klaasen
59
39
6
2
151.3
Travis Head
23
20
3
1
115.0
Simran Arora
13
12
2
0
108.3
Nitish Kumar Reddy
12
8
0
1
150.0
Shivang Kumar
12
8
1
1
150.0
Aniket Verma
2
4
0
0
50.0
Liam Livingstone
1
5
0
0
20.0
Ishan Kishan
0
1
0
0
0.0
Praful Hinge
0*
1
0
0
0.0
Extras: 13 · Total: 194/9 (20 ov)
CSK Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Matt Short
3
38
0
12.67
Mukesh Choudhary
2
21
2
10.50
Anshul Kamboj
3
22
3
7.33
Noor Ahmad
4
33
0
8.25
Jamie Overton
4
37
3
9.25
Gurjapneet Singh
4
34
1
8.50
CSK Batting184/8(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Matt Short
34
30
3
0
113.3
Ayush Mhatre
30
13
5
1
230.8
SN Khan
25
19
3
0
131.6
Shivam Dube
21
16
1
1
131.3
Ruturaj Gaikwad
19
13
3
0
146.2
Jamie Overton
16
15
1
0
106.7
Anshul Kamboj
13*
8
0
1
162.5
Sanju Samson
7
3
0
1
233.3
Dewald Brevis
0
4
0
0
0.0
Noor Ahmad
1*
1
0
0
100.0
Extras: 18 · Total: 184/8 (20 ov)
SRH Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Praful Hinge
4
60
1
15.00
Nitish Kumar Reddy
4
31
2
7.75
Sakib Hussain
4
32
1
8.00
Eshan Malinga
4
29
3
7.25
Shivang Kumar
3
18
1
6.00
Abhishek Sharma
1
13
0
13.00
Match 26 · Apr 18 · M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Stubbs 60* and KL Rahul 57 gun down 176. DC break into the top 4.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
175/8
(20 ov)
vs
Delhi Capitals
179/4
(19.5 ov, target 176)
DC won by 6 wicketsWe predicted RCB 50.0% ✗
Phil Salt (63 off 38, 4x4 3x6) top-scored for RCB, with Tim David (26 off 17, 3x4 1x6), Kohli (19 off 13, 3x4), and Padikkal (18 off 13, 1x4 1x6) chipping in. Axar Patel (2/18 in 3 ov) was the most economical bowler before being forced off. Ngidi (2/39) and Kuldeep (2/32) broke the RCB middle order. DC's chase was clinical. KL Rahul (57 off 34, 6x4 2x6) provided the early thrust, Axar (26 off 19, 3x4) came out to bat despite his injury before retiring hurt again, and Tristan Stubbs (60* off 47, 4x4 1x6, POTM) anchored from start to finish. Miller (22* off 10, 1x4 2x6) finished it with a flurry. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/26) fought valiantly for RCB but the rest leaked runs. Thirteenth wrong prediction.
Toss: DC elected to field first · Player of the Match: Tristan Stubbs
Why this match mattered:DC break into the top 4 with 6 points (3-2, NRR +0.250). RCB drop from 2nd to 3rd (4-2, 8 pts, NRR +0.950) — their NRR takes a hit from losing at home.
Turning point:KL Rahul's aggressive start. 57 off 34 in the powerplay set the tone and took the pressure off Stubbs, who could then anchor the chase at his own pace. RCB's lack of a fifth bowler option was exposed — Suyash Sharma (0/31 in 3 ov) and Shepherd (0/17 in 0.5 ov) leaked runs.
Season impact:Salt (202 runs) enters the top 7 in the Orange Cap. KL Rahul (179 runs) enters the top 15. Bhuvneshwar Kumar jumps to 10 wkts (joint 2nd in Purple Cap). Ngidi and Mukesh Kumar (both 5 wkts) enter the top 20. Model accuracy: 12/25.
Key Performers
Tristan Stubbs
60*
47b · 4x4 · 1x6 · SR 127.7 · POTM
Phil Salt
63
38b · 4x4 · 3x6 · SR 165.8
KL Rahul
57
34b · 6x4 · 2x6 · SR 167.6
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
3/26
4 ov · econ 6.50
RCB Batting175/8(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Phil Salt
63
38
4
3
165.8
Tim David
26
17
3
1
152.9
Virat Kohli
19
13
3
0
146.2
Devdutt Padikkal
18
13
1
1
138.5
Jitesh Sharma
14
20
1
0
70.0
Krunal Pandya
12
10
0
1
120.0
Rajat Patidar
8
4
0
1
200.0
Romario Shepherd
1
4
0
0
25.0
Rasikh Salam
0*
0
0
0
-
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
3*
2
0
0
150.0
Extras: 11 · Total: 175/8 (20 ov)
DC Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Mohammad Nabi
3
36
0
12.00
Mukesh Kumar
4
32
1
8.00
Lungi Ngidi
4
39
2
9.75
Kuldeep Yadav
4
32
2
8.00
T Natarajan
2
16
0
8.00
Axar Patel
3
18
2
6.00
DC Batting179/4(19.5 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Tristan Stubbs
60*
47
4
1
127.7
KL Rahul
57
34
6
2
167.6
Axar Patel
26
19
3
0
136.8
David Miller
22*
10
1
2
220.0
Harisankar Nair
5
5
1
0
100.0
Pathum Nissanka
1
2
0
0
50.0
Sameer Rizvi
2
3
0
0
66.7
Extras: 6 · Total: 179/4 (19.5 ov)
RCB Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
4
26
3
6.50
Josh Hazlewood
4
38
0
9.50
Rasikh Salam
4
40
0
10.00
Krunal Pandya
4
24
1
6.00
Suyash Sharma
3
31
0
10.33
Romario Shepherd
0.5
17
0
20.40
Match 25 · Apr 17 · Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Gill 86 off 50 chases down 181. KKR's nightmare reaches 0-5. GT jump to 4th.
Kolkata Knight Riders
180
(20 ov)
vs
Gujarat Titans
181/5
(19.4 ov, target 181)
GT won by 5 wicketsWe predicted GT 57.1% ✓
Cameron Green (79 off 55, 7x4 4x6) anchored KKR's innings with a composed knock, supported by Powell (27 off 20, 2x4 2x6) and Seifert (19 off 14, 2x4 1x6). But Rabada (3/29 in 4 ov) was devastating with the new ball, Siraj (2/23 in 4 ov) was the most economical bowler, and Ashok Sharma (2/45 in 4 ov) cleaned up the lower order. KKR collapsed from 120/3 to 180 all out. GT's chase was built around Shubman Gill's magnificent 86 off 50 (8x4 4x6), the Orange Cap leader's third fifty-plus score of the season. Buttler (25 off 15, 2x4 2x6) gave GT the flying start, Sudharsan (22 off 16, 1x4 2x6) continued the momentum. Varun (2/34 in 4 ov) was KKR's best bowler, but it was not enough. Twelfth correct prediction.
Toss: KKR elected to bat first · Player of the Match: Shubman Gill
Why this match mattered:GT jump from 6th to 4th with 6 points (3-2, NRR +0.150) — three wins in a row. KKR crash to 0-5 (1 pt, NRR -1.500) — historically dead. No IPL team has ever recovered from 0-5.
Turning point:Rabada's spell with the new ball. 3/29 in 4 overs broke the back of KKR's innings after Green's resistance. Then Gill's counterattack in the powerplay — 38 off his first 20 balls — made the chase feel inevitable.
Season impact:Gill takes the Orange Cap by 55 runs (279 vs Klaasen's 224). Prasidh takes sole Purple Cap lead (10 wkts). Rabada enters Purple Cap top 20 (4 wkts). Buttler joins the 200-run club. GT now hold the top 2 Orange Cap spots and 3 Purple Cap entries. Model accuracy: 12/24.
Key Performers
Shubman Gill
86
50b · 8x4 · 4x6 · SR 172.0 · POTM
Cameron Green
79
55b · 7x4 · 4x6 · SR 143.6
Kagiso Rabada
3/29
4 ov · econ 7.25
Mohammed Siraj
2/23
4 ov · econ 5.75
KKR Batting180(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Cameron Green
79
55
7
4
143.6
Rovman Powell
27
20
2
2
135.0
Tim Seifert
19
14
2
1
135.7
Ramandeep Singh
17
8
2
1
212.5
Anukul Roy
9
7
1
0
128.6
Angkrish Raghuvanshi
8
4
2
0
200.0
Kartik Tyagi
6
4
0
1
150.0
Rinku Singh
1
2
0
0
50.0
Ajinkya Rahane
0
1
0
0
0.0
Sunil Narine
0
5
0
0
0.0
Vaibhav Arora
0*
1
0
0
0.0
Extras: 14 · Total: 180 (20 ov)
GT Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Mohammed Siraj
4
23
2
5.75
Kagiso Rabada
4
29
3
7.25
Prasidh Krishna
4
32
1
8.00
Ashok Sharma
4
45
2
11.25
Rashid Khan
4
44
1
11.00
GT Batting181/5(19.4 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Shubman Gill
86
50
8
4
172.0
Jos Buttler
25
15
2
2
166.7
Sai Sudharsan
22
16
1
2
137.5
Glenn Phillips
19
16
2
0
118.8
Washington Sundar
13
13
1
0
100.0
Rahul Tewatia
7*
6
0
0
116.7
Shahrukh Khan
3*
2
0
0
150.0
Extras: 6 · Total: 181/5 (19.4 ov)
KKR Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Vaibhav Arora
4
35
1
8.75
Kartik Tyagi
4
40
0
10.00
Anukul Roy
3
37
0
12.33
Sunil Narine
4
28
1
7.00
Varun Chakaravarthy
4
34
2
8.50
Ramandeep Singh
0.4
5
1
7.50
Match 24 · Apr 16 · Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
De Kock 112* not enough. Prabhsimran and Iyer chase 196 in 16.3 overs. PBKS take #1.
Mumbai Indians
195/6
(20 ov)
vs
Punjab Kings
198/3
(16.3 ov, target 196)
PBKS won by 7 wicketsWe predicted MI 68.2% ✗
Quinton de Kock announced his IPL comeback with a sensational 112* off 60 (8x4 7x6), the second-highest individual score of IPL 2026. Naman Dhir (50 off 31, 3x4 3x6) provided explosive support as MI posted 195/6. But Arshdeep Singh (3/22 in 4 ov) was outstanding with the new ball, and Shashank Singh (1/19 in 2 ov) chipped in. PBKS never blinked in the chase. Prabhsimran Singh (80* off 39, 11x4 2x6) was devastating at the top, Shreyas Iyer (66 off 35, 5x4 4x6) controlled the middle, and Cooper Connolly (17 off 12) and Priyansh Arya (15 off 9) chipped in. Bumrah (0/41 in 4 ov) went wicketless again. Ghazanfar (2/31) was MI's only bright spot with the ball. PBKS chased 196 with 21 balls to spare. Twelfth wrong prediction.
Toss: PBKS elected to field first · Player of the Match: Arshdeep Singh
Why this match mattered:PBKS move to #1 (9 pts, NRR +1.100) — still the only unbeaten team. MI sink to 1-4 with a -0.900 NRR. De Kock's 112* on comeback was extraordinary but the bowling had no answers. Bumrah is now wicketless in 5 matches this season.
Turning point:Arshdeep Singh's spell with the new ball. 3/22 in 4 overs including key early wickets that kept MI's total in check despite De Kock's heroics. Then Prabhsimran's fearless assault in the powerplay made the chase feel inevitable.
Season impact:PBKS take #1 (9 pts, NRR +1.100). MI drop to 9th (2 pts, NRR -0.900). Prabhsimran surges from 18th to 4th in the Orange Cap (211 runs). Iyer enters top 8 (185 runs). Arshdeep enters the Purple Cap (5 wkts). Ghazanfar enters the Purple Cap (4 wkts). Model accuracy: 11/23.
Key Performers
Arshdeep Singh
3/22
4 ov · econ 5.50 · POTM
Prabhsimran
80*
39b · 11x4 · 2x6 · SR 205.1
Shreyas Iyer
66
35b · 5x4 · 4x6 · SR 188.6
De Kock
112*
60b · 8x4 · 7x6 · SR 186.7
MI Batting195/6(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Quinton de Kock
112*
60
8
7
186.7
Naman Dhir
50
31
3
3
161.3
Hardik Pandya
14
12
0
1
116.7
Tilak Varma
8
3
2
0
266.7
Ryan Rickelton
2
8
0
0
25.0
Suryakumar Yadav
0
1
0
0
0.0
Sherfane Rutherford
1
5
0
0
20.0
Rawat
0*
0
0
0
0.0
Extras: 8 · Total: 195/6 (20 ov)
PBKS Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Arshdeep Singh
4
22
3
5.50
Marco Jansen
4
30
1
7.50
Xavier Bartlett
4
39
0
9.75
Vyshak Vijaykumar
3
36
0
12.00
Yuzvendra Chahal
3
45
0
15.00
Shashank Singh
2
19
1
9.50
PBKS Batting198/3(16.3 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Prabhsimran Singh
80*
39
11
2
205.1
Shreyas Iyer
66
35
5
4
188.6
Cooper Connolly
17
12
1
2
141.7
Priyansh Arya
15
9
2
1
166.7
Marcus Stoinis
10*
5
2
0
200.0
Extras: 10 · Total: 198/3 (16.3 ov)
MI Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Deepak Chahar
2.3
45
0
18.00
Jasprit Bumrah
4
41
0
10.25
Allah Ghazanfar
4
31
2
7.75
Hardik Pandya
3
39
0
13.00
Shardul Thakur
3
42
1
14.00
Match 23 · Apr 15 · M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Hazlewood POTM. Rasikh 4/24, Bhuvi 3/27. RCB bowl LSG out for 146 and take #1.
Lucknow Super Giants
146
(20 ov)
vs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
149/5
(15.1 ov, target 147)
RCB won by 5 wicketsWe predicted RCB 56.3% ✓
LSG were bowled out for 146 in 20 overs. Marsh (40 off 32, 3x4 2x6) anchored the innings, Choudhary (39 off 28, 3x4 2x6) counter-attacked from the lower order, and Badoni (38 off 24, 4x4 1x6) provided middle-order resistance. But Pant (1 off 6), Pooran (1 off 7), and Markram (12 off 8) all fell cheaply. Rasikh Salam (4/24 in 4 ov) was devastating, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27 in 4 ov) swung the new ball beautifully, and Krunal Pandya (2/38 in 4 ov) strangled the middle overs. RCB's chase was clinical. Kohli (49 off 34, 6x4 1x6) missed a fifty by one run but set the platform. Patidar (27 off 13, 1x4 3x6) blitzed a cameo, Jitesh Sharma (23 off 9, 2x4 2x6) smashed at a blistering rate, and Tim David (14* off 8) and Shepherd (14* off 8) finished the job with 29 balls to spare. Prince Yadav (3/32) was LSG's best bowler. Eleventh correct prediction.
Toss: RCB elected to field first · Player of the Match: Josh Hazlewood
Why this match mattered:RCB leapfrog RR to #1 on NRR (+1.350 vs +1.020). Four wins in five matches and the most dominant bowling attack in the tournament. LSG drop to 7th with three straight losses. Pant's form is a serious concern — 1 off 6 here, 1 off 6 in M19.
Turning point:Rasikh Salam's spell with the new ball. He struck early and often, removing key batters with pace and bounce on a Chinnaswamy surface that offered more than usual. LSG were 30/3 inside the powerplay and never recovered.
Season impact:RCB take #1 (8 pts, NRR +1.350). LSG drop to 7th (4 pts, NRR -0.350). Patidar rises to 2nd in the Orange Cap (222). Kohli joins the 200 club (4th). Prince Yadav surges to 8 wkts (4th in Purple Cap). Bhuvi jumps to 7 wkts (5th). Rasikh Salam (5 wkts) and Krunal Pandya (5 wkts) enter the Purple Cap. Model accuracy: 11/22.
Key Performers
Rasikh Salam
4/24
4 ov · econ 6.00
Virat Kohli
49
34b · 6x4 · 1x6 · SR 144.1
Bhuvi
3/27
4 ov · econ 6.75
Marsh
40
32b · 3x4 · 2x6 · SR 125.0
LSG Batting146(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Mitchell Marsh
40
32
3
2
125.0
Mukesh Choudhary
39
28
3
2
139.3
Ayush Badoni
38
24
4
1
158.3
Aiden Markram
12
8
0
1
150.0
George Linde
7
7
1
0
100.0
Rishabh Pant
1
6
0
0
16.7
Nicholas Pooran
1
7
0
0
14.3
Abdul Samad
0
2
0
0
0.0
Mohammed Shami
0
1
0
0
0.0
Avesh Khan
1
2
0
0
50.0
Rathi
0*
3
0
0
0.0
Extras: 7 · Total: 146 (20 ov)
RCB Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
4
27
3
6.75
Josh Hazlewood
4
20
1
5.00
Rasikh Salam
4
24
4
6.00
Krunal Pandya
4
38
2
9.50
Suyash Sharma
4
34
0
8.50
RCB Batting149/5(15.1 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Virat Kohli
49
34
6
1
144.1
Rajat Patidar
27
13
1
3
207.7
Jitesh Sharma
23
9
2
2
255.6
Tim David
14*
8
1
1
175.0
Romario Shepherd
14*
8
1
1
175.0
Devdutt Padikkal
10
11
1
0
90.9
Phil Salt
7
8
1
0
87.5
Extras: 5 · Total: 149/5 (15.1 ov)
LSG Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Mohammed Shami
3
30
0
10.00
Prince Yadav
3
32
3
10.67
Rathi
4
51
0
12.75
Avesh Khan
4
23
2
5.75
George Linde
1.1
9
0
7.71
Match 22 · Apr 14 · MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Noor Ahmad 3/21. Samson, Mhatre and Brevis trio powers 192. CSK go back-to-back as KKR crash to 0-4.
Chennai Super Kings
192/5
(20 ov)
vs
Kolkata Knight Riders
160/7
(20 ov, target 193)
CSK won by 32 runsWe predicted CSK 53.0% ✓
CSK posted 192/5 powered by a three-pronged top-order assault. Ayush Mhatre (38 off 17, 6x4 2x6) launched the innings with a blistering powerplay cameo, Sanju Samson (48 off 32, 4x4 3x6) anchored through the middle, and Dewald Brevis (41 off 29, 4x4 2x6) provided the third wave. SN Khan chipped in with 23 off 18 and Dube (13* off 12) finished. KKR's bowlers leaked: Arora's 4-0-55-1, Kartik Tyagi 2/35. Narine (1/21) and Varun (0/26) contained but could not break the back. KKR's chase never looked like it would threaten. Ramandeep (35 off 23, 4x4 1x6) and Powell (31* off 22, 1x4 2x6) showed late fight, but Noor Ahmad (3/21 in 4 ov) was unplayable, ripping through the middle order to end the contest. Kamboj (2/32) and Khaleel (1/24) supported. KKR restricted to 160/7. Tenth correct prediction.
Toss: KKR elected to field first · Player of the Match: Noor Ahmad
Why this match mattered:CSK's second straight win lifts them from 9th to 8th with 4 points. They now sit level with four other teams on 4 pts, separated only by NRR. KKR sink to 0-4-1NR — the last team in IPL history to start 0-4 and make the playoffs is... none. Their season is on life support. Noor Ahmad takes his season tally to 4 wkts at an economy of 5.25.
Turning point:Noor Ahmad's middle-overs spell. KKR were 82/2 after 10 and still in the hunt. Noor struck in his second over, again in his third, and a third time to prise open the middle order. From 82/2, KKR slid to 115/5 inside five overs and the chase was dead.
Season impact:CSK jump to 8th (4 pts, NRR -0.820). KKR stay 10th (1 pt, NRR -1.386). Raghuvanshi climbs to 7th in the Orange Cap (175). Mhatre (170) and Samson (169) enter the top ten. Kamboj draws level at the top of the Purple Cap with 9 wkts. Noor Ahmad (4 wkts, POTM) debuts in the Purple Cap. Model accuracy improves to 10/21.
Hinge takes 3 wickets in the FIRST OVER. RR collapse to 4/4 as SRH win by 57 runs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
216/6
(20 ov)
vs
Rajasthan Royals
159
(19 ov, target 217)
SRH won by 57 runsWe predicted SRH 54.1% ✓
SRH posted 216/6 powered by Ishan Kishan's sensational 91 off 44 (8x4 6x6), the season's second-highest individual score. Heinrich Klaasen (40 off 26, 1x4 3x6) provided the anchor, Nitish Kumar Reddy (28 off 13, 4x6) blitzed at the death, and Simran Arora (24* off 13, 2x4 2x6) finished the job. Then came the history. Debutant Praful Hinge took 3 wickets in the very first over of the chase — the first bowler in IPL history to achieve this — reducing RR to 4/4. Fellow debutant Sakib Hussain (4/24 in 4 ov) was equally devastating. Ferreira (69 off 44, 7x4 3x6) and Jadeja (45 off 32, 5x4) staged a remarkable 114-run fifth-wicket rescue, but the early damage was fatal. Deshpande (25 off 11, 3x6) added late fireworks but RR were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs. RR's first loss of the season. Ninth correct prediction.
Toss: RR elected to field first · Player of the Match: Praful Hinge
Why this match mattered:RR's perfect start to the season ends in emphatic fashion. The 57-run defeat is RR's worst result by margin this season and their NRR plummets from +2.050 to +1.020. SRH get their first win since M6 and leap from 7th to 5th on NRR. Klaasen takes the Orange Cap (224 runs). Kishan rockets from 20th to 2nd (212 runs). Two debutants — Hinge and Sakib Hussain — both take 4 wickets, a feat unprecedented in IPL history.
Turning point:The first over of the chase. Praful Hinge dismissed three RR batters in his opening over, reducing the league leaders to 4/4. The damage was irreversible. Even Ferreira and Jadeja's 114-run stand could not overcome that catastrophic start.
Season impact:SRH jump from 7th to 5th (4 pts, +0.040 NRR). RR stay 1st but NRR halved. Klaasen takes the Orange Cap (224 runs). Kishan jumps to 2nd (212 runs). Hinge and Sakib Hussain both enter the Purple Cap on debut (4 wkts each). Model accuracy improves to 9/20.
Key Performers
Ishan Kishan
91
44b · 8x4 · 6x6 · SR 206.8
Praful Hinge
4/34
4 ov · 3 wkts in 1st over · POTM
Sakib Hussain
4/24
4 ov · econ 6.00 · DEBUT
Ferreira
69
44b · 7x4 · 3x6 · SR 156.8
SRH Batting216/6(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Ishan Kishan
91
44
8
6
206.8
Heinrich Klaasen
40
26
1
3
153.8
Nitish Kumar Reddy
28
13
0
4
215.4
Simran Arora
24*
13
2
2
184.6
Travis Head
18
18
3
0
100.0
Aniket Verma
6
5
1
0
120.0
Abhishek Sharma
0
1
0
0
0.0
Harshal Dubey
0*
0
0
0
-
Extras: 9 · Total: 216/6 (20 ov)
RR Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Jofra Archer
4
37
2
9.25
Nandre Burger
4
31
0
7.75
Sandeep Sharma
4
52
1
13.00
Jitesh Deshpande
4
55
1
13.75
Riyan Parag
1
5
1
5.00
Ravi Bishnoi
3
35
0
11.67
RR Batting159(19 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Ferreira
69
44
7
3
156.8
Ravindra Jadeja
45
32
5
0
140.6
Jitesh Deshpande
25
11
0
3
227.3
Riyan Parag
4
6
1
0
66.7
Nandre Burger
3*
5
0
0
60.0
Jofra Archer
2
5
0
0
40.0
Yashasvi Jaiswal
1
5
0
0
20.0
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
0
1
0
0
0.0
Dhruv Jurel
0
2
0
0
0.0
Dwaine Pretorius
0
2
0
0
0.0
Ravi Bishnoi
0
1
0
0
0.0
Extras: 10 · Total: 159 (19 ov)
SRH Bowling
Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Praful Hinge
4
34
4
8.50
Sakib Hussain
4
24
4
6.00
E Malinga
4
31
2
7.75
Shivang Kumar
3
28
0
9.33
Nitish Kumar Reddy
2
19
0
9.50
Harshal Dubey
2
22
0
11.00
Match 20 · Apr 12 · Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Salt 78, Patidar 53, Kohli 50. RCB post 240 and MI fall 18 short despite Rutherford's 9 sixes.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
240/4
(20 ov)
vs
Mumbai Indians
222/5
(20 ov, target 241)
RCB won by 18 runsWe predicted MI 54.3% ✗
RCB posted 240/4, the second-highest total of IPL 2026, powered by a stunning batting display at the Wankhede. Phil Salt (78 off 36, 6x4 6x6) and Virat Kohli (50 off 38, 5x4 1x6) put on 120 for the first wicket. Rajat Patidar (53 off 20, 4x4 5x6) blitzed a 20-ball fifty, and Tim David (34* off 16, 2x4 3x6) finished with fireworks. MI's chase was valiant: Rickelton (37 off 22), Hardik Pandya (40 off 22, 6x4 1x6), and Sherfane Rutherford's extraordinary 71* off 31 (1x4 9x6, a new IPL 2026 single-innings sixes record) kept them in the hunt. But Rohit Sharma retired hurt on 19 with a hamstring injury, and MI fell 18 runs short on 222/5. Suyash Sharma (2/47) and Krunal Pandya (1/26) were key with the ball. Eleventh wrong prediction.
Toss: MI elected to field first · Player of the Match: Phil Salt
Why this match mattered:RCB's third win in four matches lifts them to 6 points and 3rd in the table. MI's third loss drops them to 8th (1-3). Rutherford's 9 sixes is a new IPL 2026 single-innings record, breaking the 8-six mark shared by Rickelton, David, and Abhishek. Rohit's hamstring injury is a major concern. The combined 462 runs is the second-highest aggregate at the Wankhede this season.
Turning point:Patidar's 20-ball 53 in the middle overs. Coming in after the Kohli-Salt platform, Patidar struck 4 fours and 5 sixes to push RCB from 160-odd to 240, a total that proved just beyond MI's reach despite Rutherford's heroics.
Season impact:RCB jump to 3rd with 6 points (3-1). MI drop to 8th (1-3). Patidar surges to 2nd in the Orange Cap (195 runs). Kohli enters at 9th (151 runs). Salt enters at 12th (132 runs). Duffy moves to 4th in the Purple Cap (6 wkts). Model accuracy drops to 8/19.
Key Performers
Phil Salt
78
36b · 6x4 · 6x6 · SR 216.7 · POTM
Rajat Patidar
53
20b · 4x4 · 5x6 · SR 265.0
Virat Kohli
50
38b · 5x4 · 1x6 · SR 131.6
Sherfane Rutherford
71*
31b · 1x4 · 9x6 · SR 229.0
RCB Batting240/4(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Phil Salt
78
36
6
6
216.7
Rajat Patidar
53
20
4
5
265.0
Virat Kohli
50
38
5
1
131.6
Tim David
34*
16
2
3
212.5
Jitesh Sharma
10
9
1
0
111.1
Romario Shepherd
2*
2
0
0
100.0
Total
240/4
20 overs · Extras: 13
Bowling: Mumbai Indians
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Trent Boult
4
0
50
1
12.50
Hardik Pandya
4
0
39
1
9.75
Jasprit Bumrah
4
0
35
0
8.75
Mitchell Santner
4
0
43
1
10.75
Mayank Markande
2
0
40
0
20.00
Shardul Thakur
2
0
32
1
16.00
MI Batting222/5(20 ov, target 241)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Sherfane Rutherford
71*
31
1
9
229.0
Hardik Pandya
40
22
6
1
181.8
Ryan Rickelton
37
22
3
3
168.2
Suryakumar Yadav
33
22
5
0
150.0
Rohit Sharma
19
13
2
1
146.2
Mitchell Santner
8*
6
1
0
133.3
Tilak Varma
1
3
0
0
33.3
Naman Dhir
1
2
0
0
50.0
Total
222/5
20 overs · Extras: 12
Bowling: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Jacob Duffy
4
0
58
1
14.50
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
4
0
38
0
9.50
Rasikh Salam
2.5
0
23
1
8.12
Krunal Pandya
4
0
26
1
6.50
Suyash Sharma
4
0
47
2
11.75
Romario Shepherd
1.1
0
28
0
24.00
Match 19 · Apr 12 · Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Prasidh 4/28 dismantles LSG. Gill and Buttler chase 165 with ease.
Lucknow Super Giants
164/8
(20 ov)
vs
Gujarat Titans
165/3
(18.4 ov, target 165)
GT won by 7 wicketsWe predicted LSG 52.8% ✗
LSG posted a modest 164/8 with no batter passing 30. Markram (30 off 21, 5x4 1x6) top-scored but Prasidh Krishna (4/28 in 4 ov) was devastating, ripping through the top and middle order, removing Markram, Badoni, Pooran and Choudhary. Ashok Sharma (2/32) cleaned up the lower order. Pant (18 off 11, 2x4 1x6) made a cameo but couldn't build a big innings. GT's chase was clinical: Shubman Gill (56 off 40, 6x4 1x6) and Jos Buttler (60 off 37, 11x4) put on a century opening stand to seal it with 8 balls to spare. Sundar (21* off 13) finished the job. Tenth wrong prediction.
Toss: GT elected to field first · Player of the Match: Prasidh Krishna
Why this match mattered:GT's second straight win lifts them from 6th to 5th on 4 points. LSG drop from 5th to 6th after their second loss. Prasidh Krishna rockets to joint-Purple Cap leader (9 wkts), tied with Bishnoi. The Gill-Buttler opening pair is becoming one of the most dangerous in the league.
Turning point:Prasidh's spell of 4/28. He removed Markram in the powerplay, then came back to dismiss Badoni, Pooran, and Choudhary in a devastating middle-overs burst. LSG never recovered from the loss of four key batters to one bowler.
Season impact:GT climb to 5th with 4 points (2-2). LSG drop to 6th (2-2). Gill jumps to 3rd in the Orange Cap (193 runs). Buttler rockets to 6th (175 runs). Prasidh ties Bishnoi for the Purple Cap (9 wkts). Prince Yadav moves to 5 wickets. Model accuracy: 8/18.
Key Performers
Prasidh Krishna
4/28
4 ov · Econ 7.00 · POTM
Jos Buttler
60
37b · 11x4 · 0x6 · SR 162.2
Shubman Gill
56
40b · 6x4 · 1x6 · SR 140.0
Aiden Markram
30
21b · 5x4 · 1x6 · SR 142.9
LSG Batting164/8(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Aiden Markram
30
21
5
1
142.9
Nicholas Pooran
19
21
0
2
90.5
Rishabh Pant
18
11
2
1
163.6
Abdul Samad
18
22
2
0
81.8
Mukesh Choudhary
18
14
1
1
128.6
George Linde
16
10
3
0
160.0
Mohammed Shami
12*
5
1
1
240.0
Mitchell Marsh
11
4
1
1
275.0
Ayush Badoni
9
11
1
0
81.8
Avesh Khan
4*
1
1
0
400.0
Total
164/8
20 overs · Extras: 9
Bowling: Gujarat Titans
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Prasidh Krishna
4
0
28
4
7.00
Ashok Sharma
4
0
32
2
8.00
Mohammed Siraj
4
0
19
1
4.75
Kagiso Rabada
4
0
54
1
13.50
Rashid Khan
4
0
25
0
6.25
GT Batting165/3(18.4 ov, target 165)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Jos Buttler
60
37
11
0
162.2
Shubman Gill
56
40
6
1
140.0
Washington Sundar
21*
13
2
1
161.5
Sai Sudharsan
15
14
3
0
107.1
Rahul Tewatia
10*
8
1
0
125.0
Total
165/3
18.4 overs · Extras: 3
Bowling: Lucknow Super Giants
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Mohammed Shami
4
0
36
1
9.00
Prince Yadav
4
0
31
1
7.75
Rathi
4
0
31
1
7.75
George Linde
3
0
28
0
9.33
Avesh Khan
2
0
24
0
12.00
Aiden Markram
1.4
0
15
0
9.00
Match 18 · Apr 11 · MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Samson 115* off 56. The first century of IPL 2026 lifts CSK off the bottom.
Chennai Super Kings
212/2
(20 ov)
vs
Delhi Capitals
189
(20 ov, target 213)
CSK won by 23 runsWe predicted CSK 52.1% ✓
Sanju Samson played the innings of IPL 2026 so far. An unbeaten 115 off 56 (15x4 4x6, SR 205.4), the first century of the season, carried CSK to 212/2 on a Chepauk surface that offered something for everyone. Ayush Mhatre (59 off 36, 3x4 4x6) provided explosive support before retiring out, and Shivam Dube (20* off 10, 2x4 1x6) finished the innings. DC's chase started promisingly with Tristan Stubbs (60 off 38, 4x4 3x6) and Pathum Nissanka (41 off 24, 5x4 2x6), but Jamie Overton (4/18 in 4 ov) was devastating, ripping through the middle and lower order with the best bowling figures of IPL 2026. Kamboj (3/35) provided excellent support. DC were bowled out for 189. CSK's first win of the season.
Toss: DC won and elected to field first · Player of the Match: Sanju Samson
Why this match mattered:CSK's first win of IPL 2026 after three straight losses. Samson's 115* is the new season-high individual score, eclipsing KL Rahul's 92. Overton's 4/18 is the new best bowling figures. CSK climb from 10th to 9th with 2 points. DC drop their second straight and fall to 4th.
Turning point:Overton's spell in the middle overs. DC were 103/2 and seemingly cruising, but Overton removed Stubbs, KL Rahul, and two lower-order batters in quick succession. His 4/18 from 4 overs at an economy of 4.50 strangled the chase entirely.
Season impact:CSK off the mark at last with 2 points (1-3). DC drop to 2-2. Samson enters the Orange Cap at 15th (121 runs). Kamboj jumps to 2nd in the Purple Cap (7 wkts). Overton enters the Purple Cap at 4 wickets with the best economy. Model accuracy improves to 8/17.
Iyer 69* and Arya's 57 off 20. PBKS chase 220 with 7 balls left.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
219/6
(20 ov)
vs
Punjab Kings
223/4
(18.5 ov, target 220)
PBKS won by 6 wicketsWe predicted PBKS 51.0% ✓
SRH set a massive 219/6 powered by Abhishek Sharma's explosive 74 off 28 (5x4 8x6, tying the season record for most sixes in an innings). Klaasen (39 off 33) anchored the middle overs and Head (38 off 23, 5x4 1x6) provided early acceleration. But PBKS chased it with authority. Prabhsimran (51 off 25, 4x4 4x6) set the tone, Shreyas Iyer (69* off 33, 5x4 5x6) anchored the chase, and Priyansh Arya's sensational 57 off 20 (5x4 5x6) blew it wide open. Shivang Kumar (3/33) was SRH's best bowler but couldn't stem the tide. PBKS are 3-0-1NR and looking like genuine contenders.
Toss: PBKS elected to bowl first · Player of the Match: Shreyas Iyer
Why this match mattered:PBKS climb to 7 points (3-0-1NR), second only to RR. SRH drop to 1-3 and their playoff hopes are fading. Abhishek's 8 sixes tie Rickelton (M2) and David (M11) for the season record. Iyer's third match-winning performance cements his case as one of PBKS' most valuable players.
Turning point:Priyansh Arya's 57 off 20. Arriving with PBKS needing around 100 off 50, Arya hit 5 fours and 5 sixes to completely blow the required rate apart. It was the most destructive cameo of IPL 2026.
Season impact:PBKS climb to 2nd with 7 points. SRH drop to 7th on 2 points (1-3). Abhishek enters the Orange Cap at 11th (129 runs). Prabhsimran enters at 10th (131 runs). Iyer enters at 17th (119 runs). Shivang Kumar enters the Purple Cap at 3 wickets. Model accuracy: 7/16.
Key Performers
Shreyas Iyer
69*
33b · 5x4 · 5x6 · SR 209.1 · POTM
Abhishek Sharma
74
28b · 5x4 · 8x6 · SR 264.3
Priyansh Arya
57
20b · 5x4 · 5x6 · SR 285.0
Prabhsimran Singh
51
25b · 4x4 · 4x6 · SR 204.0
SRH Batting219/6(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Abhishek Sharma
74
28
5
8
264.3
Heinrich Klaasen
39
33
1
1
118.2
Travis Head
38
23
5
1
165.2
Ishan Kishan
27
17
3
1
158.8
Aniket Verma
18
9
1
1
200.0
Salil Arora
9
8
0
1
112.5
Total
219/6
20 overs · Extras: 13
Bowling: Punjab Kings
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Arshdeep Singh
4
0
50
2
12.50
Shashank Singh
3
0
20
2
6.67
Xavier Bartlett
4
0
42
1
10.50
Marco Jansen
4
0
40
0
10.00
Yuzvendra Chahal
3
0
33
0
11.00
Vyshak Vijaykumar
2
0
33
0
16.50
PBKS Batting223/4(18.5 ov, target 220)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Shreyas Iyer
69*
33
5
5
209.1
Priyansh Arya
57
20
5
5
285.0
Prabhsimran Singh
51
25
4
4
204.0
Shashank Singh
16*
9
1
1
177.8
Nehal Wadhera
14
14
0
1
100.0
Cooper Connolly
11
12
1
0
91.7
Total
223/4
18.5 overs · Extras: 5
Bowling: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Shivang Kumar
4
0
33
3
8.25
Harsh Dubey
4
0
38
1
9.50
Jaydev Unadkat
3
0
40
0
13.33
Eshan Malinga
3
0
46
0
15.33
Harshal Patel
2
0
39
0
19.50
Nitish Kumar Reddy
2
0
20
0
10.00
Match 16 · Apr 10 · ACA Stadium, Guwahati
Sooryavanshi 78 off 26 and Jurel 81*. RR demolish RCB in 18 overs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
201/8
(20 ov)
vs
Rajasthan Royals
202/4
(18 ov, target 202)
RR won by 6 wicketsWe predicted RCB 51.9% ✗
RCB posted 201/8 with Rajat Patidar (63 off 40, 4x4 4x6) anchoring the innings and Virat Kohli (32 off 16, 7x4) providing early fireworks. VR Iyer (29* off 15, 1x4 2x6) and Shepherd (22 off 11, 2x4 1x6) added late runs. But RR's chase was devastating. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (78 off 26, 8x4 7x6) launched a breathtaking assault from ball one, and Dhruv Jurel (81* off 43, 8x4 3x6) took over seamlessly to finish the chase with 12 balls to spare. Bishnoi (2/32), Brijesh Sharma (2/37), and Archer (2/33) had already restricted RCB. RR are 4-0 and looking unstoppable. Ninth wrong prediction.
Toss: RR won and elected to field first · Player of the Match: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Why this match mattered:The biggest match of the season so far, #1 vs #3, both unbeaten going in. RR made a statement by chasing 202 in just 18 overs. Sooryavanshi takes the Orange Cap (200 runs at SR 267.7). Jurel jumps to 4th (174 runs). RCB suffer their first loss. Bishnoi extends his Purple Cap lead to 9 wickets.
Turning point:Sooryavanshi's first 3 overs. He raced to 78 off 26 balls, putting the required rate into cruise control before he fell. By the time Hazlewood got him, RR were already well ahead of the rate and Jurel simply had to pace the chase.
Season impact:RR jump to 8 points (4-0), the only team with a perfect record. RCB drop to 2-1 but remain 3rd on NRR. Sooryavanshi takes the Orange Cap (200 runs). Bishnoi extends his Purple Cap lead (9 wkts). Model accuracy drops to 6/15 after a ninth wrong call.
Key Performers
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
78
26b · 8x4 · 7x6 · SR 300.0 · POTM
Dhruv Jurel
81*
43b · 8x4 · 3x6 · SR 188.4
Rajat Patidar
63
40b · 4x4 · 4x6 · SR 157.5
Ravi Bishnoi
2/32
4 ov · Econ 8.00 · Purple Cap leader (9 wkts)
RCB Batting201/8(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Rajat Patidar
63
40
4
4
157.5
Virat Kohli
32
16
7
0
200.0
VR Iyer
29*
15
1
2
193.3
Romario Shepherd
22
11
2
1
200.0
Devdutt Padikkal
14
7
3
0
200.0
Tim David
13
9
2
0
144.4
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
9*
7
1
0
128.6
Jitesh Sharma
5
8
0
0
62.5
Krunal Pandya
1
6
0
0
16.7
Phil Salt
0
1
0
0
0.0
Total
201/8
20 overs · Extras: 13
Bowling: Rajasthan Royals
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Ravi Bishnoi
4
0
32
2
8.00
Brijesh Sharma
4
0
37
2
9.25
Jofra Archer
3
0
33
2
11.00
Krunal Pandya
4
0
30
2
7.50
Sandeep Sharma
4
0
47
1
11.75
Ravindra Jadeja
2
0
14
1
7.00
RR Batting202/4(18 ov, target 202)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Dhruv Jurel
81*
43
8
3
188.4
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
78
26
8
7
300.0
Ravindra Jadeja
24*
25
1
0
96.0
Yashasvi Jaiswal
13
8
0
2
162.5
Riyan Parag
3
5
0
0
60.0
Shimron Hetmyer
0
1
0
0
0.0
Total
202/4
18 overs · Extras: 3
Bowling: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Josh Hazlewood
4
0
44
2
11.00
Krunal Pandya
4
0
30
2
7.50
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
4
0
37
0
9.25
Abhinandan Singh
3
0
54
0
18.00
Romario Shepherd
2
0
18
0
9.00
Tim David
1
0
18
0
18.00
Match 15 · Apr 9 · Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Choudhary 54* off 27 with 7 sixes. LSG chase 182 at Eden.
Kolkata Knight Riders
181/4
(20 ov)
vs
Lucknow Super Giants
182/7
(20 ov, target 182)
LSG won by 3 wicketsWe predicted KKR 53.1% ✗
KKR posted 181/4 with contributions across the order. Ajinkya Rahane (41 off 24, 4x4 2x6) set the tone with an aggressive start, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45 off 33, 5x4 2x6) anchored the middle, and Cameron Green (32* off 24, 3x4 1x6) and Rovman Powell (39* off 24, 4x4 2x6) finished strongly with an unbroken 71-run partnership. LSG's chase wobbled early but Ayush Badoni (54 off 34, 7x4 2x6) kept them in the hunt through the middle overs. Then Mukesh Choudhary turned the match on its head with an extraordinary 54* off just 27 balls, smashing 7 sixes to drag LSG home with 3 wickets in hand. AS Roy (2/32) and VG Arora (2/38) took wickets but could not defend the total. KKR fall to 0-3-1NR. Eighth wrong prediction.
Toss: LSG elected to field first · Player of the Match: Mukesh Choudhary
Why this match mattered:KKR are now 0-3-1NR, the worst start by any team in IPL 2026. Only two teams in IPL history have made the playoffs after losing their first three matches. LSG jump from 2 points to 4 points and into the top five. Choudhary's 7 sixes are the most by any player batting at #7 or below this season.
Turning point:Choudhary's arrival at the crease. LSG were in trouble with wickets falling, but Choudhary went from the first ball, smashing sixes to all parts of Eden Gardens. His 54* off 27 completely shifted the momentum from KKR's bowlers.
Season impact:LSG climb to 5th with 4 points (2-1). KKR sink to 9th with 1 point and a worsening NRR. Raghuvanshi climbs to 148 runs (3rd in Orange Cap). VG Arora moves to 5 wickets (tied 4th in Purple Cap). Model accuracy drops to 6/14.
Key Performers
Mukesh Choudhary
54*
27b · 2x4 · 7x6 · SR 200.0 · POTM
Ayush Badoni
54
34b · 7x4 · 2x6 · SR 158.8
Angkrish Raghuvanshi
45
33b · 5x4 · 2x6 · SR 136.4
Ajinkya Rahane
41
24b · 4x4 · 2x6 · SR 170.8
KKR Batting181/4(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Ajinkya Rahane
41
24
4
2
170.8
Angkrish Raghuvanshi
45
33
5
2
136.4
Cameron Green
32*
24
3
1
133.3
Rovman Powell
39*
24
4
2
162.5
Total
181/4
20 overs · Extras: 8
Bowling: Lucknow Super Giants
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
LSG Batting182/7(20 ov, target 182)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Ayush Badoni
54
34
7
2
158.8
Mukesh Choudhary
54*
27
2
7
200.0
Total
182/7
20 overs · Extras: 10
Bowling: Kolkata Knight Riders
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
AS Roy
4
0
32
2
8.00
VG Arora
4
0
38
2
9.50
Match 14 · Apr 8 · Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
A 1-run thriller. Rashid Khan's 3/17 denies KL Rahul's 92.
Gujarat Titans
210/4
(20 ov)
vs
Delhi Capitals
209/8
(20 ov, target 211)
GT won by 1 runWe predicted DC 54.5% ✗
GT finally broke their duck in the narrowest possible fashion. Batting first on a flat Delhi pitch, Shubman Gill (70 off 45, 4x4 5x6) anchored the innings while Washington Sundar (55 off 32, 6x4 2x6) provided the middle-overs acceleration. Jos Buttler (52 off 27, 3x4 5x6) finally looked like Jos Buttler. GT finished on 210/4. DC's chase was almost a one-man show. KL Rahul played the innings of the season so far, 92 off 52 (11x4 4x6), eight runs short of a hundred. Pathum Nissanka (41 off 24) gave him the platform and David Miller (41* off 20, 3x4 3x6) kept the chase alive to the final over. But Rashid Khan was the match. 3/17 in 4 overs, strangling the middle order and taking the late wickets that mattered. DC needed 12 off the final over and came up one run short on 209/8.
Toss: DC elected to field · Player of the Match: Rashid Khan
Why this match mattered:GT's first win of the season and DC's first loss, all in a 1-run thriller. KL Rahul's 92 is the highest individual score of IPL 2026, eclipsing Rizvi's 90. Rashid Khan reminded everyone why he was the best T20 spinner in the world when he took 3/17 at a venue where batters usually dominate.
Turning point:The 17th over. Rashid Khan removed KL Rahul with the chase seemingly on track (DC needed 50 off 24). The middle order never recovered. Without Rahul, the required rate ballooned and the final over needed 12 with the tail exposed.
Season impact:GT jump from 0 points to 2 and off the bottom. DC drop to 4 points and out of the top two. Rashid Khan enters the Purple Cap top five on 4 wickets. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill both enter the Orange Cap top 10. Model accuracy stays at 6/13 after a seventh wrong call, but by a single run.
Key Performers
Shubman Gill
70
45b · 4x4 · 5x6 · SR 155.6
Rashid Khan
3/17
4 ov · Econ 4.25 · POTM
KL Rahul
92
52b · 11x4 · 4x6 · SR 176.9
Washington Sundar
55
32b · 6x4 · 2x6 · SR 171.9
GT Batting210/4(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Shubman Gill
70
45
4
5
155.6
Washington Sundar
55
32
6
2
171.9
Jos Buttler
52
27
3
5
192.6
Total
210/4
20 overs · Extras: 10
Bowling: Delhi Capitals
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Mukesh Kumar
4
0
55
2
13.75
DC Batting209/8(20 ov, target 211)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
KL Rahul
92
52
11
4
176.9
Pathum Nissanka
41
24
6
1
170.8
David Miller
41*
20
3
3
205.0
Total
209/8
20 overs · Extras: 12
Bowling: Gujarat Titans
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Rashid Khan
4
0
17
3
4.25
Prasidh Krishna
4
0
52
2
13.00
Match 13 · Apr 7 · ACA Cricket Stadium, Guwahati · Rain-shortened, 11 overs a side
Jaiswal 77* off 32 in 11 overs. RR storm to the top of the table.
Rajasthan Royals
150/3
(11 ov)
vs
Mumbai Indians
123
(11 ov, target 151 DLS)
RR won by 27 runs (DLS)We predicted MI 51.5% ✗
Rain reduced the contest to 11 overs a side and turned Guwahati into a launchpad. Yashasvi Jaiswal seized the moment with a brutal 77* off just 32 (10x4 4x6, SR 240.6), the kind of innings that wins Player of the Match and Orange Caps in the same evening. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blitzed 39 off 14 (1x4 5x6) for company. RR finished on 150/3, scoring at 13.6 runs per over. The DLS-adjusted target of 151 looked steep and proved impossible. Nandre Burger (2/21 in 2 ov), Sandeep Sharma (2/26 in 3 ov), and Ravi Bishnoi (2/25 in 2 ov) shared the wickets as MI were bowled out for 123 in 11 overs. Allah Ghazanfar (2/21 in 2 ov) was the only MI bowler to slow Jaiswal down.
Toss: MI elected to field · Player of the Match: Yashasvi Jaiswal
Why this match mattered:RR jump to 3-0 and grab the top of the table with the league's best NRR. Jaiswal takes the Orange Cap with 170 runs in 3 innings. The model had MI as slim favourites and gets a sixth wrong call on the season.
Turning point:Jaiswal's third over assault. He hit four boundaries and a six in a single over to push the run rate past 13. With only 11 overs available, MI's bowlers had no time to recover, and Bumrah never found a wicket-taking spell.
Season impact:RR climb to #1 with 6 points and an NRR of +2.41. MI fall to 1-2, with their NRR taking a heavy hit. Bishnoi takes solo lead of the Purple Cap with 7 wickets. Model accuracy slips to 6/12.
Key Performers
Yashasvi Jaiswal
77*
32b · 10x4 · 4x6 · SR 240.6
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
39
14b · 1x4 · 5x6 · SR 278.6
Ravi Bishnoi
2/25
2 ov · Econ 12.50
Allah Ghazanfar
2/21
2 ov · Econ 10.50
RR Batting150/3(11 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Yashasvi Jaiswal
77*
32
10
4
240.6
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
39
14
1
5
278.6
Total
150/3
11 overs · Extras: 8
Bowling: Mumbai Indians
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Allah Ghazanfar
2
0
21
2
10.50
MI Batting123(11 ov, target 151 DLS)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Total
123
11 overs · Extras: 6 · All out
Bowling: Rajasthan Royals
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Nandre Burger
2
0
21
2
10.50
Sandeep Sharma
3
0
26
2
8.67
Ravi Bishnoi
2
0
25
2
12.50
Match 12 · Apr 6 · Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Rain washes out KKR vs PBKS. Both teams get a point.
Kolkata Knight Riders
25/2
(3.4 ov)
vs
Punjab Kings
DNB
did not bat
No result · rain abandonedWe predicted KKR 54.9% (no result, no impact)
KKR were 25/2 in 3.4 overs when the rain came. Bartlett struck twice in his first over (2/9), removing both openers cheaply. Rahane was on 8 and Raghuvanshi on 7 when the heavens opened. The match was abandoned shortly after. KKR escape with a point in their first non-loss of the season. PBKS share the points but their unbeaten run is technically intact.
Toss: KKR elected to bat first · Player of the Match: None (abandoned)
Why this match mattered:For KKR, this was a must-win at Eden Gardens to avoid 0-3. The point keeps them in the conversation, but barely. For PBKS, the point pushes them to the top of the table on 5.
Turning point:Bartlett's first over. Two wickets in his opening spell put KKR on the back foot. Without the rain, this game was tilting heavily PBKS' way.
Season impact:PBKS climb to #1 with 5 points (2W 1NR). KKR move to 1 point and avoid the 0-3 hole that historically kills playoff hopes. Model accuracy stays at 6/11. The no-result is the rare prediction that is neither right nor wrong.
Match 11 · Apr 5 · M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
250! Tim David blitzes 70 off 25 as RCB set a new season high.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
250/3
(20 ov)
vs
Chennai Super Kings
207
(19.4 ov)
RCB won by 43 runsWe predicted RCB 54.8% ✓
RCB posted 250/3, the highest total of IPL 2026. Tim David (70* off 25, 3x4 8x6, SR 280) was devastating at the death, while Padikkal (50 off 29, 5x4 2x6) and Patidar (48* off 19, 1x4 6x6) formed a brutal middle-order assault. Salt (46 off 30) provided the platform. CSK's chase started brightly with SN Khan blasting 50 off 25 (8x4 2x6), but Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/41) and Abhinandan Singh (2/30) dismantled the middle order, bowling CSK out for 207.
Toss: CSK elected to field · Player of the Match: Tim David
Why this match mattered:RCB go 2-0 and join the top 4 with a record-setting total. Tim David's 70* off 25 is the most destructive death-overs innings of the season.
Turning point:Patidar and David added 100+ in the last 6 overs, turning a competitive 150 into an untouchable 250. CSK's death bowling was shredded.
Season impact:RCB surge to #1 in title probability (12.9%). CSK fall to 0-3, the worst start in the tournament. Their bowling economy of 12.50 in this match is the worst of the season.
Pant 68* anchors the chase. LSG gun down 157 with a ball to spare.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
156/9
(20 ov)
vs
Lucknow Super Giants
160/5
(19.5 ov)
LSG won by 5 wicketsWe predicted SRH 52.2% ✗
SRH managed only 156/9 despite Klaasen's 62 off 41 (5x4 2x6) and Nitish Kumar Reddy's explosive 56 off 33 (3x4 5x6). Mohammed Shami was outstanding, returning 2/9 in 4 overs. LSG's chase was built on Pant's unbeaten 68 off 50 (9x4 0x6), a patient masterclass with all runs in boundaries. Markram (45 off 27, 6x4 2x6) provided explosive support in the middle overs.
Toss: LSG elected to field · Player of the Match: Rishabh Pant
Why this match mattered:First win for LSG. After the M5 collapse (141 all out), Pant answered his critics with an unbeaten 68. Shami's 2/9 is the best economy of the season among anyone with 2+ wickets.
Turning point:Shami's spell in the powerplay. He bowled 4 overs for just 9 runs and 2 wickets, strangling SRH's start and setting the tone for the whole match.
Season impact:LSG's playoff odds jump from 27.4% to 41.9%. SRH drop to 1-2 and title odds fall from 7.4% to 5.2%. Klaasen rises to #2 on the Orange Cap with 145 runs. Fifth wrong prediction for the model.
Key Performers
Rishabh Pant
68*
50b · 9x4 · 0x6 · SR 136.0
Mohammed Shami
2/9
4 ov · Econ 2.25
Heinrich Klaasen
62
41b · 5x4 · 2x6 · SR 151.2
Aiden Markram
45
27b · 6x4 · 2x6 · SR 166.7
SRH Batting156/9(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Heinrich Klaasen
62
41
5
2
151.2
Nitish Kumar Reddy
56
33
3
5
169.7
Total
156/9
20 overs · Extras: 8
Bowling: Lucknow Super Giants
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Mohammed Shami
4
0
9
2
2.25
Avesh Khan
4
0
36
2
9.00
Prince Yadav
4
0
34
2
8.50
LSG Batting160/5(19.5 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Rishabh Pant
68*
50
9
0
136.0
Aiden Markram
45
27
6
2
166.7
Total
160/5
19.5 overs · Extras: 6
Bowling: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Harsh Dubey
4
0
18
2
4.50
Match 9 · Apr 4 · ACA Stadium, Guwahati
Jurel 75 and Bishnoi 4/41. RR edge GT by 6 runs in a thriller.
Rajasthan Royals
210/6
(20 ov)
vs
Gujarat Titans
204/8
(20 ov)
RR won by 6 runsWe predicted GT 56.3% ✗
RR posted 210/6 on the back of Jurel's magnificent 75 off 42 (5x4 5x6), Jaiswal's elegant 55 off 36 (6x4 3x6), and Sooryavanshi's cameo of 31 off 18 (5x4 1x6). Rabada (2/42) was GT's best bowler. GT's chase was powered by Sai Sudharsan's brilliant 73 off 44 (9x4 3x6), but Ravi Bishnoi (4/41 in 4 ov) ripped through the middle order to seal a 6-run win. Bishnoi's 4/41 ties Muzarabani's season-best wickets but with better economy (10.25 vs 10.25).
Toss: RR elected to bat · Player of the Match: Dhruv Jurel
Why this match mattered:RR confirmed they are title contenders with 2 wins from 2. Bishnoi's 4/41 gives them a genuine match-winner with the ball. GT are now 0-2 and sliding fast.
Turning point:Bishnoi's spell in overs 12-16. GT were cruising at 140/3 when he struck twice in one over, removing both set batters and shifting the match decisively.
Season impact:RR title odds surge from 11.3% to 14.5%. GT drop from 8.0% to 5.3% after two straight losses. Fourth wrong prediction for the model. Accuracy: 5/9.
Key Performers
Dhruv Jurel
75
42b · 5x4 · 5x6 · SR 178.6
Ravi Bishnoi
4/41
4 ov · Econ 10.25
Yashasvi Jaiswal
55
36b · 6x4 · 3x6 · SR 152.8
Sai Sudharsan
73
44b · 9x4 · 3x6 · SR 165.9
RR Batting210/6(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Yashasvi Jaiswal
55
36
6
3
152.8
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
31
18
5
1
172.2
Dhruv Jurel
75
42
5
5
178.6
Riyan Parag
20
14
2
1
142.9
Total
210/6
20 overs · Extras: 10
Bowling: Gujarat Titans
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Kagiso Rabada
4
0
42
2
10.50
Rashid Khan
4
0
36
1
9.00
Prasidh Krishna
4
0
40
1
10.00
Mohammed Siraj
4
0
38
1
9.50
GT Batting204/8(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Sai Sudharsan
73
44
9
3
165.9
Shubman Gill
28
22
3
1
127.3
Jos Buttler
25
20
2
1
125.0
Glenn Phillips
18
14
1
1
128.6
Washington Sundar
22
15
2
1
146.7
Rahul Tewatia
15
10
1
1
150.0
Total
204/8
20 overs · Extras: 12
Bowling: Rajasthan Royals
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Ravi Bishnoi
4
0
41
4
10.25
Jofra Archer
4
0
38
1
9.50
Ravindra Jadeja
4
0
32
1
8.00
Sandeep Sharma
4
0
35
1
8.75
Match 8 · Apr 4 · Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Rizvi 90 off 51. The best innings of IPL 2026 so far.
Mumbai Indians
162/6
(20 ov)
vs
Delhi Capitals
164/4
(18.1 ov)
DC won by 6 wicketsWe predicted DC 53.9% ✓
MI posted 162/6 with Surya Kumar Yadav (51 off 36, 3x4 2x6) anchoring the innings and Rohit Sharma (35 off 26, 5x4 1x6) providing the foundation. Mukesh Kumar (2/26 in 3 ov) restricted MI's death overs. DC's chase was built around Sameer Rizvi's stunning 90 off 51 (7x4 7x6), the highest individual score of the season. Nissanka (44 off 30, 6x4 1x6) provided solid support at the top. Second straight match-winning innings for Rizvi. Model got this one right.
Toss: DC elected to field · Player of the Match: Sameer Rizvi
Why this match mattered:DC go 2-0, the only unbeaten team alongside PBKS and RR. Rizvi's 90 sets a new season-high individual score. MI suffer their first loss. DC's bowling depth (Mukesh, Natarajan, Ngidi, Kuldeep) is proving elite.
Turning point:Rizvi hitting Bumrah for 14 runs in the 8th over. From that point, DC controlled the chase entirely. Bumrah finished with 1/28, his most expensive spell of the season.
Season impact:DC title odds surge from 13.2% to 17.8%. MI drop from 15.4% to 11.6%. Rizvi now leads the Orange Cap with 160 runs at SR 163. Model gets its 5th correct prediction.
Key Performers
Sameer Rizvi
90
51b · 7x4 · 7x6 · SR 176.5
Surya Kumar Yadav
51
36b · 3x4 · 2x6 · SR 141.7
Mukesh Kumar
2/26
3 ov · Econ 8.67
MI Batting162/6(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Rohit Sharma
35
26
5
1
134.6
Ryan Rickelton
18
15
2
0
120.0
Surya Kumar Yadav
51
36
3
2
141.7
Tilak Varma
22
18
3
0
122.2
Hardik Pandya
15
12
1
1
125.0
Naman Dhir
8*
7
1
0
114.3
Total
162/6
20 overs · Extras: 13
Bowling: Delhi Capitals
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Mukesh Kumar
3
0
26
2
8.67
T Natarajan
4
0
32
1
8.00
Lungi Ngidi
4
0
30
1
7.50
Kuldeep Yadav
4
0
35
1
8.75
DC Batting164/4(18.1 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
KL Rahul
12
10
1
0
120.0
Pathum Nissanka
44
30
6
1
146.7
Sameer Rizvi
90
51
7
7
176.5
Tristan Stubbs
10*
9
1
0
111.1
Total
164/4
18.1 overs · Extras: 8
Bowling: Mumbai Indians
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Jasprit Bumrah
4
0
28
1
7.00
Shardul Thakur
4
0
38
1
9.50
Trent Boult
4
0
35
1
8.75
Match 7 · Apr 3 · MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Iyer's 50 off 29 seals the chase. PBKS conquer Chepauk.
Chennai Super Kings
209/5
(20 ov)
vs
Punjab Kings
210/5
(18.4 ov)
PBKS won by 5 wicketsWe predicted CSK 53.2% ✗
CSK posted 209/5 powered by Mhatre's explosive 73 off 43 (6x4 5x6) at the top and Dube's unbeaten 45 off 27 (5x4 1x6) at the death. SN Khan blasted 32 off 12 (6x4 1x6) to provide late fireworks. Vyshak (2/38) and Henry (2/54) shared the wickets. PBKS' chase was anchored by Prabhsimran (43 off 34, 6x4 1x6) and Connolly (36 off 22, 6x4). But it was Shreyas Iyer (50 off 29, 4x4 3x6) who took the game away, and P Arya's explosive 39 off 11 (3x4 4x6) finished it with 8 balls to spare. Third wrong prediction.
Toss: PBKS elected to field · Player of the Match: Shreyas Iyer
Why this match mattered:PBKS go 2-0. CSK drop to 0-2. An away win at Chepauk is a statement result. Mhatre's 73 showed CSK have talent, but their bowling couldn't defend 209. CSK's home fortress has crumbled.
Turning point:P Arya's cameo of 39 off just 11 balls (3x4 4x6) at the top of the chase put PBKS ahead of the rate immediately. By the time CSK recovered, the damage was done.
Season impact:PBKS title odds jump from 9.6% to 13.1%. CSK drop from 6.5% to 4.8% after two losses. CSK are now 0-2 at a venue they were supposed to dominate. Third miss for the model. Accuracy: 4/7.
Key Performers
Ayush Mhatre
73
43b · 6x4 · 5x6 · SR 169.8
Shreyas Iyer
50
29b · 4x4 · 3x6 · SR 172.4
P Arya
39
11b · 3x4 · 4x6 · SR 354.5
Shivam Dube
45*
27b · 5x4 · 1x6 · SR 166.7
CSK Batting209/5(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Ayush Mhatre
73
43
6
5
169.8
Ruturaj Gaikwad
15
12
2
0
125.0
Sanju Samson
20
16
2
1
125.0
Matt Short
10
9
1
0
111.1
SN Khan
32
12
6
1
266.7
Shivam Dube
45*
27
5
1
166.7
Total
209/5
20 overs · Extras: 14
Bowling: Punjab Kings
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Vyshak Vijaykumar
4
0
38
2
9.50
Arshdeep Singh
4
0
40
1
10.00
Yuzvendra Chahal
4
0
35
1
8.75
PBKS Batting210/5(18.4 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
P Arya
39
11
3
4
354.5
Prabhsimran Singh
43
34
6
1
126.5
Cooper Connolly
36
22
6
0
163.6
Shreyas Iyer
50
29
4
3
172.4
Total
210/5
18.4 overs · Extras: 12
Bowling: Chennai Super Kings
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Anshul Kamboj
3.4
0
43
2
11.73
Matt Henry
4
0
54
2
13.50
Noor Ahmad
4
0
32
1
8.00
Match 6 · Apr 2 · Eden Gardens, Kolkata
SRH demolish KKR by 65 runs. Head and Abhishek explode in the powerplay.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
226/8
(20 ov)
vs
Kolkata Knight Riders
161
(16 ov)
SRH won by 65 runsWe predicted KKR 56.5% ✗
SRH blitzed 226/8 at Eden Gardens. Head (46 off 21, 6x4 3x6) and Abhishek Sharma (48 off 21, 4x4 4x6) put on a devastating opening stand. Klaasen anchored the middle overs with 52 off 35 (4x4 1x6), and Nitish Kumar Reddy smashed 39 off 24 at the death. KKR's bowling was shredded: Arora 2/47, Tyagi 1/48, Narine 0/39. Only Muzarabani (4/41) fought back. The chase never got going. Allen blasted 28 off 7, and Raghuvanshi scored a gutsy 52 off 29, but wickets fell in clusters. Unadkat (3/21), Malinga (2/14), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2/17) dismantled KKR, bowling them out for 161 in 16 overs.
Toss: KKR elected to field · Player of the Match: Heinrich Klaasen
Why this match mattered:SRH's batting depth was questioned after M1. They answered with 226, their highest total of the season. KKR's spin attack (Narine 0/39, Varun 0/31) was neutralized completely.
Turning point:The powerplay. Head and Abhishek scored 94 runs in 6 overs, taking the game away before KKR's spinners could operate. By the time Narine bowled, the required rate was already above 11.
Season impact:SRH title odds jump from 5.7% to 7.8%. KKR drop from 9.5% to 7.1% after two losses. KKR are now the only team with 0 wins from 2 matches. Second miss for our model. Accuracy: 4/6.
Key Performers
Heinrich Klaasen
52
35b · 4x4 · 1x6 · SR 148.6
Abhishek Sharma
48
21b · 4x4 · 4x6 · SR 228.6
Travis Head
46
21b · 6x4 · 3x6 · SR 219.0
Blessing Muzarabani
4/41
4 ov · Econ 10.25
Angkrish Raghuvanshi
52
29b · 6x4 · 2x6 · SR 179.3
Jaydev Unadkat
3/21
3 ov · Econ 7.00
SRH Batting226/8(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Travis Head
46
21
6
3
219.0
Abhishek Sharma
48
21
4
4
228.6
Ishan Kishan
14
9
0
0
155.6
Heinrich Klaasen
52
35
4
1
148.6
Aniket Verma
1
4
0
0
25.0
Nitish Kumar Reddy
39
24
4
1
162.5
Salil Arora
0
1
0
0
0.0
Harsh Dubey
9*
3
0
0
300.0
Shivang Kumar
4
2
0
0
200.0
Total
226/8
20 overs · Extras: 13
Bowling: Kolkata Knight Riders
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Blessing Muzarabani
4
0
41
4
10.25
Vaibhav Arora
4
0
47
2
11.75
Kartik Tyagi
4
0
48
1
12.00
Sunil Narine
4
0
39
0
9.75
Varun Chakaravarthy
2
0
31
0
15.50
Anukul Roy
2
0
16
1
8.00
KKR Batting161(16 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Ajinkya Rahane
8
10
0
0
80.0
Finn Allen
28
7
4
2
400.0
Angkrish Raghuvanshi
52
29
6
2
179.3
Cameron Green
2
2
0
0
100.0
Rinku Singh
35
25
4
1
140.0
Anukul Roy
0
2
0
0
0.0
Ramandeep Singh
10
9
0
0
111.1
Sunil Narine
12
4
0
2
300.0
Kartik Tyagi
5
5
0
0
100.0
Vaibhav Arora
1*
2
0
0
50.0
Varun Chakaravarthy
0
1
0
0
0.0
Total
161
16 overs · Extras: 8
Bowling: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Jaydev Unadkat
3
0
21
3
7.00
Eshan Malinga
2
0
14
2
7.00
Nitish Kumar Reddy
2
0
17
2
8.50
Harsh Dubey
2
0
17
1
8.50
Abhishek Sharma
1
0
15
0
15.00
Shivang Kumar
4
0
41
0
10.25
David Payne
2
0
35
0
17.50
Match 5 · Apr 1 · Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Rizvi 70* off 47 rescues DC from 33/4. First wrong prediction.
Lucknow Super Giants
141
(18.4 ov)
vs
Delhi Capitals
145/4
(17.1 ov)
DC won by 6 wicketsWe predicted LSG 52.2% ✗
LSG posted 141 all out in 18.4 overs. Marsh (35 off 28) and Abdul Samad (36 off 25) were the only contributors. Ngidi (3/27) and Natarajan (3/29) demolished the LSG batting. DC's chase started disastrously at 33/4 in 6 overs, losing Rahul, Nissanka, Rana, and Axar. Then impact sub Sameer Rizvi walked in and played the innings of the match: 70* off 47 (5 fours, 4 sixes). Stubbs (39* off 32) held the other end. Their unbroken 112-run fifth-wicket stand sealed the chase with 17 balls to spare.
Toss: DC elected to field · Player of the Match: Sameer Rizvi
Why this match mattered:DC proved their bowling is elite (Ngidi + Natarajan took 6/56 between them). And Sameer Rizvi announced himself as the impact sub of the season.
Turning point:DC were 33/4 after 6 overs. Rizvi came in as impact sub at 3.3 overs and turned a near-certain loss into a comfortable chase.
Season impact:DC title odds jump from 9.8% to 13.5%. LSG drop from 9.1% to 7.0%. Our first wrong prediction. The model had LSG at 52.2% based on home advantage and Pooran's rating, but Pooran fell for 8.
Key Performers
Sameer Rizvi
70*
47b · 5x4 · 4x6 · SR 148.9
Tristan Stubbs
39*
32b · 3x4 · 1x6 · SR 121.9
Lungi Ngidi
3/27
3.4 ov · Econ 7.36
T Natarajan
3/29
4 ov · Econ 7.25
LSG Batting141(18.4 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Mitchell Marsh
35
28
2
3
125.0
Rishabh Pant
7
9
1
0
77.8
Aiden Markram
11
8
1
1
137.5
Ayush Badoni
0
3
0
0
0.0
Nicholas Pooran
8
8
1
0
100.0
Abdul Samad
36
25
3
1
144.0
Mohd Choudhary
14
11
2
0
127.3
Shahbaz Ahmed
15*
16
1
0
93.8
Mohammed Shami
1
2
0
0
50.0
Anrich Nortje
0
1
0
0
0.0
Mohsin Khan
0
1
0
0
0.0
Total
141
18.4 overs · Extras: 14
Bowling: Delhi Capitals
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Lungi Ngidi
3.4
0
27
3
7.36
T Natarajan
4
0
29
3
7.25
Kuldeep Yadav
4
0
31
2
7.75
Axar Patel
3
0
17
1
5.67
Mukesh Kumar
3
0
17
0
5.67
Vipraj Nigam
1
0
8
0
8.00
DC Batting145/4(17.1 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
KL Rahul
0
1
0
0
0.0
Pathum Nissanka
1
5
0
0
20.0
Nitish Rana
15
17
2
1
88.2
Axar Patel
0
1
0
0
0.0
Sameer Rizvi
70*
47
5
4
148.9
Tristan Stubbs
39*
32
3
1
121.9
Total
145/4
17.1 overs · Extras: 15
Bowling: Lucknow Super Giants
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Prince Yadav
3
0
20
2
6.67
Mohammed Shami
4
0
28
1
7.00
Mohsin Khan
4
0
19
1
4.75
Anrich Nortje
4
0
39
0
9.75
Aiden Markram
1
0
13
0
13.00
Shahbaz Ahmed
1
0
16
0
16.00
Abdul Samad
0.1
0
6
0
36.00
Match 4 · Mar 31 · Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Connolly 72* off 44 seals it. PBKS chase 163 with 5 balls left.
Gujarat Titans
162/6
(20 ov)
vs
Punjab Kings
165/7
(19.1 ov)
PBKS won by 3 wicketsWe predicted PBKS 51.1% ✓
GT posted 162/6 with Gill (39 off 27) and Buttler (38 off 33) anchoring the innings. Prasidh Krishna took 3/29 to put GT in a strong position. But Cooper Connolly had other plans: 72* off 44, 5 fours, 5 sixes, arriving at 47/3 and finishing the job. Prabhsimran (37 off 24) set the tone early with 4 sixes in the powerplay.
Toss: PBKS elected to field · Player of the Match: Cooper Connolly
Why this match mattered:Connolly is an unknown quantity. 22 years old, first IPL innings. If he can do this consistently, PBKS have found their middle-order anchor.
Turning point:PBKS were 47/3 when Connolly walked in. He hit 72* from that position. The match swung entirely on one player.
Season impact:PBKS title odds jump from 6.5% to 10%. GT lose their opener but the squad quality means they will bounce back. Prasidh's 3/29 is a positive.
Key Performers
Cooper Connolly
72*
44b · 5x4 · 5x6 · SR 163.6
Prabhsimran Singh
37
24b · 1x4 · 4x6 · SR 154.2
Shubman Gill
39
27b · 6x4 · 0x6 · SR 144.4
Prasidh Krishna
3/29
4 ov · Econ 7.25
GT Batting162/6(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Sai Sudharsan
13
11
2
0
118.2
Shubman Gill
39
27
6
0
144.4
Jos Buttler
38
33
3
2
115.2
Glenn Phillips
25
17
1
1
147.1
Washington Sundar
18
16
2
0
112.5
Shahrukh Khan
4
6
0
0
66.7
Rahul Tewatia
11*
10
1
0
110.0
Rashid Khan
0*
1
0
0
0.0
Total
162/6
20 overs · Extras: 14
Bowling: Punjab Kings
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Marco Jansen
4
0
20
1
5.00
Yuzvendra Chahal
4
0
28
2
7.00
Vyshak Vijaykumar
4
0
34
3
8.50
Xavier Bartlett
4
0
36
0
9.00
Arshdeep Singh
4
0
42
0
10.50
PBKS Batting165/7(19.1 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Prabhsimran Singh
37
24
1
4
154.2
Shreyas Iyer
18
11
0
2
163.6
Marcus Stoinis
0
2
0
0
0.0
Cooper Connolly
72*
44
5
5
163.6
Nehal Wadhera
3
6
0
0
50.0
Shashank Singh
4
5
0
0
80.0
Marco Jansen
9
10
0
1
90.0
Priyansh Arya
7
8
0
1
87.5
Xavier Bartlett
11*
5
0
1
220.0
Total
165/7
19.1 overs · Extras: 4
Bowling: Gujarat Titans
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Prasidh Krishna
4
0
29
3
7.25
Rashid Khan
4
0
29
1
7.25
Kagiso Rabada
3
0
34
1
11.33
Ashok Sharma
3
0
31
1
10.33
Washington Sundar
3.1
0
27
1
8.53
Mohammed Siraj
2
0
15
0
7.50
The numbers behind the chase
PBKS were 47/3 when Connolly walked in. They needed 116 off 81 balls with their top order gone. Connolly hit 72* off 44, the highest score by a PBKS batter this season. Prasidh's 3/29 was the best bowling of the match but it wasn't enough. Arshdeep went for 42 in 4 overs, the worst economy for PBKS. GT's total of 162 looked competitive but Sudharsan's failure (13 off 11) meant they never built the momentum they needed.
Match 3 · Mar 30 · Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
CSK bowled out for 127. Sooryavanshi blitzes 52 off 17.
Chennai Super Kings
127
(20 ov)
vs
Rajasthan Royals
128/2
(12.1 ov)
RR won by 8 wicketsWe predicted RR 51.7% ✓
CSK crumbled to 127 all out. Only Jamie Overton (43 off 36) showed resistance. Archer (2/19), Burger (2/26), and Jadeja (2/18) strangled the innings. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi then exploded with 52 off just 17 balls (4x4, 5x6, SR 305), the fastest fifty of IPL 2026. Jaiswal anchored with an unbeaten 38.
Toss: RR elected to field · Player of the Match: Nandre Burger
Why this match mattered:CSK's top-order collapse is a bigger concern than the loss itself. RR's bowling depth, all 6 bowlers taking wickets, looks genuinely dangerous.
Turning point:CSK lost 3 wickets in the first 5 overs. The game was effectively over there.
Season impact:RR strengthen their playoff case early with a +4.171 NRR boost. CSK now under pressure after an opening loss without Dhoni.
Key Performers
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
52
17b · 4x4 · 5x6 · SR 305.9
Yashasvi Jaiswal
38*
36b · 3x4 · 1x6 · SR 105.6
Jamie Overton
43
36b · 2x4 · 2x6 · SR 119.4
Jofra Archer
2/19
4 ov · Econ 4.75
RR Bowling: Who strangled CSK?
Archer
4.75
Bishnoi
5.33
Brijesh
5.67
Jadeja
6.00
Burger
6.50
Sandeep
7.33
All 6 RR bowlers took wickets. Best collective display of the season. · sheets.works
CSK Batting127(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Sanju Samson
6
7
1
0
85.7
Ruturaj Gaikwad
6
11
1
0
54.5
Ayush Mhatre
0
1
0
0
0.0
Matt Short
2
7
0
0
28.6
Shahrukh Khan
17
12
2
1
141.7
Kartik Sharma
18
15
0
1
120.0
Shivam Dube
6
4
0
1
150.0
Jamie Overton
43
36
2
2
119.4
Noor Ahmad
1
9
0
0
11.1
Matt Henry
5
7
1
0
71.4
Anshul Kamboj
7*
10
1
0
70.0
Total
127
20 overs · Extras: 16
Bowling: Rajasthan Royals
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Jofra Archer
4
0
19
2
4.75
Nandre Burger
4
0
26
2
6.50
Sandeep Sharma
3
0
22
1
7.33
Ravindra Jadeja
3
0
18
2
6.00
Ravi Bishnoi
3
0
16
1
5.33
Brijesh Sharma
3
0
17
1
5.67
RR Batting128/2(12.1 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Yashasvi Jaiswal
38*
36
3
1
105.6
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
52
17
4
5
305.9
Dhruv Jurel
18
9
4
0
200.0
Riyan Parag
14*
11
1
1
127.3
Total
128/2
12.1 overs · Extras: 6
Bowling: Chennai Super Kings
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Matt Henry
3
0
40
0
13.33
Khaleel Ahmed
3
0
17
0
5.67
Anshul Kamboj
3
0
27
2
9.00
Noor Ahmad
2
0
24
0
12.00
Jamie Overton
1
0
14
0
14.00
The numbers behind the collapse
CSK top 4 managed just 14 runs from 26 balls. Gaikwad (6 off 11), Samson (6 off 7), Short (2 off 7). Without Overton, they would have been under 85. All 6 RR bowlers took at least one wicket. Sooryavanshi (52 off 17) is the fastest fifty of IPL 2026. At 17 years old, he hit 5 sixes and made the chase look like a warm-up.
Match 2 · Mar 29 · Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
444 runs at the Wankhede. Rickelton smashes 8 sixes.
Kolkata Knight Riders
220/4
(20 ov)
vs
Mumbai Indians
224/4
(19.1 ov)
MI won by 6 wicketsWe predicted MI 54.1% ✓
The second-highest combined total in IPL history. Rahane (67 off 40) and Raghuvanshi (51 off 29) powered KKR to 220/4. MI chased it with 5 balls to spare. Rickelton smashed 81 off 43 with 8 sixes. Rohit hit 78 off 38 (SR 205). Together: 159 runs, 71% of MI total. Shardul Thakur took 3/39. Bumrah went wicketless (0/35).
Toss: MI elected to field · Player of the Match: Shardul Thakur
Why this match mattered:Rickelton announced himself as a genuine game-changer. If this opening partnership clicks regularly, MI are the team to beat this season.
Turning point:Rickelton and Rohit put on 159 in 81 balls. By the time the first wicket fell, MI needed just 61 off 39. Game over.
Season impact:MI title probability jumped from 10.2% to 17.2%, the biggest single-match swing so far. KKR's bowling looks exposed without a death specialist.
Key Performers
Ryan Rickelton
81
43b · 4x4 · 8x6 · SR 188.4
Rohit Sharma
78
38b · 6x4 · 6x6 · SR 205.3
Ajinkya Rahane
67
40b · 3x4 · 5x6 · SR 167.5
Shardul Thakur
3/39
4 ov · Econ 9.75
MI Chase: Who scored what?
Rickelton
81
Rohit
78
Tilak Varma
20
Pandya
18
Rickelton + Rohit = 71% of MI total · sheets.works
KKR Batting220/4(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Finn Allen
37
17
6
2
217.6
Ajinkya Rahane
67
40
3
5
167.5
Angkrish Raghuvanshi
51
29
6
2
175.9
Cameron Green
18
10
1
1
180.0
Rinku Singh
33*
21
4
0
157.1
Ramandeep Singh
4*
4
0
0
100.0
Total
220/4
20 overs · Extras: 10
Bowling: Mumbai Indians
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Shardul Thakur
4
0
39
3
9.75
Jasprit Bumrah
4
0
35
0
8.75
Trent Boult
4
0
38
0
9.50
Hardik Pandya
3
0
39
1
13.00
Allah Ghazanfar
4
0
51
0
12.75
Mayank Markande
1
0
16
0
16.00
MI Batting224/4(19.1 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Ryan Rickelton
81
43
4
8
188.4
Rohit Sharma
78
38
6
6
205.3
Suryakumar Yadav
16
8
3
0
200.0
Tilak Varma
20
14
4
0
142.9
Hardik Pandya
18*
11
3
0
163.6
Naman Dhir
5*
2
1
0
250.0
Total
224/4
19.1 overs · Extras: 6
Bowling: Kolkata Knight Riders
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Sunil Narine
3
0
30
1
10.00
Kartik Tyagi
4
0
43
1
10.75
Vaibhav Arora
4
0
52
1
13.00
Varun Chakaravarthy
4
0
48
0
12.00
Blessing Muzarabani
3
0
34
0
11.33
Andre Russell
1.1
0
15
0
12.86
The numbers behind the chase
444 runs in one match. Rickelton and Rohit put on 159 off 81 balls, highest opening stand of IPL 2026. Rickelton hit 8 sixes, the most by any batter on the night. Every KKR bowler conceded above 10 an over. Bumrah went wicketless for 35 in 4 overs, rare for the highest-rated bowler in our model (95/100).
Match 1 · Mar 28 · M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Duffy takes 3/22 on debut. RCB chase 202 in 15.4 overs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
201/9
(20 ov)
vs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
203/4
(15.4 ov)
RCB won by 6 wicketsWe predicted RCB 54.3% ✓
Ishan Kishan (80 off 38, SR 210) and Aniket Verma (43 off 18, SR 238) powered SRH to 201/9. RCB obliterated the target in 15.4 overs. Kohli anchored with 69* off 38, Padikkal destroyed with 61 off 26 (SR 234), Patidar blitzed 31 off 12 (SR 258). Jacob Duffy took 3/22 on IPL debut, best economy at 5.50.
Toss: RCB elected to field · Player of the Match: Jacob Duffy
Why this match mattered:RCB's batting is no longer just Kohli. Three batters struck above 180 SR. Duffy on debut changes their bowling equation completely.
Turning point:Padikkal's 61 off 26 between overs 4-10. By the time he fell, the required rate had dropped below 8. Chase was done at the halfway mark.
Season impact:SRH's bowling is a red flag. They leaked 203 in 15.4 overs, the worst economy in the tournament. Our model dropped SRH to 5% title chance, lowest of all 10 teams.
Key Performers
Virat Kohli
69*
38b · 5x4 · 5x6 · SR 181.6
Devdutt Padikkal
61
26b · 7x4 · 4x6 · SR 234.6
Ishan Kishan
80
38b · 8x4 · 5x6 · SR 210.5
Jacob Duffy
3/22
4 ov · Econ 5.50 · IPL debut
Bowling Economy: Who held? Who leaked?
Duffy
5.50
Bhuvi
7.75
Suyash
9.33
Shepherd
13.50
Duffy 5.50 econ was 2.25 better than the next bowler · sheets.works
SRH Batting201/9(20 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Abhishek Sharma
7
8
0
1
87.5
Travis Head
11
9
2
0
122.2
Ishan Kishan
80
38
8
5
210.5
Nitish Kumar Reddy
1
6
0
0
16.7
Heinrich Klaasen
31
22
2
1
140.9
Aniket Verma
43
18
3
4
238.9
Salil Arora
9
6
0
1
150.0
Harsh Dubey
3
3
0
0
100.0
Harshal Patel
0
2
0
0
0.0
David Payne
6*
5
0
0
120.0
Jaydev Unadkat
4*
3
0
0
133.3
Total
201/9
20 overs · Extras: 6
Bowling: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Jacob Duffy
4
0
22
3
5.50
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
4
0
31
1
7.75
Suyash Sharma
3
0
28
1
9.33
Abhinandan Singh
3
0
38
1
12.67
Romario Shepherd
4
0
54
3
13.50
Krunal Pandya
2
0
26
0
13.00
RCB Batting203/4(15.4 ov)
Batter
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Virat Kohli
69*
38
5
5
181.6
Phil Salt
8
7
2
0
114.3
Devdutt Padikkal
61
26
7
4
234.6
Rajat Patidar
31
12
2
3
258.3
Jitesh Sharma
0
1
0
0
0.0
Tim David
16*
10
1
1
160.0
Total
203/4
15.4 overs · Extras: 18
Bowling: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Econ
Nitish Kumar Reddy
2
0
19
0
9.50
Jaydev Unadkat
3
0
29
1
9.67
David Payne
3
0
35
2
11.67
Harsh Dubey
3
0
35
1
11.67
Eshan Malinga
2
0
35
0
17.50
Harshal Patel
2.4
0
39
0
14.63
The numbers behind the chase
RCB run rate of 12.98 per over is the highest in any 200+ chase in IPL history. Three batters struck above 180. Padikkal and Kohli dismantled overs 4 to 10. SRH used six bowlers, none below 9.50 economy. Malinga and Harshal leaked 74 runs in 4.4 overs (economy 15.91).
After 58 Matches
The Race
Fifty-eight matches in. RCB and GT joint top on 16 pts. Tilak Varma\'s 75* off 33 hands PBKS a fifth straight loss; their top-four spot is in serious jeopardy. Bhuvi leads the Purple Cap on 22. Klaasen still leads the Orange Cap with 508. MI and LSG out of contention. Model accuracy: 28/57.
The table has flipped twice in 17 days. GT went on a five-match tear (M42, M46, M52, M56) with Rabada and Holder bowling like a different unit, Gill and Sai Sudharsan opening at 7+ RR. They sit at 16 pts, NRR +2.45, basically locked into the top four. RCB answered with Kohli\'s 105* off 60 in M57 to draw level on points (16, NRR +2.126); GT keep #1 on net run rate. SRH\'s 86 all out vs GT in M56 erased their NRR cushion. PBKS lost four in a row (M40, M46, M49, M55) and fell from 1st to 4th. CSK won three straight at Chepauk (M44, M48, M53) with Samson\'s three POTMs anchoring. KKR are clinging on 9 pts after the M57 loss snapped their four-match winning streak. DC\'s NRR is -1.475 from the M51 loss to KKR. MI were eliminated by the M54 loss; LSG\'s NRR (-2.666) is the worst of the season. Klaasen leads the Orange Cap with 508. Kohli leaps to 3rd on 484. Bhuvi takes the Purple Cap on 22; Rabada follows on 21. Model accuracy: 27/56 (M12 no result excluded). Last 17 had 11 correct.
Points Table
Biggest Movers After Match 58
GT. FIVE IN A ROW. NO. 1.
5th → 1st
GT won five straight (M42, M46, M52, M54, M56) with Holder's two POTMs, Rabada 21 wkts, Gill+Sai opening at 7+ RR. The M56 demolition (SRH all out 86 chasing 169) lifted NRR to +2.45. They're 1st with 16 pts and a near-lock on top four (91.9% playoff per the model).
PBKS. FOUR STRAIGHT LOSSES.
1st → 4th
M40 (RR chase), M46 (GT chase, Holder 4/24), M49 (SRH 235/4), M55 (DC chase 211 in 19) — PBKS' aura is gone. From unbeaten run to four losses in a row. Three games left to defend a top-four spot. Iyer back to form (392 runs).
RCB. KOHLI 105*. JOINT TOP.
2nd → 2nd (=GT)
Kohli\'s sixth IPL ton (105* off 60, 11x4 3x6) chased down 193 at Raipur with 5 balls to spare. RCB level with GT on 16 pts; GT keep #1 on NRR. Kohli vaults from 13th to 3rd in the Orange Cap (484, avg 53.8). Kartik Tyagi (3/32) was KKR\'s only joy.
Who Wins the Title?
After 58 of 70 league matches. Two teams (MI, LSG) eliminated. Four (GT, RCB, SRH, PBKS) hold playoff spots; CSK and RR are within striking distance. Numbers are stable now.
If the season ended today
GT sit top on 16 pts (8-4, NRR +2.451) and two games to go. RCB (8-4, 16 pts, NRR +2.126) draw level on points after Kohli\'s 105* sank KKR; GT keep #1 on NRR. SRH (7-5, 14 pts, NRR +0.666) are 3rd but the GT thrashing tanked their NRR. PBKS (6-4-1NR, 13 pts, NRR -0.541) hold the 4th playoff slot by a single point and three games to defend it. RR (6-5, 12 pts, NRR +0.187) and CSK (6-5, 12 pts, NRR +0.018) are level on points and just behind PBKS. Both need to win 2 of 3 and hope for a slip.
DC (5-7, 10 pts, NRR -1.475) need to win out (2 games). Eliminated unless others crater. KKR (4-6-1NR, 9 pts, NRR -0.281) have three games left and a thin playoff shot. Kohli\'s century ended their four-match winning streak and shoved their playoff math toward the cliff. MI (3-8, 6 pts, NRR -1.134) and LSG (3-8, 6 pts, NRR -2.666) are mathematically out. Bottom four positions are decided. The fight is now for who joins GT, RCB, SRH in the playoffs.
The Cap Race
Heinrich Klaasen still leads the Orange Cap with 508 runs at SR 153.9, avg 50.8 (12 inn). B Sai Sudharsan sits 2nd (501) after his GT tear. Virat Kohli jumps to 3rd (484, avg 53.8) on the back of his 105* vs KKR — sixth IPL century. Abhishek Sharma (481, SR 209) and KL Rahul (477, 152 vs PBKS still the season highest) sit fourth and fifth. Shubman Gill (467), Sooryavanshi (440), Sanju Samson (430) close out the top 8. On the bowling side, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (22 wkts, econ 7.55) takes sole Purple Cap lead. Kagiso Rabada (21) is 2nd. Kamboj (19) 3rd. Prince Yadav, Rashid, Kartik Tyagi (3/32 vs RCB pushed him to 16), and Malinga tied on 16.
Predictions: 27 correct out of 56 (M12 was a no result). Twenty-nine misses. Last 17 matches: 11 correct, 6 misses (M41 MI 70.5%, M44 MI 51.9%, M48 DC 70.2%, M51 DC 60.7%, M54 MI 53%, M57 KKR 54.1%). Model still struggling with chasing teams.
Orange Cap
Purple Cap
Season Records
Highest Score
152*
KL Rahul (DC vs PBKS, M35) NEW
Best Bowling
5/23
Mohsin Khan (LSG vs KKR, M38, in vain) NEW
Highest Total
265/4
PBKS vs DC (M35, IPL-record chase) NEW
Fastest Fifty
17 balls
Sooryavanshi (RR vs CSK, M3)
Most Sixes (Innings)
12
Sooryavanshi (RR vs SRH, M36, IPL record) NEW
Best Economy (min 3 ov)
2.25
Shami (LSG vs SRH, M10)
First Over Wickets (IPL Record)
3 wkts
Hinge (SRH vs RR, M21) NEW IPL RECORD
What To Watch Next
Tonight: PBKS vs MI at Dharamsala (M58, 7:30 PM IST).PBKS (6-4-1NR, 13 pts, 4th) host MI (3-8, 6 pts, eliminated) at the hill venue. PBKS\'s four-match losing streak puts the 4th playoff slot in real danger — they need to win out two of three to lock a top-four spot. MI play spoiler with Bumrah and Rickelton. Model has MI 61.4%.
Tomorrow (May 15): LSG vs CSK (M59). Then May 16: KKR vs GT (M60), May 17: PBKS vs RCB (M61) and DC vs RR (M62). The fight for slots 3 and 4 (currently SRH and PBKS) is now between PBKS, RR, CSK and a fading DC.
Six 60%+ predictions missed in M41-57. M41 MI 70.5%, M44 MI 51.9%, M48 DC 70.2%, M51 DC 60.7%, M54 MI 53%, M57 KKR 54.1% (Kohli 105* sank that). Pattern: home/spin-favoured teams losing to clutch knocks. Accuracy: 27/56, climbing from 16/40 in late April.
All 74 Matches
Fixtures & Predictions
Not all matches are equal. We highlight the ones that matter most, the biggest mismatches, and where our model has the strongest opinions.
Head to Head
Who's more valuable: Bumrah or Kohli?
We simulated MI without Bumrah and RCB without Kohli. Bumrah costs MI roughly 16% playoff probability. Kohli costs RCB about 11%. Bumrah wins -- because MI's replacement bowler drops 50+ rating points, while RCB's replacement batter drops only about 20.
This tells us something important about T20 cricket: elite bowlers are rarer than elite batters. If Kohli misses a game, Salt (77) or Padikkal (44) step up. If Bumrah misses a game, MI's next bowler is rated in the 40s. The replacement gap is the whole story.
But don't take our word for it. Compare any two players yourself:
Select any two players above to compare their ratings
Unlock full access
Subscribe for free to get full scorecards, player comparisons, and all 74 match predictions.
Maybe later
This is The Data Drop #037. We build one data story every month.
IPL predictions, pop culture breakdowns, financial deep-dives. Free.
Explainer
What is a Monte Carlo simulation?
Imagine you could play the entire IPL season from scratch. All 74 matches, all the playoffs, all the way to the final. Now imagine doing that fifty thousand times.
That's what a Monte Carlo simulation does. Each time, it plays every match using our probability model. But because cricket has randomness (a dropped catch, a bad toss, a rain delay), the outcomes are slightly different every time.
In some simulations, MI win the title. In others, CSK. Sometimes a team that was 8th in the table gets hot in the playoffs and wins it all.
After 50,000 runs, we count the results. If GT won the title in 5,750 of those simulations, their title probability is 11.5%. If RCB made the playoffs in 24,700 runs, their playoff probability is 49.4%.
The more simulations you run, the more stable the probabilities become. At 50,000, the numbers barely change if you run it again.
Named after
The Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco. Scientists working on nuclear weapons in the 1940s needed a way to simulate complex systems with randomness. They named the technique after the famous casino because, like gambling, it relies on running many random trials to find probable outcomes.
Used by: weather forecasting, stock market modeling, NASA mission planning, and now IPL predictions.
