It was yet another blockbuster season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully defending their title.
Speaking of players, some superstars carried momentum from 2025 straight into the new year, but nothing is certain in the game of cricket. Several players who dominated the charts last season found themselves struggling for form, rhythm, and runs this time around.
From batting slumps to expensive bowling spells, here are 5 players who were absolute match-winners in IPL 2025 but flopped this season.
IPL 2026: 5 players who could not repeat their 2025 success:
Suryakumar Yadav
India’s former T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav has had a miserable IPL 2025 for Mumbai Indians (MI). The right-hander only scored 270 runs at a decent strike rate of 147.54. His poor form reflected in MI’s overall season too, as they finished ninth in the points table.
In the 2025 edition on the other hand, Suryakumar had one of the best IPL seasons for any middle-order batter ever. He had scored 717 runs with a stunning strike rate of 167.92. For these numbers, he was also recognised as Most Valuable Player of that season. So, overall, it was a forgettable outing for him in IPL 2026.
