The IPL 2026 season may have been dominated by the record-breaking exploits of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, but several established stars also delivered standout campaigns that shaped the tournament’s narrative.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured back-to-back IPL titles after defeating Gujarat Titans in the final, with veteran batter Virat Kohli producing a decisive performance to claim the Player of the Match award in the title clash. Kohli once again played a crucial role in RCB’s championship run, providing consistency at the top and leadership in pressure situations.
For Gujarat Titans, South African pacer Kagiso Rabada enjoyed another exceptional season. Rabada finished with 29 wickets to secure the Purple Cap, overtaking RCB seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the final stages of the tournament. It marked Rabada’s second Purple Cap and highlighted his importance in GT’s run to the final.
Award | Winner |
| Champions | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Runners-up | Gujarat Titans |
| Orange Cap | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
| Purple Cap | Kagiso Rabada |
| Most Valuable Player (MVP) | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
| Emerging Player of the Season | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
| Super Striker of the Season | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
| Most Sixes | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
| Most Fours | Sai Sudharsan |
| Most Dot Balls | Mohammed Siraj |
| Best Catch of the Season | Manish Pandey |
| Fair Play Award | Punjab Kings |
| Player of the Match (Final) | Virat Kohli |
GT opener Sai Sudharsan also emerged as one of the season’s most reliable batters. Although he narrowly missed the Orange Cap race, Sudharsan finished among the leading run-scorers and won the On-the-Go Fours award after a campaign built on consistency and elegant strokeplay.
Another notable performer was Mohammed Siraj, who claimed the Green Dot Ball Award for maintaining relentless pressure with the ball throughout the season. Veteran batter Manish Pandey was recognized with the Catch of the Season award for his outstanding fielding effort.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings received the Fair Play Award, reflecting their discipline and on-field conduct across the tournament.
While Sooryavanshi grabbed most headlines, IPL 2026 also showcased the enduring brilliance of experienced performers and the growing depth of talent across franchises.
