IPL 2026: 5 players who couldn’t repeat their IPL 2025 success

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.

Nicholas Pooran

The dashing left-hander, Nicholas Pooran had a poor season for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026. He was their biggest hope in this season, and with him failing badly, they had a miserable outing as a team, finishing tenth in the points table. 

Pooran only managed to score 234 runs in 14 matches at a poor strike rate of 127.87. When compared to his IPL 2025 season, these were staggeringly poor numbers. In 2025, he was one of the best batters of the season, smashing 524 runs with a stunning strike rate of 196.25.

Jasprit Bumrah

Arguably the best fast bowler in the world, Jasprit Bumrah had a horror IPL 2026 for Mumbai Indians. The right-arm pacer only managed to pick up four wickets with an economy rate of 8.37.

Though his economy rate remained good, it was his poor wickets column that hurt MI more this season. On the other hand, in 2025 he was at his best, where he took 18 wickets at an economy rate of 6.68.

Dewald Brevis

Dewald Brevis entered IPL 2026 as one of the most exciting batters in the league with his attacking style of batting. In contrast to that, Brevis had a poor season for the five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings. He only scored 151 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 127.97.

On the other hand, he was one of the best batters of IPL 2025 despite coming in as a replacement player. Brevis had scored 225 runs in six matches at a stunning strike rate of 180.

Arshdeep Singh

The left-arm pacer from Punjab had a disastrous IPL 2026. Arshdeep Singh remains one of India’s premier wicket-takers in the shortest format of the game, and is a capable death overs bowler too. But this season, he had a disappointing season for the Punjab Kings, and that became one of the reasons for their lacklustre performance in the second half of the league.

He picked up 14 wickets at an economy rate of 10.21 in IPL 2026, and these numbers were nowhere near his numbers in the 2025 edition where PBKS finished as runners-up. In last year’s edition, he had picked up 21 wickets at an economy rate of 8.88. Arshdeep also was involved in some off field controversies this season.