IPL 2026: Ranking all teams based on their spin attack

The subcontinent's conditions are historically known to favour spin bowlers, and the Indian Premier League has produced its fair share of spinners. It is a competition where quality spinners have dictated the flow of games, tightening screws on batting teams and taking key wickets to halt batting teams’ progress.

For the unversed, four out of the top five highest wicket-takers in the league are spinners, which reflects the dominance they hold in the marquee tournament. Spin bowling works in tandem, and having multiple solid spinners has always been beneficial for teams in the upcoming 2026 season of the cash-rich tournament as well.

Here's ranking of all IPL 2026 teams based on their spinners

10 - Lucknow Super Giants

The Lucknow Super Giants find themselves very short on depth of quality spinners. While mystery spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi was a revelation last season, their only other domestic options include M Siddharth of Tamil Nadu, who has shown promise whenever he has played for the Lucknow team, and handy all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed, who is another left-arm spinner.

LSG added Wanindu Hasaranga to their ranks in the auction, but he missed the T20 World Cup after picking up an injury in the first game and has always had fitness concerns. Aiden Markram has evolved into a genuine threat as an off-spinner, and there are chances that he might have to take the ball whenever necessary.

9 - Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad are a bit better stacked in terms of depth, but the options lack significant IPL experience. Liam Livingstone is their most experienced bowler, who is himself used more as a utility option than a frontline spinner. Vidharba’s Harsh Dubey is an experienced player in the domestic circuit, while Zeeshan Ansari of Uttar Pradesh has already played for SRH in 2025.

Sunrisers picked up promising left-arm wrist-spinner Krains Fuletra, who is an inexperienced option, along with Jharkhand leg-spinner Amit Kumar. They also have the bowling of Abhishek Sharma, Kamindu Mendis and Travis Head to fall back on if necessary.

8 - Chennai Super Kings

It is atypical of Chennai Super Kings to have a poor auction, but it is evident from their purchases that they have struggled to replenish their spin options. Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal comes in as the domestic player with experience. Prashant Veer was signed for big money as an inexperienced domestic player to replace the skillset of the departing Ravindra Jadeja, and Rahul Chahar was added as another experienced option.

Noor Ahmad, one of CSK’s top performers from the dismal 2025 run, is still expected to be the frontline spinner, and he is joined by Akeal Hossein, who is a regular for the Super Kings franchises outside India, and is West Indies’ lead spinner in T20Is. Finding the right combinations becomes key for Chennai Super Kings if they are to succeed this season.

7 - Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings look to be very clear with the types and the roles of the spinner that they select. Yuzvendra Chahal is still their frontline bowler and remains a genuine wicket-taker in the tournament. Supporting him ably is Harpreet Brar, who is reliable with his left-arm spin.

Punjab have Karnataka’s Pravin Dubey as the backup leg-spinner and picked up Australian prospect Cooper Connolly, who bowls left-arm spin and has shone in the BBL as a genuine all-rounder. They have also added Vishal Nishad, a mystery spinner who shone in the 2025 UP T20 League.

6 - Royal Challengers Bengaluru

One of the key facets of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning season last year was their spin duo of Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma being able to bowl in tandem. RCB have shown faith in the pair, keeping them as the mainstays and signing multiple depth options around the pair, although lacking variety.

Vicky Otswal, Swapnil Singh and Satvik Deswal come in as depth options as left-arm spinners, while 2026 U-19 World Cup winners Kanishk Chauhan and Vihaan Malhotra come in as highly rated all-rounder prospects, adding variety with their off-breaks. There is also the option of England’s Jacob Bethell as another left-arm spinner.

5 - Rajasthan Royals

The Royals’ spin attack was heavily bolstered by the trade of Ravindra Jadeja, whom they received from the Chennai Super Kings in a trade for Sanju Samson. The left-armer returns to Rajasthan, and along with him comes Ravi Bishnoi, who was picked up in the auction, to form a solid spin attack for the 2008 champions.

They have also picked up Kerala’s Vignesh Puthur, who bowled with great promise for the Mumbai Indians last season, and Karnataka’s Yash Raj Punja, who has been in the wickets in the Maharaja Trophy. They also have the off-spin of Donovan Ferreira as an option, whom they traded in from the Delhi Capitals in exchange for Nitish Rana.

4 - Kolkata Knight Riders

One department where the Kolkata Knight Riders still stand strong is when it comes to spinners. The ever-reliable duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy are still going strong for the Kolkata team, with Anukul Roy providing solid backup, coming off a stellar run in the Syed Mushtaq Al Trophy for a victorious Jharkhand side.

Rachin Ravindra shone in the T20 World Cup with his bowling, picking up 12 wickets for New Zealand and is a reliable option for KKR as well. They have also added Maharashtra’s Prashant Solanki as a leg-spin option, which provides variety to their attack.

3 - Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals find themselves with reliable options and enough variety in their side. Captain Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav have formed a sort of deadly duo for the Delhi Capitals. The pair bowls in tandem to control runs, outfox batters and pick up key wickets.

To that, they added the leg spin of Vipraj Nigam, who adds variety with his leg breaks and googlies. They have also added promising off-spinner Tripurna Vijay from Andhra to their squad. Tristan Stubbs also bowls handy off-spin and has been reliable with the ball.

2 - Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians struggled in the previous mega-auction cycle due to the lack of solid spinners, and the emphasis has clearly shifted. The five-time winners have a core of overseas spinners, with Indian backups. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner is the de facto lead spinner, with the return of Afghan mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar, who missed last season through injury. 

Will Jacks was used last season as a match-up off-spinner against left-handers and is expected to continue to do so after profound success for England in the recently concluded T20 World Cup with the ball. They have brought back leg-spinner Mayank Markande, who was previously with the team, and have the experienced Punjab leg-spinner Raghu Sharma in their ranks.

1 - Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans find themselves with a wealth of spinners, quality starters and impressive backups. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan leads their attack, ably backed up by Tamil Nadu’s Sai Kishore’s left-arm-spin. Washington Sundar, with his off-breaks, becomes another handy frontline option.

Along with them, GT have great backups in left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and the experienced Jayant Yadav. Glenn Phillips also provides an option, having developed as a genuine off-spinner.