Charles Darwin said, “It is neither the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent species that survives. It is that which is most adaptable to change.”
This principle also applies in cricket. From the era of Test cricket to 60 overs ODI cricket and now the era of Twenty20 cricket. Cricket has changed a lot. Due to the invention of franchise leagues, the ‘Gentleman’s Game’ has become a medium of mass entertainment.
At the end of the day amidst the glitter of lights, fireworks and firecrackers, what matters most is the result. The most consistent team takes the trophy and becomes the king of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are the most successful franchises in the league with 5 titles each. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have three. The teams were once dominant but are now struggling to reach the top four in the current season. Why?
Why the giants are faltering in IPL 2026: Reasons:
1. Fall of IPL giants: MI, CSK and KKR are losing their edge:
Why are the three giants of the league currently thriving in IPL 2026? In short, the answer is adaptability. This format is no longer limited to individual talents. To win a long-format tournament like the IPL, teams have to field a group of talented performers.
When Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings or Kolkata Knight Riders were at the top of the league, they had some brilliant players who could change the momentum of the match at any time. For example: MS Dhoni (CSK), Rohit Sharma (MI), and Rinku Singh (KKR). These are some such cricketers who gifted many victories to their franchises. Now, his teams are struggling.
The bowlers are performing more intelligently. The coach is well aware of the style of the opposing players. The emergence of Rinku Singh was a sensational example. The KKR batsman dominated for two consecutive seasons with his aggressive batting style. He is struggling. MI’s Suryakumar Yadav is struggling. Nowadays bowlers know who has to bowl where.
Wasim Jaffer has recently made an interesting comment. He asked Suryakumar Yadav to keep Plan B ready to get his form back. Here ‘Plan B’ is synonymous with embracing change.
2. Complete change in how the game is being played:
The impact player rule has had a significant impact on the league. Some people may support this rule, some may not, but there is no way to avoid it. Teams are responsible for playing according to the rules. This rule helps all IPL teams to make strategic changes while batting or bowling. Depending on the match situation, teams have the freedom to choose an influential player who is capable of taking the match away from the opponents. Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi are some of the most impressive batsmen of IPL 2026. These are all young, bidding talents. Youth now have a tremendous influence on IPL.
In 2007–08, during the beginning of the league, fans were crazy to see stars from different countries playing for the same team. Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Sanath Jayasuriya, Shane Watson and many other foreign stars came to play for Indian clubs for the first time along with their Indian rivals. Fans turned on their television screens to watch these stars play for their city’s teams.
The definition of ‘star’ has been changing. After Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, there is hardly anyone who can carry the tag of superstar.
3. New-age teams are playing a different brand of cricket – and it’s working:
Teams which understand the scenario in advance and take decisions in advance are now performing well in IPL 2026. Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Gujarat Titans (GT) are some of the teams that are performing well. PBKS is the best example of showcasing team play.
Without being a big name, he has developed his playing style in a significant way. RCB has Virat Kohli, but the team is not completely dependent on the batsman. In their victorious IPL season in 2025, the driving force behind the successful campaign was Virat along with captain Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt, Krunal Pandya, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and other players of the team.
In contrast, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have star power in the form of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen in the batting order, but they are still struggling to maintain the pace, as they are failing to perform as a unit.
Same goes for Mumbai Indians. Whenever they are in trouble, they need to rely on the stars – Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Santner. As a result, they are not at the bottom of the table.
KKR’s huge investment in Cameron Green instantly earned him the ‘star’ tag. Rinku Singh and Varun Chakraborty are also among the highlights of the team. Captain Ajinkya Rahane, Ramdeep Singh and Rovman Powell are all experienced campaigners. Like MI and CSK, KKR is also at the bottom of the IPL 2026 points table.
CSK made a complete makeover ahead of the IPL 2026 season. They secured the services of young players like Mhatre, Dewald Brewis, the fresh Sarfaraz Khan, the reliable Sanju Samson and a host of emerging, underrated bowlers. Slowly but surely, they are starting to get the desired results. They have defeated MI by a huge margin of 103 runs, this is a statement from the team.
4. Adapt or fade: What should MI, CSK and KKR do next:
Either adapt to the situation or welcome the harsh reality; These three giants have these two options. The formula for survival is simple: build a well-coordinated team with multiple emerging, new generation talents, and then trust the process.
CSK has adopted the process. The franchise, once known for relying on experienced candidates, is now turning to new talent. Ravindra Jadeja’s exit from the team is a sign of a new era for the team.
MI and KKR will have to accept the reality, or live only with the memories of those good old days.
Read more: Former KKR star names Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav as main culprits for MI’s poor performance in IPL 2026