TOI presents IPL 2026 Pre-Season Dream XI to challenge under Suryakumar Yadav. The World Cup winning team.With four foreign players and core Indian talent, the TOI XI combines explosive powerplay hitters, a versatile middle order and versatile bowlers:Phil Salt (RCB; Overseas) Gets Travis Head out. Salt has been instrumental in the last two IPL champions (RCB in 2025 and KKR in 2024) winning the title. The England batsman has one of the best powerplay numbers. IPL Matches: 34, Runs: 1056, Ave: 34.06, 100s/50s: 0/10, SR: 175.7Yashaswi Jaiswal (RR) Control brings aggression. Has the rare ability to accelerate without recklessness. M: 67, Runs: 2166, Ave: 34.38, 100s/50s: 2/15, SR: 152.8Shreyas Iyer (c) (PBKS) Proven IPL leader and middle order stabilizer. Adds tactical clarity when handling matchups. M: 133, Runs: 3731, Ave: 34.23, 100s/50s: 0/27, SR: 133.3Nicolas Pourn (LSG; overseas) The Trinidadian dropped Henrik Klaasen for one key reason – the big left-hander in the middle order. Ability to complete in stages. A real game breaker against India’s death specialists like Bumrah and Arsdeep. M: 90, Runs: 2293, Ave: 34.22, 100s/50s: 0/14, SR: 168.9Ryan Prague (RR) Pips Nitish Reddy on maturity and character definition. The form of the IPL has improved recently. Provides unconventional off-spin balance. M: 84, Runs: 1566, Ave: 26.10, 100s/50s: 0/7, SR: 141.8Jitesh Sharma (Saturday) (RCB) Modern T20 wicketkeeper – fearless, quick between the wickets, devastating at the death. Dangerous lower middle order weapon. M: 55, Runs: 991, Ave: 25.41, 100s/50s: 0/1, SR: 157Sunil Narine (KKR; Overseas) Rashid Khan, one of the best spinners in T20, was dropped due to his dual impact. The Trinidadian has unparalleled versatility as a power hitter and mystery spinner. M: 189, Runs: 1780, Ave: 17.62, 100s/50s: 1/7, SR: 166.5, Wkts: 192, ER: 6.7Krunal Pandya (RCB) Thrives under pressure. Accelerating the left arm spin can force the right arm to center. The lower-order strike provides depth. M: 142, Runs: 1756, Ave: 22.22, 100s/50s: 0/2, SR: 132.4, Wkts: 93, ER: 7.4Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB) Power play expert. Swing bowling remains the elite standard. Brings an assortment of experience and delivery. M: 190, Wkts: 198, Ave: 27.33, SR: 21.3, ER: 7.6, 4w/5w: 2/2Khalil Ahmed (CSK) A reliable left-arm seamer, especially in the powerplay. Moves the ball across the right hand side. Paired with Bhuvi’s swing bowling, India’s swashbuckling top order could provide a challenge or two. M: 71, Wkts: 89, Ave: 26.15, SR: 17.4, ER: 8.9, 4w/5w: 0/0Josh Hazlewood (RCB; overseas) Dropped Marco Johnson for control and big-match reliability. Tight lengths and variations can neutralize India’s power hitters. However, if Hazlewood is unable to regain full fitness, Johnson moves on. M: 39, Wkts: 57, Ave: 20.9, SR: 15.2, ER: 8.2, 4w/5w: 2/0Effect Subs: Vibhu Suryavanshi (RR), Ashutosh Sharma (DC), Mohammad Shami (LSG), Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS).India’s ICC T20 WC winning squad:
- Sanju Samson (wk; IPL Team CSK), Abhishek Sharma (SRH), Ishan Kishan (SRH),
Surya Kumar Yadav (c; MI), Rinku Singh (KKR), Akshar Patel (DC), Shiv Dubey (CSK),Hardik Pandya (MI), Tilak Verma (MI), Washington Sundar (GT), Arsdeep Singh (PBKS), Jasprit Bumrah (MI), Mohammad Siraj (GT), Kuldeep Yadav (DC), Varun Chakraborty (KKR).
