New Chandigarh: At some point in the IPL 2026 season, the middle overs stopped making a difference. The death overs still create their own theater but an increasing number of games this season have been decided in the first six overs. Two powerplays, therefore, have become the most productive part of a match.Punjab Kings Assistant Coach Brad Haden Watching this change from close quarters. “What we are seeing is a trend throughout the tournament and how impressive the top teams have been in the first six overs,” he said. “It is very difficult to stop teams from the way they are playing in the first six overs. That is why the powerplay is becoming decisive and many games are being decided within two powerplays in two innings.
“You’ve obviously got a substitute to come in so you can figure out if it’s an extra batsman, which can make your top order more difficult than it has been in the past,” Hayden said.The presence of this extra batsman has changed the intent. Risk is no longer optional or a gamble, it is a directive. For bowlers and coaches, it has started a constant search for a barrier. “From a coach’s perspective, you’ve got to keep trying to find ways you can slow down the scoring,” Hayden said. “It can be about taking wickets. It can be about getting the batsman to hit you in the area where you want to hit him.“Rajasthan Royals Fast bowler Sandeep Sharma echoed the sentiment. He said that power plays are becoming so important that most matches are decided in the early stages of both innings.What makes this shift particularly striking is the consistency with which teams are executing it. It is no longer about one or two parties redefining the tempo. This is a tournament-wide trend. “The first six overs have turned into a decisive phase in this tournament, with teams consistently performing well and making it difficult for the bowlers to respond,” Sharma added.
