Top 5 MVP candidates to watch in IPL 2026

Year after year, the Indian Premier League (IPL) produces some excellent individual performances which accumulates the most points to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Taking over from the Player of the Series award in 2013, the MVP winners include some of the greatest T20 players across the world. 

Some of the players to be crowned as the MVP winner include the likes of Virat Kohli, Sunil Narine, Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes to name a few. 

Since its rebranding, Narine has won the honour the most times with three (2012, 2018 and 2024). His most recent accolade saw him secure 450 points, the most in the history of the tournament. 

Here are the five contenders for the 2026 Most Valuable Player award

5. Ishan Kishan – Sunrisers Hyderabad 

Ishan Kishan will enter the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) on the back of very successful months, both on the international and domestic fronts. The 27-year-old formed part of the India squad which lifted the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he scored 317 runs at a strike-rate of 193.29. He also led Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy title prior to the start of the World Cup.

Kishan left his long-standing relationship with Mumbai Indians and joined Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) last year. In his debut season for SRH, the left-handed batter scored 354 runs, including his maiden IPL century. Based on his form with the bat and the momentum he is carrying heading into the IPL, Kishan is a prime candidate to win the MVP honour this time around.

4. Marco Jansen – Punjab Kings

Marco Jansen is also coming into the IPL on the back of some impressive performances for his national team. The 25-year-old all-rounder took 11 wickets from just six games at the T20 World Cup.

Jansen played 14 games for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) last time around and took 16 wickets. The tall left-hander is also handy with the bat, possessing a strike-rate of 138.49 in T20 cricket and being quite valuable lower down the order. 

In the 18 years of the IPL, there has not been a South African MVP winner. Jansen, however, could be the first as he remains one of PBKS’ most important overseas players. 

3. Krunal Pandya – Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Despite being around the IPL for some years now, Krunal Pandya had a breakout season in 2025 with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as they won their maiden title. The Baroda all-rounder took 17 wickets from 15 games as one of their leading spinners. 

Pandya also scored 109 runs in the lower-middle order, including an unbeaten 73 off 47 balls against the Delhi Capitals to help his side secure a six-wicket victory.

Flying under the radar before the start of the 2026 IPL, should Pandya carry his form from last year, there is no doubts that the all-rounder could claim the MVP trophy.

2. Sunil Narine – Kolkata Knight Riders 

Arguably one of the greatest IPL players, Sunil Narine has the most MVP accolades in the tournament’s history with three, the most recent one coming in 2024 when Kolkata Knight Riders lifted their third IPL trophy.

Even after all these years, Narine still remains a threat with the ball. The West Indies spinner went on to pick 10 wickets from 12 games in the recently-concluded 2025-26 International League T20 (ILT20) at an economy rate of just 6.28. Despite playing just four games at the 2026 SA20, Narine bowled well to take four wickets at an economy rate of just 5.87.

1. Jasprit Bumrah – Mumbai Indians

It comes in with a bit of a surprise that Mumbai Indians (MI) star Jasprit Bumrah has never won the IPL MVP award. The 32-year-old, however, remains MI’s most important player as they look to win their first title since 2020. 

Bumrah has been a consistent performer for MI and India. The right-arm fast bowler took 18 wickets at an economy rate of just 6.67 in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup and was also the Player of the Final against New Zealand, where he took four wickets. 

It is about time that Bumrah gets recognised with the MVP award and based on his excellence with the ball in the past 12 months, this year could well be the one when the pace bowler gets the award he deserves the most.