IPL 2026: 5 most dramatic comeback wins of the season

The Indian Premier League 2026 concluded with Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifting the coveted trophy for the second time in franchise history. The season was packed with thrilling encounters, last-over finishes, and remarkable turnarounds that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Several teams found themselves in seemingly impossible situations before producing stunning comebacks, either with the bat or the ball.

Here are five of the most dramatic comebacks from IPL 2026:

1. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants – Match 15

One of the most thrilling run chases of the season came at Eden Gardens when Lucknow Super Giants defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets on the final ball of the match. Batting first, KKR posted a competitive total of 181/4 in 20 overs. Angkrish Raghuvanshi played a vital role with a well-made 45 off 33 balls, while the rest of the batting unit contributed valuable runs. LSG’s bowling attack kept things under control, with four bowlers claiming a wicket each.

The chase looked difficult when Lucknow lost wickets at crucial intervals. However, Ayush Badoni anchored the innings brilliantly with 54 off 34 balls before Mukul Choudhary took charge in the death overs. His unbeaten 54 from just 27 deliveries transformed the contest. Despite strong efforts from Vaibhav Arora (2/38) and Anukul Roy (2/32), KKR could not defend the target as LSG crossed the line on the final delivery, completing one of the most dramatic comebacks of the season.

2. Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans – Match 14

The clash between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium produced one of the closest finishes in IPL history, with Gujarat winning by just one run. GT piled up an imposing 210/4 thanks to Shubman Gill’s 70 off 45 balls, Jos Buttler’s explosive 52 off 27, and Washington Sundar’s valuable 55 off 32. Mukesh Kumar was the pick of the Delhi bowlers with figures of 2/55.

In response, Delhi appeared to be out of the contest before KL Rahul played a magnificent knock of 92 from 52 balls to revive the chase. The Capitals continued to fight till the very end and entered the final over needing 13 runs. The equation eventually came down to two runs required off the last ball with David Miller and Kuldeep Yadav at the crease. Miller failed to connect properly, and although a run was possible, Kuldeep hesitated before setting off. The resulting run-out handed Gujarat a dramatic one-run victory. Rashid Khan’s exceptional spell of 3/17 proved decisive in the Titans’ comeback.

3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians – Match 54

Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced a sensational late surge against Mumbai Indians in Match 54. Mumbai Indians managed 166/7 after being asked to bat first. Tilak Varma top-scored with 57 off 42 balls, while veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar starred for RCB with remarkable figures of 4/23.

RCB’s chase was far from smooth as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Krunal Pandya held the innings together with a fighting 73 off 46 deliveries, but Bengaluru still needed 15 runs from the final over. With pressure mounting, Bhuvneshwar Kumar unexpectedly emerged as the hero. His crucial six on the fourth ball shifted momentum towards RCB. The match eventually came down to the final delivery, where Rasikh Salam Dar scampered through for the winning runs, sealing a memorable last-ball victory and completing a stunning comeback.

4. Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals – Match 9

Rajasthan Royals showcased tremendous composure to defend a challenging target against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. RR posted 210/6, powered by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 55 off 36 balls and Dhruv Jurel’s outstanding 75 off 42 deliveries. Kagiso Rabada was the standout GT bowler with figures of 2/42.

During the chase, Gujarat looked out of contention when they were seven wickets down and still needed 50 runs from the final five overs. However, Rashid Khan and Rabada launched a fierce counterattack that brought the equation down to 15 runs from 12 balls. Entering the final over, GT required 11 runs with momentum on their side. Tushar Deshpande, however, held his nerve brilliantly, delivering a match-winning over and restricting Gujarat to 204/8.

5. Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals – Match 55

Delhi Capitals scripted a remarkable turnaround against Punjab Kings in Match 55. Punjab posted a formidable 210/5, with Priyansh Arya scoring 56 off 33 balls and captain Shreyas Iyer remaining unbeaten on 59 from 36 deliveries. Mitchell Starc and Madhav Tiwari picked up two wickets each for Delhi.

The Capitals suffered an early collapse, losing three wickets inside the powerplay. However, Axar Patel’s aggressive 56 off 30 balls and David Miller’s 51 off 28 revived the chase. Even then, Delhi needed 53 runs from the final four overs. Madhav Tiwari and Ashutosh Sharma produced a fearless partnership, steadily reducing the target before accelerating at the perfect moment. Their calculated assault brought the equation down rapidly, and Delhi completed the chase with an over to spare.