Bangar, Pujara Call IPL 2026 Most Explosive Season Amid Batters’ Dominance

Former India cricketers Sanjay Bangar and Cheteshwar Pujara have described the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 as the “most explosive” season in the tournament’s history, citing unprecedented batting dominance and a surge in high-scoring encounters.

The 2026 edition has witnessed a remarkable spike in run-scoring, with aggressive batters such as Abhishek Sharma, Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Prabhsimran Singh consistently taking the attack to bowlers. Established names like Ishan Kishan and Devdutt Padikkal have also contributed to the trend, particularly during the Powerplay overs, where teams are increasingly prioritising rapid scoring from the outset.

This aggressive approach is reflected in the number of 200-plus totals recorded this season, which has already climbed to 36—nearly double the figures seen at a similar stage just a few years ago. The frequency of such totals indicates a clear shift in T20 batting philosophy, where high-risk, high-reward strategies are becoming the norm rather than the exception.

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The trend extends to successful run chases as well, with 11 totals above 200 already chased down this season. One of the standout moments came when Punjab Kings successfully pursued a daunting target of 265 against Delhi Capitals, underlining the diminishing psychological barrier associated with steep targets in modern T20 cricket.

Individual performances have further highlighted the explosive nature of the season. Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi share the joint-fastest fifties of the tournament, both reaching the milestone in just 15 balls. Sooryavanshi, in particular, has stood out by achieving this feat three times in the same season, alongside registering multiple big scores, including a century against a side led by Pat Cummins.

Bangar attributed the batting surge to a combination of fearless intent and improved playing conditions. He noted that strike rate has overtaken batting average as the primary metric in T20 cricket, with players focusing on maximising scoring opportunities from the first ball. He also credited high-quality pitches prepared under the supervision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which have enabled consistent bounce and carry, encouraging attacking stroke play across venues.

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