Former India and Chennai Super Kings batter Subramaniam Badrinath has unveiled his ideal playing XII for the league stage of IPL 2026, sparking debate by omitting superstars Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. In a video on his YouTube channel, Badrinath selected young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to open alongside Shubman Gill, prioritizing emerging talent over established names.
Team Composition and Strategy
Badrinath's lineup largely drew from the top four playoff-qualifying teams, with nine of the twelve players coming from those squads. He opted for an Indian-heavy batting order, relying on overseas stars primarily in the bowling department—a structure mirrored by many IPL franchises. At number three, he placed Sai Sudharsan, while Heinrich Klaasen was chosen as the middle-order powerhouse. Rajat Patidar earned the finisher's role due to his impressive strike rate and ability to accelerate under pressure, despite not being among the tournament's top run-scorers.
Bowling and All-Round Focus
Badrinath's lower order leaned heavily on bowlers and all-rounders. He included spin all-rounders Krunal Pandya and Sunil Narine for their wicket-taking abilities and economical spells. A notable omission was Rashid Khan, despite his strong wicket tally; Badrinath appeared to value economy rate and control over raw wicket numbers. The pace attack featured the tournament's leading wicket-takers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jofra Archer, and Kagiso Rabada. He also added either Prince Yadav or Kartik Tyagi as an extra pace option, with Akeal Hosein selected as the Impact Player.
Full Playing XII
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Heinrich Klaasen, Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, Sunil Narine, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jofra Archer, Kagiso Rabada, Prince Yadav/Kartik Tyagi.
Stay updated with the upcoming IPL match between RCB and GT and the latest IPL news on Times of India. Follow the IPL schedule and track the race for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
