Veteran leg spinner and IPL legend Amit Mishra He shared his early predictions for the 2026 season, specifically leaving the five-time champions out of the top contenders. Speaking on the latest episode of MensXP’s YouTube podcast, the former India international identified five teams he believes will dominate the upcoming season following a high-priced mini-auction in Abu Dhabi where several franchises overhauled their rosters.
Amit Mishra picks IPL 2026 semi-finalists
During a candid discussion, Mishra was asked to pick the teams most likely to make it to the playoffs for the 19th edition of the league. Without hesitation, he narrowed the field down to five specific franchises, citing recent squad depth and tactical acquisitions. He went with Mishra Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians (MI), SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH)and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He also added Gujarat Titans (GT) to the list.
“KKR, MI, SRH, RCB and GT. I think four of these five will make the playoffs.” Mishra said during the podcast.
Mishra’s predictions seem to have been influenced by the aggressive recruitment strategies seen in the last auction. KKR secured the Australian star Cameron Green for a record ₹ 25.20 crore, marking a major shift in their mid-range strength. Likewise, RCB brought Venkatesh Iyer to strengthen their local cores. SRH has strengthened its squad by adding Liam Livingstone. MI focused on “homecoming” and stability. They brought it back Quinton de Kock just ₹1 crore to partner – a huge steal Rohit Sharma.
Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Squads of all 10 teams after the bidding event
There is no place for Chennai Super Kings in Mishra’s prediction
While Mishra did not make it clear why he was leaving the five-time champions, his comments come at a time when CSK is undergoing a significant “youth overhaul”. Mishra’s opposition to CSK is likely due to their high-risk strategy. As they landed Sanju Samson In a blockbuster trade, they lost their cornerstone player Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals. CSK spent ₹28.40 crore on just two players: Prashant Veer and Karthik Sharma. Analysts claim this by allowing it Matheesha Pathirana Go KKR, CSK have a huge gap in their death bowling that hasn’t been fully addressed by the new signing. Matt Henry.
Also READ: Ravichandran Ashwin predicts IPL 2026 semi-finalists after mini auction
