Several former England cricketers have made their predictions ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, which is set to begin in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28. Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell, Sir Alastair Cook, and David Lloyd recently shared their title favourites for the marquee tournament.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India released the first phase of the IPL schedule. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the season opener. With just a few days left before the start of the tournament, fans are excited.
Mumbai Indians to Host KKR on Day 2 as CSK Begin Campaign on Monday
On the second day of IPL 2026, only one match is scheduled as Mumbai Indians take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium. Both teams will look to start strong in what promises to be a high-intensity contest early in the season.
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Chennai Super Kings will begin their campaign against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Monday. Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja are set to face their former team, adding extra intrigue to an already exciting opening clash.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) will start their season at home against Gujarat Titans (GT), while Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will host Delhi Capitals (DC) in the final match of the opening round. The first phase also features key clashes, including RCB vs CSK and MI vs RCB.
Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, Phil Tufnell, and David Lloyd Pick Their IPL 2026 Title Favourites
Speaking on The Overlap Cricket YouTube channel, Michael Vaughan backed Mumbai Indians to win the IPL 2026 title. Vaughan praised the Hardik Pandya-led team’s squad strength.
“I’ll throw the first name out there. Mumbai Indians are winning it this year. I’m going for them, they’ve got an incredible team,” Vaughan said.
Meanwhile, Sir Alastair Cook predicted that Royal Challengers Bengaluru will defend their crown under Andy Flower. Cook backed RCB to go back-to-back this season.
“I’m going RCB again, they’re going back-to-back. I’m trusting Flower’s army here,” Cook added.
However, Phil Tufnell disagreed and picked Chennai Super Kings as his favourites. David Lloyd also backed CSK, siding with Tufnell’s prediction. “Chennai for me, sorry Sir Alastair,” Tufnell said, while Lloyd added, “Super Kings.”
CSK, RCB and MI Emerge as Strong Title Contenders Ahead of IPL 2026
The Chennai Super Kings are strong title contenders every season due to their experience and composure under pressure. Their squad now includes wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, while the franchise continues to combine seasoned international players with talented Indian youngsters to maintain consistency.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru also look like a serious threat heading into the season. After winning the title last season, they have further strengthened their squad by adding players at the auction, including Venkatesh Iyer, Mangesh Yadav, and Jacob Duffy.
Mumbai Indians always demand respect in any title discussion due to their strong history in the tournament. With a core group of experienced players and a winning culture, Mumbai Indians remain a dangerous side capable of challenging any team this season.
Also read: PBKS spinner calls Virat Kohli his idol, makes bold dismissal claim ahead of IPL 2026
