R Ashwin snubs CSK while picking top four teams for IPL 2026

Spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed his predictions for the top four teams heading into the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), notably excluding his former franchise and five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK). His analysis follows the conclusion of the mini-auction held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, where the ten teams finalized their rosters. While the trading window remains technically open until the season begins, most squads are now considered set for the upcoming campaign.

R Ashwin picks top four teams for IPL 2026

Ashwin identified the Mumbai Indians as his primary contenders for the title. He lauded the Hardik Pandya-led side for maintaining a powerhouse core and making strategic trades to acquire Sherfane Rutherford, Mayank Markande, and Shardul Thakur. Despite entering the auction with the smallest remaining purse, Mumbai managed to secure Quinton de Kock at a bargain price, leading Ashwin to remark that the franchise successfully rebuilt a balanced squad reminiscent of their dominant 2020 championship team.

RCB, PBKS, RR, MI make the cut

For his second pick, Ashwin backed the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, to maintain their momentum. RCB, coming off their maiden IPL title win, focused on stability by retaining their championship core before the auction. Their most significant new addition was Venkatesh Iyer, who joined the squad for INR 7 crore. Ashwin also highlighted the signing of Jacob Duffy as a vital move, providing the team with a dependable backup for pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood.

Rounding out his predictions, Ravichandran Ashwin named the Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals as his final two contenders for the IPL 2026 title. The Punjab Kings, who finished as runners-up last season, entered the auction with a well-rounded squad and focused on adding specific tactical depth. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, the franchise successfully acquired the Australian duo of Cooper Connolly and Ben Dwarshuis to bolster their finishing capabilities and bowling variety.

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Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals underwent a revamp by trading away long-time captain Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings in exchange for star all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. At the mini-auction, the Royals made a massive splash by securing leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for INR 7.2 crore, while also adding experienced pace bowler Adam Milne and several promising uncapped players to their roster.

Ashwin shared these insights during a social media interaction with the Mumbai Indians, where he particularly praised MI's management for their efficiency. He noted that although Mumbai operated with a modest remaining budget of just INR 2.75 crore, they managed to sign multiple players—most notably Quinton de Kock—making them appear as though they had a much larger purse.