IPL 2026 Mid-Season Report: Worst Performing Batter from Each Team So Far

The IPL 2026 is inching towards the mid-way mark, as 31 matches have been completed. The competition will be even more intense in the second half as the top teams will look to continue their dominance, while the teams languishing at the bottom of the points table will be fighting to survive.

From every team, there have been certain standout performers in this first half. While most of the performers have stood out in good ways, the same cannot be said for some of the others. In this article, we will take a look at the worst-performing batter from each team in IPL 2026 so far.

Worst Performing Batter from Each IPL 2026 Team So Far

CSK - Ruturaj Gaikwad

CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has not been having a nice time at all in the tournament. Under his leadership, his team sits at No. 8 on the points table and is struggling for momentum and form.

CSK have also had injuries to key players at the worst possible time, so captain Gaikwad has his work cut out for him. Unfortunately for him, Gaikwad has not been able to mask his team's dismal performance with individual brilliance of his own.

In 6 matches, Gaikwad has made just 82 runs at an average of 13.67 and a strike rate of 112.32 with a highest score of 28. In 3 matches out of 6, he was unable to make it to double digits.

MI - Suryakumar Yadav

Over the last 15 months, India's T20I skipper came under severe scrutiny for his waning form in T20 internationals. SKY redeemed himself with a fantastic IPL 2025, where he made over 700 runs, but the dismal returns continued internationally.

There was a brief period where he found some form, against New Zealand in the T20I series, but that proved to be a flash in the pan. SKY managed to lead India to a T20 World Cup trophy, but his form with the bat wasn't much to write home about.

There are a few concerning signs as this dismal run has made its way to IPL 2026 as well. In 6 matches this year, he has made just 151 runs at an average of 20.17. SKY took on the MI captaincy for one match this year and made a half-century, but everything on either side has not been good.

A strike rate of 151.25 suggests that SKY is scoring really quickly, but he isn't able to stay in long enough for those quick starts to be able to have a real impact.

LSG - Nicholas Pooran

Over the last two years, Nicholas Pooran smashed bowlers all around the world to firmly establish himself as the best T20 batter in the world. In 2025, Pooran retired from international cricket altogether and somehow hasn't been the same force since.

In IPL 2026, Pooran's form has hit an all-time low, and he is completely unrecognizable from his former self. In six innings, Pooran has just 51 runs at an average of 8.5 and a strike rate of around 80. His highest score in this ordeal has been just 19, and in 4 innings out of 6, he was out in single digits. No other batter in IPL 2026 has been out in the single digits more than Pooran.

PBKS - Nehal Wadhera

In IPL 2025, Wadhera was a mainstay at the back of Punjab Kings' innings, powering their late-over surge. But this year, that surge has been missing.

Wadhera has mostly been batting at the back end of the innings, but the results haven't come. In 4 innings, he has just 40 runs at a strike rate of 111.11. Although PBKS are currently unbeaten, that may not be the case for long if Wadhera fails to fire.

RCB - Jitesh Sharma

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have continued with the same batting firepower that delivered them the title last year. In 2025, Jitesh Sharma's exploits at the back end supplemented RCB's aggressive approach, but in IPL 2026, that has been missing.

This year, the wicket-keeper has made just 52 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate of 110.63 and an average of 10.40. RCB are currently second on the points table, but Jitesh's inability to tee off at the death pretty much cost them their most recent match against Delhi Capitals.

KKR - Finn Allen

After Finn Allen had a roaring T20 World Cup, it was expected that he would bring that swashbuckling form to IPL 2026. Alas, it was not meant to be.

While Allen has struck at 192.85 in IPL 2026, he has only made 81 runs in five innings. Despite being in good hitting form, Allen has been unable to stay long and make any real impact. These dismal returns have even forced KKR to drop him midway through the tournament.

SRH - Salil Arora

Across the last three matches, SRH's interim captain Ishan Kishan selflessly gave up the wicketkeeping gloves and handed them to Arora. But Arora has been unable to have a real impact with the bat.

In five innings, he has made 55 runs at a strike rate of 137.50 and an average of 13.75. Arora has mostly been batting in the lower order and hasn't created much of an impact at the backend.

GT - Shah Rukh Khan

Gujarat Titans' batting has been admonished throughout the tournament for being overdependent on their top three. And rightly so.

Among the names that have rendered GT's middle order an unserious force is M Sharukh Khan. In IPL 2026, he has made just 35 runs in 4 innings at an average of 11.67 and a strike rate of 140. His highest score so far has been just 17, and he has not had a real impact with the bat.

DC - Nitish Rana

Rana had been traded in from the Rajasthan Royals before this season, but could not justify his selection in the playing XII.

Rana played DC's first three matches of IPL 2026 but sat out the next two before returning for the sixth match. In all, he has played only 4 matches out of 6 and made just 77 runs with a high score of 57. Overall, he has averaged 19.25 at a strike rate of 137.50

RR - Shimron Hetmyer

Last year, Hetmyer came under fire for his inability to finish close chases far too often. These losses left RR reeling at ninth on the points table.

This year, Hetmyer has been unable to perform at his best as a finisher. In 4 innings, he has 39 runs at an average of 13 and a strike rate of 114.70. His highest score in these four innings has been just 18.

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