The 2026 season of the Indian Premier League is raising a key question. Are teams picking players based on reputation instead of performance?
Every year, franchises spend huge money in auctions. However, this season shows a different story. Many expensive picks are not delivering results on the field.
Players like Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav and Kartik Tyagi came with high expectations. So far, their performances have not matched their price or reputation.
At the same time, some low-cost players are doing well quietly. Tim David is finishing games strongly. Priyansh Arya is scoring crucial runs. Quinton de Kock is providing solid starts. This clearly shows that performance matters more than price.
The best example is Shreyas Iyer. In 2024, he led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title. He was released after that season.
In 2025, he joined Punjab Kings as captain and took them to the final. Now in 2026, Punjab is at the top of the table and remains unbeaten.
This situation highlights a clear issue. Teams often talk about data and analysis, but their decisions do not always reflect it. Big names continue to get chances even when their form is poor.
In T20 cricket, things change quickly. Only current performance matters. Right now, it seems teams are picking reputation, but matches are being won by performance.
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