Stars without Success – The untold Story of IPL 2026

 

Seven IPL teams have at least one Indian player who was part of the victorious Indian squad that won the T20 World Cup 2026. Interestingly, three teams did not have even one player from the victorious Indian team, namely:

1. RCB
2. LSG
3. RR

Among these three, LSG are the bottom huggers, RCB are the table toppers, and RR can still qualify. What this proves is that in the IPL, it is not merely Indian stars but team composition that matters. RCB are proving that even without present Indian superstars from the World Cup-winning squad, a team can still do exceptionally well. RR, meanwhile, have terrific talent in Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal and might still qualify for the playoffs.

Mumbai Indians (MI): The most puzzling case is that of MI. They had the best Indian world cup winning players,  Surya, Tilak (batters), Bumrah (the best pace bowler in the world), and Hardik (all-rounder), yet they are already eliminated. Just imagine having nearly half the World Cup winning team and still getting knocked out!

Hardik’s form has dipped, and he does not seem to be on the best of terms with the team management and some of his yellow-star teammates. The dip in Surya’s form is also alarming, and he may have to retire in the near future, at least from the T20I format.

Indian World Cup Winners in MI:  Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and  Jasprit Bumrah – (4)

Delhi Capitals (DC): DC did not have a great season, and it might be difficult for them to qualify. Their team composition seems to be suffering, and they do not possess the batting firepower required in the modern slam-bang IPL style of cricket.

In a team devoid of explosive batting stars, there is hardly any chance for bowlers like Axar and Kuldeep to shine consistently. They may once again fail to qualify for the playoffs, and the IPL trophy could elude them for the 19th time.

Indian World Cup Winners in DC, Axar Patel  and Kuldeep Yadav – (2)

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): SRH are extremely lucky to have Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan from the World Cup-winning team. Add Travis Head and Klaasen to the mix, and SRH possess the most explosive batting line-up in IPL 2026.

If Abhishek and Head can put their heads down and bat sensibly, with Cummins returning and Eshan Malinga along with the rookie fast bowlers doing well, SRH could go all the way. They need a little bit of luck, and this could still be SRH’s year.

Just wait for a day when all the top four click together, and we could be looking at a 270+ score. But the real surprise is how well SRH’s Achilles’ heel is performing. SRH’s bowling has always been ridiculed, but this year the bowlers are finally coming to the party. Against CSK, it was the bowlers who restricted the opposition to 180, which SRH later overhauled, not easily, but effectively.

Indian World Cup Winners in SRH, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan (2)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK): CSK’s 2026 campaign has been hampered by the continuous chatter surrounding Dhoni. The talisman who carried CSK for 18 years has ironically become the team’s biggest weakness this season. The constant debate over whether Dhoni will play or not seems to have affected everyone in the CSK camp.

Even two explosive players like Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube have not been able to stem the rot. Ruturaj has proved to be an insipid leader, and the famous “Whistle Podu” spirit seems absent this year. The whistle simply refuses to blow.

Fleming says the team is in transition, but that sounds more like false bravado. It is almost confirmed that Dhoni will retire after this season, and the CSK management should answer its fans as to why commercial interests outweighed the team’s interests.

If CSK had let go of Dhoni last year, maybe it would have hurt financially, but perhaps the team would have performed better. Dhoni is not merely a wicketkeeper-batsman and leader; he is an institution. The void created by his fading presence has proved too deep to overcome. CSK might not qualify for the playoffs.

Indian World Cup Winners in CSK. Sanju Samson and  Shivam Dube – (2)

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):  Varun’s mystery has been cracked, and Rinku’s blow-hot, blow-cold form has not helped either. Rahane has been a total flop and might find himself back in the bidding pool next year.

He could face the same ignominy suffered by David Warner,  captain one season, thrown into obscurity the next. For players like Rahane, the sell-by date appears to have already expired. It was a bad decision by  KKR to retain him as both player and captain. A costly mistake. KKR might not qualify for the playoffs.

Indian World Cup Winners in KKR, Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy – (2)

Gujarat Titans (GT): The surprise team this year has been GT. They started slowly but have shaped up magnificently. Shubman Gill is playing well and leading from the front, ably supported by Sai Sudharsan. The bowling unit also looks solid, with Rabada, Siraj, and Rashid Khan firing on all cylinders.

Washington Sundar is lucky to be in such company. So far, his performance with the bat has been good, though he may still get opportunities to prove his worth as a bowler. GT, along with SRH and RCB, look like the strongest contenders to win IPL 2026. Mohammed Siraj has been a revelation and, along with Rabada, forms perhaps the best pace duo among all IPL teams.

Indian World Cup Winners in GT, Washington Sundar  and Mohammed Siraj – (2)

Punjab Kings (PBKS): What do we say about PBKS? They have been the biggest enigma this year. After winning six matches and collecting 13 points out of a possible 14 from their first seven games, some even predicted they would win all 14 matches. But how the mighty have fallen.

After losing six on the trot, they may now not even qualify for the playoffs. PBKS have deservedly been receiving bad press. There have been accusations of indiscipline within the squad, especially against Prabhsimran. He has been accused of not practising enough and not giving his best. These allegations appear to have negatively affected team morale.

The cocky antics of Shreyas Iyer have also not gone down well. He seems to have taken his non-selection very badly, and his leadership appears to be faltering.

Most disappointing, however, has been the behaviour of Arshdeep Singh. His aggressive sledging of teammates and his insensitive comments about Tilak Varma have outraged Indian cricket fans.

Arshdeep Singh must understand that he is a senior Indian player and that he will continue to play alongside Tilak Varma in the future. Publicly targeting a fellow Indian player in such a manner was unnecessary and avoidable. Even now, a public apology would help heal matters. Punjabis themselves have historically faced prejudice, and Arshdeep should understand how hurtful such comments can be.

Indian World Cup Winner  in PBKS, Arshdeep Singh – (1)

Conclusion: All IPL stars must understand that once the IPL ends, they will return to their respective state teams and eventually the Indian national side. Let there not be deep divisions like those seen in certain European football leagues, where club loyalty sometimes appears greater than national loyalty.

The former Liverpool manager once remarked rather condescendingly: “I have to let go of my players so they can play in a small tournament in Africa.” The tournament he referred to was the Africa Cup of Nations, one of the most passionately followed football tournaments on the continent.

Let the IPL feed and strengthen Indian cricket, not become the reason for weakening it at its roots.

IPL Captains and Their Fate After This Year’s IPL

1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Ruturaj Gaikwad might retain his captaincy, but personally I would prefer Sanju Samson as captain. Sanju has the aggression, modern mindset, and natural flair that CSK currently seem to lack. Ruturaj appears too calm and understated for a side that desperately needs fresh energy.

2. Delhi Capitals (DC): Axar Patel may not have had a great season as captain, but K.L. Rahul himself had a poor season too. My guess is that Axar might be given another chance. DC do not have too many strong leadership alternatives, and changing captains repeatedly has never really helped them. Axar at least brings stability and calmness, even if the results were disappointing.

3. Gujarat Titans (GT): Shubman Gill has been exceptional. He will definitely remain captain. He has matured enormously as both batter and leader. GT look disciplined, balanced, and tactically sharp under him. Gill seems destined to become one of the long-term leaders of Indian cricket.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Ajinkya Rahane might lose both his captaincy and even his place in the team. The big question is: who replaces him?

My bet would be Sunil Narine, a wonderful choice for captaining KKR. He understands the franchise culture, has immense experience, and commands natural respect within the dressing room.

5. Mumbai Indians (MI): Hardik Pandya might either quit or possibly get traded — maybe even to CSK. Bumrah would probably be the best choice as captain. He is calm, respected, disciplined, and leads through performance rather than theatrics.

MI’s biggest problem this season was not talent but dressing-room harmony. Too many stars, too many egos, and not enough cohesion.

6. Rajasthan Royals (RR): RR should retain Riyan Parag as a player but make Jaiswal the captain.

Jaiswal has the aggression, confidence, and long-term future needed in a leader. RR need to think beyond temporary fixes and build around young Indian talent.

7. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Rajat Patidar did very well as captain and should definitely be retained. RCB finally looked like a disciplined, balanced side instead of merely a superstar-driven franchise. Patidar brought calmness and clarity without unnecessary drama.

8. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Pat Cummins did well and will remain captain next year too. His leadership style suits SRH perfectly, aggressive when needed but composed under pressure. More importantly, the players seem to trust him completely.

9. Punjab Kings (PBKS): Even though PBKS’ campaign appears to have derailed badly, Shreyas Iyer might still retain the captaincy simply due to lack of alternatives. PBKS always seem to promise much and deliver little. Leadership instability has been one of their biggest long-term problems.

10. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): Rishabh Pant had a horror show as captain, but he might still remain captain because LSG do not have too many alternatives. What choices do LSG really have? Markram? Shami?

Maybe Markram could take over and relieve Pant of the captaincy burden. Pant’s decline, along with Surya’s dip in form, does not augur well for the Indian national team,  especially Pant, who seems to be fading alarmingly fast. Once considered the future of Indian cricket, he now appears burdened, distracted, and short of confidence.

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A Pepsi too Far!!!

Coca-Cola recently completed 140 years of existence, which, for a drink consisting largely of sugar, coloured water, and a formula guarded more carefully than nuclear launch codes, is not bad going at all.

Invented in 1886 by Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton as a refreshing alternative to coffee, Coca-Cola has since risen from humble medicinal beginnings to the status of a global deity. There are tribes in remote jungles who may not know the capital of their country but can identify the Coke logo from three kilometres away in dim light.

I often ask my students why marketing professors speak of Coca-Cola in the hushed tones usually reserved for saints, freedom fighters, and retired cricket captains. The answer, of course, is simple. Many companies sell products. Coca-Cola sells emotions, nostalgia, happiness, friendship, Christmas, American capitalism, and occasionally, if time permits, soft drinks.

From a nutritional standpoint, Coke contributes approximately the same value to human health as eating sweet sugar pills. Yet millions consume it with tears of joy in their eyes. That, ladies and gentlemen, is marketing.

The company’s famous line” that there are places where water is unavailable, but Coke is not” sounds at first like a cheerful advertising slogan. On closer inspection, however, it resembles a declaration of planetary dominance issued by a highly sophisticated empire.

Last year, Coca-Cola Company reported revenues touching 48 billion dollars, which is larger than the GDP of nearly 100 countries. There are governments which, if Coca-Cola executives sneeze during quarterly meetings, begin checking their fiscal deficits nervously.

The disaster began, as many great disasters do, with student volunteers carrying trays. At first everything had gone splendidly. The auditorium was full, the microphones were functioning, which in itself bordered on the supernatural, and our distinguished guest from Coca-Cola India sat upon the dais radiating the serene confidence of a field marshal inspecting conquered territory.

Then came the refreshments. To this day, I maintain that the students were innocent. Young minds, though energetic, cannot always grasp the intricate blood feuds of multinational beverage corporations. To them, cola was cola.

And so, smiling brightly, they placed before the Coca-Cola executive... bottles of Pepsi. What followed cannot adequately be described as surprise. I have seen people react with greater calmness upon discovering cobras in bathrooms.

The lady’s eyes widened to dimensions rarely achieved in nature. Her expression suggested that she had just witnessed the assassination of civilisation itself. One almost expected distant thunderclaps and the sound of cavalry bugles.

She turned slowly towards Dr. Madhusudan Kota a former Coca-Cola man and loyalist of almost medieval devotion and began whispering with the urgency of a wartime intelligence officer reporting enemy troop movements.

At that point I understood that immediate action was required if the institution wished to survive the afternoon. I summoned a volunteer with the desperate authority of a ship captain ordering lifeboats lowered and instructed him to remove the offending bottles before the guest decided to quit.

Our explanation, though truthful, did not help matters. “Madam,” we said weakly, “Coca-Cola is not available in the canteen.” She looked at us with the sorrow one reserves for morally collapsed societies. Then came the immortal line.

“No issue,” she said with icy dignity. “Give me water. Tea. Coffee. Buttermilk. Coconut water. Boiled rainwater collected from tree leaves. Anything. But I will not share the dais with that thing.”

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The decline of reading habit and my experiment to revive it!

 

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The chappal theory of modern Marketing – The case of AJIO Mother’s day advertising campaign

So, this is where advertising has finally reached, absolutely rock bottom. The first time I watched the AJIO Mother’s Day advertisement, I watched it absent-mindedly. The second time, it felt slightly uncomfortable. By the third viewing, it had become so jarring and disturbing that it compelled me to write this piece.

Let us first understand how all this began. Greeting cards and gifts always existed. People have always exchanged tokens of affection. But it was the brilliance of companies like Hallmark that transformed greeting-card giving, and later gift-giving itself, into something almost mandatory to prove love and affection.

Slowly, new “special days” began appearing everywhere. Mother’s Day. Father’s Day. Grandparents’ Day. Friendship Day. Valentine’s Day etc. And hold your breath, even “National Nothing Day” where one was encouraged to give a card or gift for absolutely no reason at all.

Marketing had discovered something very powerful: emotions could be packaged, sold, and monetised. Surprisingly, in India, this concept of formally “celebrating” parents with gifts on designated days never fully worked for many older-generation families. Perhaps it still does not, even today.

My father was at his sarcastic best whenever we mentioned such occasions. He would acidly remark: “What Mother’s Day and Father’s Day? You live with us, we love you, and you love us back. There need not be one single Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. Every day is a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day.”

Then he would mischievously add that the words “Mother’s Day” and “Father’s Day” sounded suspiciously like “Amma Dinam” and “Nanna Dinam”, which in Telugu could almost sound like mother’s and father’s death anniversaries!

That old-school Indian mindset may sound amusing today, but there was wisdom in it. Relationships were meant to be lived daily, not reduced to annual shopping festivals. Advertising, however, has become extraordinarily skilled at converting emotions into consumption.

Coca-Cola, for example, helped popularise and commercialise the modern image of Santa Claus. Many believe that the predominance of red associated with Santa today aligns beautifully with Coca-Cola’s own brand colours and Christmas campaigns. It shows how deeply advertising can shape public imagination and cultural memory.

And now we come to the AJIO advertisement. The advertisement shows mothers “practising” and warming up as though preparing for combat. One may initially assume they are training to shoot enemies. But no, their targets are wooden dummies representing their own children. And how do they attack these dummies? With chappals.

Now, in India, hitting someone with a chappal is not merely punishment. It symbolises contempt, insult, humiliation, and public shaming. The visual itself carries a deeply negative emotional undertone in Indian culture. So what unforgivable crime have these children committed? They gifted their mothers coffee mugs or cushions carrying sentimental messages like “Best Mother in the World.” Apparently, according to the advertisement, such gifts are “useless.”

So, mothers speaking different languages are shown violently attacking dummies with slippers because their children gifted them inexpensive but affectionate presents. And all this is packaged as “therapeutic” in the advertisement.

At this point, one uncomfortable question arises: Since when did a mother’s love become measurable by the price tag of a gift? Any normal mother would probably be happy with almost anything given with affection, a simple phone call, a handwritten note, a rose, a hug, or yes, even a modest tea or coffee mug saying, “Best Mom.”

Are we now telling young people that unless they buy expensive dresses, luxury handbags, or vintage watches, their love is somehow inadequate? Certainly, elegant gifts are wonderful. Nobody is arguing against gifting. A beautiful saree, a dress, jewellery, or a watch may indeed make a mother very happy. But was there no better way to communicate that message without insulting both the gift giver and the gift receiver?.

That is where the advertisement collapses completely. In one stroke, AJIO managed to antagonise both the customer and the consumer. It indirectly mocked youngsters who may not have the financial means to buy expensive gifts. Worse, it attempted to create guilt around small but emotionally meaningful presents.

The symbolism became even more absurd when the advertisement suggested: “Gift anything,  even a chappal. That is better than gifting a coffee mug.” That line alone probably destroyed whatever warmth the campaign was attempting to create. And then they showed mugs literally breaking. Wonderful.

Nothing says “Mother’s Day emotion” quite like smashing sentimental gifts with aggression and contempt. Perhaps AJIO wanted to create a disruptive advertisement. Perhaps they wanted controversy, conversation, outrage, and virality. In today’s digital advertising ecosystem, shock value itself has become a marketing strategy.

If that was the intention, then perhaps the campaign succeeded brilliantly. But emotionally? Culturally? Creatively? The campaign failed spectacularly. Instead of celebrating mothers, it reduced Mother’s Day into an exercise in material comparison and guilt-driven consumption.

This advertisement may well enter the annals of advertising as one of those campaigns remembered not for brilliance, warmth, or emotional intelligence, but for how completely it misunderstood the very emotion it was trying to monetise. And perhaps that is the tragedy of modern advertising. Somewhere along the way, emotions stopped being felt and started being packaged.

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