Cheteshwar Pujara and Sanjay Bangar believe IPL 2026 has ushered in a new era of T20 batting, with teams now embracing an ultra-attacking mindset from the first ball. What has stood out this season is not just the number of big totals but the speed at which those scores are being chased down, reflecting how dramatically the format has evolved.
The numbers back that up. After 35 matches, teams have scored at a collective run rate of 9.79, while the Powerplay scoring rate has touched a record 10 runs per over. Batters across franchises have shown little hesitation in taking on bowlers early, and young hitters like Abhishek Sharma, Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh and Ishan Kishan have been central to that shift.
Cheteshwar Pujara said the change this season is deeper than just a temporary trend. In his view, the Impact Player rule has certainly helped teams bat more aggressively, but the bigger story is the mindset change that has taken hold across the league. “This season feels different because it’s not just one phase, it’s the entire batting approach that’s evolved,” Pujara said.
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“Yes, the Impact Player rule has given teams the freedom to go harder for longer. But the sheer volume of 200-plus totals, and how often they are being chased down, is outstanding.”
The records tell the story clearly. IPL 2026 has already seen 29 totals of 200 or more, compared to only 15 at the same stage four years ago. Even more striking, teams have completed 10 successful chases of 200-plus totals, setting a new IPL benchmark with more than half the tournament still to go.
Among the standout batters, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been one of the biggest talking points of the season. The 15-year-old has already matched the record for the fastest fifty this year, reaching the landmark in just 15 balls on three occasions. He also has the highest strike rate among players with at least eight innings, sitting at a staggering 238.09.
Chetehswar Pujara believes that kind of fearless intent is now shaping the way modern teams bat. “Players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Priyansh Arya and Devdutt Padikkal are setting the tone,” he said. “In today’s game, it’s not about building an innings anymore. It’s about scoring as many runs as possible in the fewest balls.”
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Bangar agreed, calling IPL 2026 the most explosive season he has seen. He said the Powerplay has become a phase where teams no longer play cautiously but attack from the outset. “Intent from ball one is on another level,” Sanjay Bangar said. “Strike rate is everything now. It is the currency of T20 batting.”
He also credited the quality of pitches and the work of BCCI curators across venues for helping batters play with such freedom.
