3 Indian Cricketers Whose IPL 2026 Struggles: The Indian Premier League has always been more than just a franchise tournament.
Every season becomes a live audition for national selection, where performances can reshape careers overnight.
IPL 2026 has once again highlighted how quickly fortunes can change, especially for Indian players trying to cement their place in the national side.
While several young stars have enhanced their reputations this season, a few established Indian names have experienced alarming dips in form.
With India preparing for the next phase of T20 international cricket and selectors closely monitoring performances, the struggles of some senior players have become impossible to ignore.
Among the biggest talking points this season are the disappointing campaigns of Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Varun Chakravarthy.
All three entered IPL 2026 with significant expectations, but inconsistent performances, fitness concerns, and tactical weaknesses have placed them under intense scrutiny.
With competition for places growing stronger every month, their struggles could directly influence India’s selection plans moving forward.
Suryakumar Yadav’s Sharp Decline Raises Major Concerns
Few players in world cricket have dominated T20 batting the way Suryakumar Yadav did over the last few years. His fearless strokeplay, unmatched range, and ability to attack from ball one transformed him into one of India’s most dangerous white-ball batters.
That is why his IPL 2026 season has come as such a shock.
Representing Mumbai Indians, the Indian T20I captain managed just 195 runs in 11 innings at a disappointing average of 17.73. For a batter known for consistency and explosiveness, those numbers are far below expectations.
His campaign included only one half-century, which came against Delhi Capitals, while two ducks and four single-digit scores reflected the extent of his struggles.
The decline becomes even more striking when compared to IPL 2025, where Suryakumar produced a sensational 717-run season and looked almost unstoppable against every bowling attack.
This year, however, bowlers appear to have found a more effective strategy against him. Teams consistently packed the leg side with fielders while bowling tighter lines into his body, limiting his ability to access unconventional scoring areas.
That tactical adjustment has visibly frustrated the right-hander.
Instead of dictating terms, Suryakumar has often looked rushed and uncertain at the crease. Several dismissals have come while attempting risky strokes early in the innings, a sign that opposition teams have successfully disrupted his rhythm.
The concerns are not limited to batting alone.
As India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar is expected to lead the next generation of Indian white-ball cricket. But when form dips so dramatically, questions naturally emerge regarding leadership pressure, tactical clarity, and long-term consistency.
India still values his match-winning ability enormously, but with younger players pushing hard for opportunities, selectors may no longer view his position as completely secure.
Shivam Dube Yet to Deliver Match-Winning Impact
At first glance, Shivam Dube’s numbers do not appear disastrous.
Playing for Chennai Super Kings, the powerful left-hander scored 197 runs in 11 matches while maintaining a strike rate above 150. On paper, that looks respectable for a middle-order finisher.
But statistics alone do not tell the full story.
Dube’s biggest issue this season has been his inability to produce defining innings under pressure. Despite getting multiple opportunities, he failed to register a single half-century throughout the campaign.
For a player selected primarily because of his power-hitting in the middle overs, that inconsistency has become a major concern.
One of Dube’s key strengths in previous seasons was his dominance against spin bowling. He regularly attacked slower bowlers and shifted momentum during crucial phases of innings. IPL 2026, however, has exposed a visible drop in that effectiveness.
His strike rate against spin fell sharply, allowing opposition teams to control him more comfortably during the middle overs. Without that attacking presence, Chennai Super Kings often struggled to maintain scoring momentum after the powerplay.
Another factor that complicated his season was CSK’s constant reshuffling of the batting order. Frequent changes in role and position appeared to affect Dube’s rhythm and confidence.
Fielding mistakes also added to the criticism.
Dropped catches and inconsistent performances in pressure moments led to increasing frustration among fans and analysts alike. While his unbeaten 32 off 16 balls against Lucknow Super Giants offered a glimpse of his finishing ability, it was not enough to fully silence doubts.
The larger issue for Dube is competition.
India’s white-ball setup now includes several emerging finishers capable of playing fearless cricket while also offering greater flexibility. Players with stronger spin-hitting ability and more reliable fielding standards may begin to move ahead of him in the selection queue.
Unless Dube rediscovers the consistency that once made him such a dangerous middle-order option, his place in India’s future T20 plans could become increasingly uncertain.
Varun Chakravarthy’s Fitness Concerns Become a Serious Problem
For mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, IPL 2026 has been a season filled with frustration, physical setbacks, and flashes of brilliance that never fully developed into sustained momentum.
Representing Kolkata Knight Riders, Chakravarthy initially struggled badly during the early phase of the tournament. He went wicketless in his first three matches and found it difficult to contain batters on flat surfaces.
After nine games, he had taken 10 wickets but conceded runs at an economy rate of 9.00, a number that reflected his inconsistency.
The situation later became clearer when Chakravarthy revealed that he had been bowling with two fractures in his left hand during the competition. That revelation explained both the drop in rhythm and the lack of control in several matches.
Once his condition improved slightly, the spinner began showing signs of recovery.
His standout performance came against Rajasthan Royals, where he produced a brilliant spell of 3/14 and reminded everyone why he remains one of India’s most unpredictable T20 bowlers.
But just as he started regaining momentum, another injury setback arrived.
A toe injury further disrupted his campaign and once again raised concerns about his long-term fitness reliability. For selectors, that becomes a major issue when evaluating players for international tournaments.
India already possess several dependable spin options across formats, including younger bowlers who are consistently available and physically stronger. In such a competitive environment, recurring injuries can quickly weaken a player’s position.
Chakravarthy’s skillset remains unique, especially in T20 cricket where mystery spinners can change games rapidly. However, availability is equally important at the international level.
If injuries continue interrupting his progress, selectors may prefer more durable alternatives heading into future ICC tournaments.
Competition for India Places Is Becoming Fiercer
The biggest challenge for all three players is timing.
Indian cricket is currently experiencing a major transition phase in white-ball formats, with younger players consistently emerging through IPL performances and domestic cricket. Every season now produces new batting stars, dynamic finishers, and versatile bowlers capable of immediately challenging established names.
Selectors are no longer dependent on reputation alone.
Consistent form, fitness, adaptability, and impact performances are becoming the defining criteria for selection decisions. That reality places enormous pressure on experienced players who fail to deliver across multiple tournaments.
Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Varun Chakravarthy still possess the talent to return strongly. All three have previously proven themselves at the highest level and remain capable of match-winning performances on their day.
But IPL 2026 has exposed clear vulnerabilities in each of their games.
With India building towards the next T20 World Cup cycle, the coming months could determine whether these players successfully reclaim their positions or gradually lose ground to the next generation waiting for opportunities.