IPL 2026 league stage review : Tons of runs…. Magic moments…. But also a sense of fatigue.

The IPL, even until last year has had its fair share of thrills, riveting moments and images that takes it several notches above any other global league around the world. Yet, this year, it felt like that fatigue has set in. Even though the Sooryavanshi’s and Jaiswals and Priyansh Aryas of the league have gone bonkers, the nature of the pitches and the ease at which the runs have been scored have come under a lot of criticism. 

The bowlers have had flat decks to bowl on, T20 is becoming a batsman’s game and on one instance, even a gargantuan score like 264, which was an above average ODI score back in the day has been chased down with an over to spare. Batting becomes easier, bowling becomes more tedious.

The Indian premier league was one of the most anticipated events back in the day when the mood used to be set after a gruelling day in schools, colleges and at the work place as there was a keen anticipation of watching that slam bang cricket after a prolonged spell of 50 over cricket. But today, after the exhausting t20 world cup and another one to follow two years later, the IPL has been a victim of too much entertainment.

After years of explosive cricket, fans also seem emotionally saturated — what once felt extraordinary now feels routine. The IPL is still hugely popular, but this season lacked the unpredictability, tension, and cinematic moments that made earlier seasons unforgettable.

But all was not as bleak. The 264 chase, the game between RCB and MI in which Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the unlikely hero, the RR collapse against SRH where they were 1 for 4 as Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain ran riot or even KKR’s almost miraculous comeback, IPL 2026 has had its fair share of moments, but the few and far between phrase has made a wild card entry here.