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    Former India captain predicts top 4 for IPL 2026 playoffs; surprisingly includes struggling team

    Rambamwellness.comSportsApril 28, 2026
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    Former Indian captain Anil Kumble picked his top four to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs as the season reaches its midway stage (via Star Sports’ Instagram handle). As things stand, Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Rajasthan Royals (RR) occupy the top four spots on the points table.

    While Kumble had the first three making the playoffs, he went against RR for the fourth and final spot. Instead, the legendary spinner backed the reeling Mumbai Indians (MI) to make a second-half comeback and clinch a playoff spot.

    The five-time champions have endured a woeful first half of IPL 2026, losing five out of seven matches. MI are currently second-from-bottom on the standings, ahead of only Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

    Yet, MI has historically made comebacks from slow starts to finish in the top four, and Kumble believes the current side will pull off something similar.

    Meanwhile, another former cricketer and legendary pacer, Dale Steyn, played it safe and backed the top four in the standings, PBKS, RCB, SRH, and RR, to qualify for the playoffs.

    Other former Indian cricketers predict IPL 2026 playoffs

    Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara went the Dale Steyn route and picked the current top four of PBKS, RCB, SRH, and RR to qualify for the playoffs. Discarded Indian pacer Umesh Yadav was the third on the list to pick the current top four to clinch a playoff spot.

    Two other former Indian cricketers, Saba Karim and Sanjay Bangar, also had no surprises in their playoff predictions, backing PBKS, RCB, RR, and SRH to advance.

    For the uninitiated, PBKS and RCB qualified for the playoffs and faced off in last season’s final, with the latter clinching their maiden IPL title. The two teams were joined by MI and the Gujarat Titans (GT) in last year’s playoffs.

    PBKS remain the only undefeated side thus far this IPL season, while RCB are second with six wins in eight outings.