The IPL 2026 season is officially over, and what a season it was. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Gujarat Titans (GT) by 5 wickets in the final at Ahmedabad on May 31 to win back-to-back IPL titles. But the night did not belong only to the winners, it was also a night to celebrate the best players from the entire tournament.
From a 15-year-old breaking records to a veteran striker hitting the winning run in the final, IPL 2026 gave us some unforgettable moments. Let’s take a look at every award, every winner, and what made their season so special.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Wins the Orange Cap
The biggest story of IPL 2026 was, without a doubt, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old opener from Rajasthan Royals scored 776 runs in the tournament, including 1 century and 5 fifties, to finish as the highest run-scorer of the season.
The Orange Cap was confirmed for Sooryavanshi only after the final, when Gujarat Titans’ openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan scored low. Had either of them scored big in the final, the race could have gone either way. But Sooryavanshi held on to his lead and took home the Orange Cap along with a prize of ₹10 lakh.
What made his batting so exciting this season was not just the runs, but the speed at which he scored them. He played fearless, attacking cricket right from the start of each innings. His ability to hit boundaries at will made him a nightmare for opposition bowlers throughout the season.
Kagiso Rabada Wins the Purple Cap
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada had a brilliant season with the ball for Gujarat Titans. He finished the tournament as the highest wicket-taker with 29 wickets, just edging out India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar in a tight race for the Purple Cap.
Rabada sealed the Purple Cap during the final itself, when he picked up the wicket of Devdutt Padikkal. That one wicket was enough to put him clear at the top of the wicket-takers list. He takes home ₹10 lakh for his efforts.
Rabada bowled with pace and accuracy throughout the tournament. He was one of GT’s most reliable bowlers and kept taking wickets in big games. Even though GT lost the final, Rabada’s personal achievement of 29 wickets in a single IPL season is something to be proud of.
Sooryavanshi Also Wins Super Sixes of the Season
If 776 runs and the Orange Cap were not enough, Sooryavanshi also walked away with the Super Sixes of the Season award for hitting the most sixes. He smashed 72 sixes in just 16 matches, that is an average of 4.5 sixes per game.
This award, which comes with a prize of ₹10 lakh, was almost custom-made for Sooryavanshi’s style of batting. He loves to go big, and he went big more than anyone else this season. No other batter in IPL 2026 came close to matching his six-hitting numbers.
Sai Sudharsan Wins On-the-Go 4s of the Season
While Sooryavanshi was clearing the ropes, his Gujarat Titans teammate Sai Sudharsan was busy finding the gaps. Sudharsan hit 75 fours in 17 matches to win the On-the-Go 4s of the Season award, taking home ₹10 lakh.
Sudharsan’s batting is very different from Sooryavanshi’s power-hitting style. He is elegant, wristy, and plays shots along the ground. His ability to place the ball and pick the right gaps made him one of the most consistent batters in IPL 2026. Even though GT lost the final, Sudharsan had a strong season overall.
Sooryavanshi Named Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s impact on IPL 2026 was not limited to runs alone. He scored 436.50 MVP points, the highest of any player in the tournament, which earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and another ₹10 lakh.
The MVP award takes into account a player’s overall contribution, runs, strike rate, match situations, and more. Sooryavanshi’s attacking starts gave Rajasthan Royals a strong base in almost every game. Even when RR did not win the title, their campaign would have looked very different without him.
Virat Kohli Named Player of the Final
If there was one player who took RCB over the line in the IPL 2026 final, it was Virat Kohli. He scored 75 off 42 balls in the chase, including the fastest fifty of his IPL career, off just 25 balls, and hit the winning shot to finish the game.
Kohli was named the Player of the Final for his knock and received ₹5 lakh.
After the match, Kohli spoke about how calm and clear-headed he felt going into the chase. “Felt really relaxed coming in. The team we have gives confidence to see any kind of situation through. Knew exactly what to do in the chase,” he said.
He also spoke about his fastest fifty: “Gives you something to work towards. I had to change my mindset, not my game so much, take on bowlers and get extra runs.”
Kohli’s innings was a mix of smart batting and big hitting. He said RCB had set small targets within the chase and played free cricket, which is exactly how the win came together.
Sooryavanshi Wins Emerging Player of the Year
Adding a fourth award to his collection, Sooryavanshi was also named the Emerging Player of the Year. With 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, his numbers speak for themselves.
At just 15 years old, he is the youngest player ever to win this award. He is also the youngest to win the Orange Cap, MVP, and Super Sixes award. In fact, he is the youngest to win all five awards he collected on the night.
In his post-ceremony interview with Ravi Shastri, Sooryavanshi said, “It feels good but under pressure, as I’m here for the interview. Will try to do well next year. I try to back my game and if I think I can hit the first ball, I go all out.”
He also shared what he learned this season: “I learnt you can’t go all out all the time and how to play under pressure and read situations and play to the requirement of the team.”
These are mature words from a teenager who is only just getting started in professional cricket. He also mentioned that the Rajasthan Royals setup has been very supportive: “Senior players and support staff back me. It’s a nice environment.”
Sooryavanshi Bags Super Striker of the Season, and a Car
His fifth and final award of the night was the Super Striker of the Season, given to the batter with the highest strike rate (minimum 100 balls faced). Sooryavanshi’s strike rate of 237.30 won him this award, and instead of prize money, he drove away with a Tata Sierra.
A strike rate of 237.30 means that for every 100 balls he faced, he scored 237 runs. That is an extraordinary number, especially when you consider he faced enough deliveries to qualify for the award. It shows that he was not just hitting a few boundaries here and there, he was consistently dominating every bowling attack he faced.
Manish Pandey Takes Best Catch of the Season
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Manish Pandey won the Best Catch of the Season award, taking home ₹10 lakh. While the full details of the catch were not highlighted during the ceremony, earning this award means it was one of those grabs that made the entire stadium stop and stare.
Punjab Kings Win the Fair Play Award
The Fair Play Award went to Punjab Kings, who collected 140 points in 14 matches. This award recognizes the team that played the game in the right spirit, respecting the umpires, opponents, and the rules of cricket.
It is a reminder that cricket is not just about winning but also about how you play the game.
Mohammed Siraj Wins Green Dot Ball of the Season
Gujarat Titans’ Mohammed Siraj was named the winner of the Green Dot Ball of the Seasonaward for bowling the most dot balls in IPL 2026. He bowled 172 dot balls in 17 matches and takes home ₹10 lakh.
Dot balls are crucial in T20 cricket because they build pressure on the batting side. Siraj’s 172 dots show just how tight and disciplined his bowling was throughout the season. Even in a high-scoring tournament, he kept batters quiet regularly.
Full IPL 2026 Awards List at a Glance
- Orange Cap – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) – 776 runs
- Purple Cap – Kagiso Rabada (GT) – 29 wickets
- Most Sixes – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) – 72 sixes
- Most Fours – Sai Sudharsan (GT) – 75 fours
- MVP – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) – 436.50 points
- Player of the Final – Virat Kohli (RCB) – 75 off 42
- Emerging Player – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) – 776 runs at SR 237.30
- Super Striker – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) – SR 237.30
- Best Catch – Manish Pandey (KKR)
- Fair Play Award – Punjab Kings – 140 points
- Most Dot Balls – Mohammed Siraj (GT) – 172 dot balls
IPL 2026 was a season full of records, big knocks, and great bowling. RCB won the title, but the awards night truly belonged to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a teenager who showed the world that age is just a number.
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