Does Hardik Pandya Predict IPL Winners in Captains Photoshoot?

Over the last few seasons, there has been a common pattern in the IPL winners and captains photoshoot. Those who stood near Hardik Pandya in the photoshoot have gone to win the IPL title. If it happens this time, it would be either KKR or SRH getting the title.

Hardik Pandya has been regarded as an astrologer when it comes to predicting the IPL winners. But he has not done it directly over the past few seasons. In the captains photoshoot, whoever stands near Hardik Pandya has gone to win the IPL title in that season.

In 2023, MS Dhoni stood near Hardik Pandya in the captains photoshoot. And he went on to defeat Pandya's team in the finals for CSK to lift another title. Later in IPL 2024, it was Shreyas Iyer who stood beside Hardik Pandya. And this worked again, as Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders to win the title.

Everyone thought it may not work in IPL 2025. Rajat Patidar stood beside Hardik Pandya in the captains photoshoot, and he went on to make history. Patidar led RCB to win their first ever title. And in the IPL 2026 captains photoshoot, Ishan Kishan and Ajinkya Rahane stood beside Hardik Pandya, making fans think whom among these two would win the title.

Our Take

The theory of Hardik Pandya predicting the IPL winners in the captain's photo shoot cannot be underestimated by anyone. It has gone true over the last three IPL seasons. Some may term it as a coincidence, while others may also term it as a script of Jay Shah being implemented by Hardik Pandya.

But this time, everyone thinks there is a high chance that such a prediction will go wrong. Every team looks strong for the IPL 2026 season, where the Mumbai Indians also come as a strong contender. This time, even Hardik Pandya would be thinking that he would take the trophy with him, not allow anyone else standing near him in the photoshoot to take the title.