The 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has finally come to its end, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru winning by five wickets to retain their crown.

The 2026 season saw many big-money acquisitions from teams in the auction before the start of the season. Teams spent big money on players, expecting significant returns, and while some of them may not have lived up to their mark, we take a look at the players from the 2026 season who have lived up to their significant price tags.

Here are 5 players who justified their price tags in IPL 2026: 5. Cooper Connolly: INR 3.00 crore (Punjab Kings) Cooper Connolly (Photo Source: IPL)

It took the cricketing world by surprise when Australian youngster Cooper Connolly was slated to bat at one-drop for the Punjab Kings in IPL 2026.

The young all-rounder, who had taken the Australian circuit by storm, was gearing up for his first experience of IPL cricket. With doubts around his immediate ascent to the side, Connolly left a lasting impression, scoring an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls as he guided the Kings home against the Gujarat Titans in a low-scoring thriller.

He scored 491 runs at a strike rate of 163.12, slotting in at number three and adding support to the openers. Reminiscent of his idol Shaun Marsh taking the IPL by storm in his debut season in 2008, Connolly has made a significant mark in his rookie season and shown why he is so highly regarded as a player to watch out for in the future.

4. Ravi Bishnoi: INR 7.20 crore (Rajasthan Royals) Ravi Bishnoi (Source : IPL/X)

After a set of dismal seasons with the Lucknow Super Giants, Ravi Bishnoi found his new home with the Rajasthan Royals and immediately hit the ground running.

The leg-spinner played a vital role in the start of the season but lost his place in the side to the young leg-spinner Yash Raj Punja.

Despite this, he picked up 11 wickets in nine matches and was able to make a significant impact early in the season. He picked up figures of 4 for 41 against the Gujarat Titans, which helped the Royals seal a nervy win, and provided vital breakthroughs with the ball. 

3. Venkatesh Iyer: INR 7.00 crore (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) Venkatesh Iyer (Source: IPL)

When Venkatesh Iyer was picked up by the defending champions for a significant fee, the expectation was that he would immediately slot into the team.

But it took the all-rounder a few games to break into the side, mostly being used as an impact player. Despite this, he took his chance whenever given, scoring 209 runs at a strike rate of 186.61.

He made his mark against the Punjab Kings, scoring a quickfire unbeaten 73 off 40 balls, which helped RCB post a total above 200.

He then followed it up with a 19-ball 44 after being promoted up the order to open in place of the injured Phil Salt. He scored a quickfire 16-ball 32 in the final, which helped set the momentum for the chase early on.

2. Jason Holder: INR 7.00 crore (Gujarat Titans) Jason Holder (Photo: IPLT20.COM)

Jason Holder, hitting the ground running and altering the Titans’ fortunes the moment he came into their playing XI, was a key catalyst in their turnaround and ascent to the finals. The big West Indies all-rounder started the season on the bench before he was brought into the side as a replacement for Glenn Phillips, as the New Zealand man failed to make an impact with the bat.

Holder soon became a key player in the team, picking up 17 wickets in 11 matches at an economy of 7.57. His best figures of 4 for 24 came against the Punjab Kings. He was the perfect foil to Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada, who led the attack with the new ball. Holder dominated the middle and death overs, and batters often struggled to score against his hard-length bowling.

1. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: INR 1.10 crore (Rajasthan Royals) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

A player having a 700-plus run season in his first full season of IPL cricket is an unprecedented feat for anyone, let alone for a 15-year-old. The magnitude of what Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has achieved in the 2026 IPL goes beyond numbers or impact. The young starlet has taken the league by storm, rattling even the best of bowlers in the world with his merciless and brutal takedown of anyone he has come up against.

Sooryavanshi’s numbers are staggering, scoring a whopping 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.31. He scored five half-centuries, which included two 90s in the playoffs, and one brilliant century. He played a key role in the Royals’ run to the playoffs, and the scale at which he has operated is a frightening prospect of what is to come for the future.