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

The 2026 season saw multiple players step up and perform for their team. Be it consistent performances or recoveries after poor starts to the season, players have come into their own and played vital roles in their team's key successes. As is a trend with all big tournaments, there are always players who endure setbacks at the start of the season and come back all guns blazing towards the latter half. 

Here are five players who made dramatic comebacks in IPL 2026: Finn Allen - Kolkata Knight Riders Finn Allen (Source: IPL)

Finn Allen came into the IPL with a dangerous reputation of being one of the format’s most dangerous batters. Prior to the start of the season, he was a major talking point after putting South Africa to the sword with a 33-ball century in the semifinal of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Despite the big reputation, he endured a slow start for the Knight Riders, before being dropped from the side for compatriot Tim Seifert. 

On his return, Allen lit up the IPL. His ability to take on bowlers was on full display, scoring vital runs at the top of the order. He scored a 47-ball century against the Delhi Capitals, taking their bowlers on in a calculated effort. He followed it up with a 38-ball 93 against the Gujarat Titans. The Kiwi batter scored 349 runs, and his strike rate of 214.11 was bettered only by the prodigious Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Donovan Ferreira - Rajasthan Royals Ravindra Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Being traded in from the Delhi Capitals in a deal which saw Nitish Rana go the other way, the big-hitting South African, Donovan Ferreira, was expected to slot in as their designated finisher. Carrying the reputation of being a dangerous six-hitter, he started the season slowly, not being able to get significant scores in the early matches. 

He announced himself with a half-century in a losing cause against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, being the only player to get a score as the team were bundled out for 159.

From there, he took off as a prominent lower-order six-hitter. He scored an unbeaten 52 off just 26 balls in a thrilling chase against the Punjab Kings. He finished the season with a tally of 317 runs at a strike rate of 179.10.

Mitchell Marsh - Lucknow Super Giants Mitchel Marsh (Source: IPL)

In a season of significant lows, Mitchell Marsh stood up as one of the big highs for the Lucknow Super Giants. The big Aussie all-rounder, playing in the IPL as a batter, was LSG’s best batter in 2025, scoring over 600 runs.

He started the season slowly, with brilliant starts, but was unable to convert them into big scores. 

Despite the slow start, Marsh managed four 50-plus scores in his last seven games, which included a century and two 90s. He finished the season with 563 runs at a strike rate of 163.19, forming a dangerous partnership at the top with Josh Inglis on the latter’s return. This was the second successive season where Marsh ended af Super Giants’ best batter in terms of runs scored. 

Venkatesh Iyer - Royal Challengers Bengaluru Venkatesh Iyer (Source: IPL)

When defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru picked up Venkatesh Iyer for a big INR 7 crore fee, he was immediately expected to slot into the playing XI. He had to wait for his time when the season wore on despite being a proven match-winner. His first chance came against the Rajasthan Royals, where he was used as an impact sub to lengthen the batting order during the collapse.

His lucky break came against the Punjab Kings when he was carded in at number 4 after an injury to skipper Rajat Patidar. He made the most of the opportunity, scoring a brilliant 73 off just 40 balls, remaining unbeaten. He was then given the nod at the top in place of the injured Phil Salt, and in three games recorded scores of 44 and 32, with the latter coming in the final. Both knocks came at a strike rate of over 200.

Jason Holder - Gujarat Titans Jason Holder and virat kohli. (Source:iPL)

The immediate impact that Jason Holder created for the Gujarat Titans was unprecedented. The big West Indies all-rounder started the season as a bench option, with the finalists choosing to play New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips as their fourth overseas player. But Phillips’ poor returns saw Holder drafted into the squad early, and he became an instant hit for the team.

The all-rounder owned the middle overs with his hit-the-deck bowling, making batters uncomfortable with the awkward bounce generated by his tall frame. He picked up 17 wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 7.57, and played a vital role in the Titans making their way to the finals.