Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said it’s hard to name a single clear front-runner in the current Indian Premier League, pointing to how many sides are delivering strong performances as the tournament reaches the midway stage. Ganguly, along with his wife Dona Ganguly, also stepped out to vote on Wednesday during the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, casting their ballots at a polling booth in South 24 Parganas under close security oversight and with steady voter turnout in the area.
Polling for the second phase was underway across multiple constituencies, and long lines of voters were seen outside several booths from the morning hours. Election officials kept a close watch on the arrangements and the turnout as security personnel were posted to help ensure the process remained smooth and peaceful. The voting phase is scheduled to be followed by counting of votes on May 4.
After completing his vote, Ganguly returned to cricket talk and highlighted the unusually competitive nature of the IPL season. He noted that with multiple teams performing well, it becomes difficult to settle on one favourite, singling out Punjab Kings for their current form while also praising the quality shown by Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. “Half of the tournament is yet to go,” he said, underscoring that the race for momentum is far from settled.
With the latest standings in the ongoing IPL 2026 season, the points table continues to look tightly fought. Punjab Kings are at the top despite suffering a recent defeat against Rajasthan Royals. They have 13 points from eight matches, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru sit just behind in second place with 12 points from eight games and a Net Run Rate of 1.919.
Rajasthan Royals occupy the third spot on 12 points as well, though from nine matches, placing them slightly behind on the basis of games played. Sunrisers Hyderabad are fourth with 10 points. Gujarat Titans are fifth on 8 points from eight contests, keeping a levelled win-loss record that keeps them in the mix as the season progresses.
Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are placed sixth and seventh respectively, both tied on 6 points. Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians sit in the lower part of the table, occupying eighth and ninth spots with fewer wins so far in the campaign. Lucknow Super Giants, meanwhile, are at the bottom of the points table.
