Vijaykumar Vyshak has been part of the IPL setup since 2023, yet his appearances have never crossed the seven-match mark in a single season. His first IPL campaign came in 2023, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) brought him in as a replacement player. After that, his involvement stayed limited—he featured in four matches in IPL 2024 and then played five games in IPL 2025, frequently used as an Impact Player. Now, the fast bowler appears to be entering a more productive phase.
It is still early in IPL 2026, but Vyshak’s start has been striking: he has been named in the playing XI for all three matches so far, has emerged as Punjab Kings’ top wicket-taker, and has looked effective across overs rather than just in one specific phase. He has also briefly worn the purple cap during the tournament. In the two matches where he has been able to bowl, he has taken five wickets—while the game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was washed out. That total is already higher than his wicket hauls across the previous two seasons combined for the same time span, with IPL 2024 returning four wickets and IPL 2025 also ending with four.
Against Gujarat Titans, Vyshak played a key role in halting the opposition’s momentum. He first removed Glenn Phillips, and then followed it up by dismissing Washington Sundar and Shahrukh Khan in the death overs to curb the late surge. The next match against Chennai Super Kings saw a different kind of impact: Vyshak struck early by getting rid of Ayush Mhatre, who was set on 73, using a wide yorker. He then accounted for Sarfaraz Khan, striking a hard length to stop the rampaging batter. With those returns in 2026, the question naturally is what has changed for him compared to earlier seasons.
“I look forward to getting better with each season and each match. That mindset keeps me alert and pushing so that I’m improved compared to what I was a day before—or even the previous game,” Vyshak said. “And in T20 cricket, if you can keep the run-rate below ten on a batting-friendly surface, that’s when you start applying pressure to the batting side.
“It doesn’t matter who tells you what—you are your own biggest driver. On that particular day, on that particular ground, whenever you play, the way you motivate yourself matters a lot and stays in your mind. I always make sure I do that. It doesn’t matter who the batsman is; I just want to be sure I’m thinking positively, and then I want to deliver for my team.”
Vyshak’s rise has been building over the past couple of years. He led Karnataka’s wicket-taking charts during the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and in recent times he has also been at the forefront of their fast-bowling group. His performances earned him a maiden India call-up in October 2024 for a four-match T20I series in South Africa. Although he did not get to make his debut, he described being around the senior India squad as “a great learning.”
With that experience behind him, Vyshak’s mindset entering IPL 2026 is focused on being a proper team contributor. The numbers are certainly impressive, but he insists he is not chasing wickets for their own sake.
“I don’t see the wickets I take,” Vyshak said. “Wickets are good, and I hope I keep taking them, but if we’re getting the process right, we’re winning the game—that matters more. My aim is to put in the effort and make a contribution toward the team’s victory.
“From the moment I started playing for RCB, I’ve always wanted to keep evolving. Yes, I’ve built confidence by taking wickets and I’m doing well for the team. But that confidence grows only when the team is winning. When the side is winning, you don’t really focus on anything else. That has helped me develop and become the player I am right now.”
Vyshak has come a long way from being primarily a bowler who hurried batters with steep pace and hard lengths. He can reliably reach speeds in the early-to-mid 140s, but it is the variety he has added that has helped him grow as a T20 specialist. His toolkit now includes a knuckle ball, slower offcutters, and wide yorkers. He has also credited his off-season work for the improvements.
“Of course, without putting in the effort in the backend net sessions and working very hard, you can’t be ready to play at a level like this,” he said. “I truly believe that what you practice and what you get right in training is exactly what shows up when you get on the field.
“When a new season starts, you have to upgrade yourself. Every team has a video analyst who studies your bowling, so you have to keep improving—again and again. I always make sure that when I return for a new campaign, I bring something new for myself. That could be a couple of slower options or a few additional variations. Hopefully, I get it right this season, or maybe next year.”
At Punjab Kings, Vyshak often asks his teammate Arshdeep Singh for guidance and support related to fast-bowling work. Another major source of inspiration for him is captain Shreyas Iyer.
“He [Shreyas] has been very supportive,” Vyshak said. “When you’re playing in the IPL, you might have a couple of bad games, but he continues to back his bowlers and his players no matter what. For a bowler, that’s especially important.
“I can go and talk to Shreyas whenever I want—his door is always open. He doesn’t keep it shut. He’s done exceptionally well in this format, he has played for India, and I’m sure he’ll be the Indian captain soon. When someone like that openly says, ‘My doors are open,’ it’s genuinely inspiring.”
While Vyshak’s near-term objective is to help Punjab Kings reach the playoffs and cross the finishing line, he is also working toward a longer-term dream—playing Test cricket for India.
“When you start playing cricket, you always aim to play Test matches for the Indian team,” he said. “That thought still gives me chills when I imagine putting on the Indian cap and playing a Test for my country. But for now, in the format we’re playing, I want to do well. Hopefully I can keep this going and earn a place in the Indian team.”
Vyshak has had a stop-start IPL journey so far, but IPL 2026 looks like the start of a new chapter. He understands that with Marco Jansen, Arshdeep, and Xavier Bartlett in the squad, he might not feature in every match. Still, he wants to ensure that whenever he gets the chance, he makes it count.
