CPL 2026: Who should fans look out for?

In 2026, franchises will represent Trinidad and Tobago (Trinbago Knight Riders), Guyana (Guyana Amazon Warriors), St Lucia (St Lucia Kings), Barbados (Barbados Tridents), Antigua/Barbuda (Antigua/Barbuda Falcons), St Kitts/Nevis (St Kitts/Nevis Patriots), and Jamaica (Jamaica Kingsmen).

With an additional team entering the fray, there will be a little additional expectation when the 2026 edition bowls off on August 7th (from this writer, at least). So, ahead of the tournament, here are my hot tips for players to look out for, along with a few things I’d like to see from each franchise.

The 2025 champions maintain the core of the team who claimed victory a year ago: Captain Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Joshua Da Silva, Kieron Pollard, Nathan Edward, Sunil Narine, Terrance Hinds and Usman Tariq.

All-rounder Dexter Sween, half-brother of team coach Dwayne Bravo, pacer Abdul-Raheem Toppin and experienced batsman Jyd Goolie are new members of the TKR fold. Sween and Toppin are CPL rookies while Goolie represented the Patriots last year.

A player to look at is Dominic Drakes, who has struggled to live up to his potential as a top-class bowling all-rounder, both at the CPL and international level.

Having played for the Patriots from 2019-2025, Drakes has changed scenery, and maybe that switch can rejuvenate a career that has seemingly gone cold of late

One thing to look at is the off-spin duo of Narine and Tariq. Both bowlers have dealt with scrutiny over their respective bowling actions, but Pooran will be banking on them as his trump cards during the season.

Some of the Amazon Warriors players featured in the 2026 Global Super League in Guyana, with the hosts retaining their crown in a low-scoring final last Saturday.

The retained players from the 2025 CPL runners-up squad are captain Imran Tahir, West Indies white-ball skipper Shai Hope, Dwaine Pretorius, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Joseph, and Shimron Hetmyer.

New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips, who missed the 2025 edition for the Amazon Warriors, should feature this year, as well as fellow off-spinning all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.

Some of the local faces in the Amazon Warriors include former West Indies youth team players like pacer Isai Thorne, all-rounder Jonathan van Lange, opening batsman Matthew Nandu, and middle-order batsman Mavendra Dindiyal. They also have another all-rounder in Ronaldo Alimohamed and a veteran left-arm spinner in Veerasammy Permaul.

Quentin Sampson is one face to watch. Having earned a shock selection in the West Indies team for the 2026 T20 World Cup, Sampson did not play a match in the tournament and was dropped for the home series against Sri Lanka. 

Named the Breakout Player of the 2025 CPL, Sampson will want to prove that he is not a one-hit wonder.

On home conditions, Permaul and the experienced Khary Pierre will be crucial, as well as off-spinners Phillips, Nabi and the wily leg-spinner Tahir.

St Lucia Kings have a new captain in West Indies’ Test team skipper Roston Chase, and they have a number of new faces within their ranks, including medium pacer Darron Nedd, Barbadian pace-bowling all-rounder Amari Goodridge, and the Trinidad pair of opener Kamil Pooran and left-arm spinner Damion Joachim.

Exciting wicket-keeper/batsman Jewel Andrew, left-arm spinning all-rounder Joshua Bishop and pacer McKenny Clarke have all made the switch to the Kings this season, joining Afghanistan’s left-arm spinner Noor Ahmed and the Sri Lankan duo of all-rounder Charith Asalanka and off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana.

Ackeem Auguste has been highly touted since his time as West Indies Under-19 captain during the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup at home. With international experience under his belt, the top-order batsman is fancied to show further growth, especially against the slew of spin bowling on offer in this year’s CPL.

One thing to look out for as far as the Kings are concerned is the make-up of the pace-bowling attack, with West Indies’ Matthew Forde likely to be partnered by at least one of the inexperienced group of Goodridge, Clarke, or Keon Gaston.

Having been known as the Barbados Royals from 2021-2025, the Tridents have now returned to their previous name. Their side features several players who will be striving to live up to their potential.

Chris Green has replaced Rovman Powell as Tridents’ skipper, joining fellow West Indies T20 standout Sherfane Rutherford and top-order batting all-rounders Kadeem Alleyne and Kofi James, who should all be key ingredients in the Tridents’ squad. Brandon King will be doubtful for the initial stage of the tournament due to a back injury, but could have an impact later on.

As far as the younger brigade are concerned, pacers Johann Layne and Ramon Simmonds, as well as leg-spinner Zishan Motara, all made their international debuts after the 2025 CPL. Other names to look out for are recent WI youth team graduates Rivaldo Clarke (wicketkeeper/batsman), Zachary Carter (opening batsman), and Jakeem Pollard (left-arm pacer).

With regards to the overseas inclusions, Australia’s Green and Afghanistan’s Mujeed-Ur-Rahman (both off-spinners), South Africa’s Quinton De Kock (wicketkeeper/batsman), and George Linde (left-arm spinner) should have vital roles in the Tridents’ 2026 campaign.

Gudakesh Motie has played all of his CPL matches (2021-2025) for the Amazon Warriors, so all eyes will be on the experienced left-arm spinner to see how quickly he can adapt to new surroundings with the Tridents.

Another thing to keep watch on is the pace attack, with Layne, Simmonds, and Pollard yet to establish themselves at the CPL level.

On paper, the Falcons should have one of the most formidable teams in the competition, with all but one of their West Indies-born players tasting international experience.

Moeen Ali, the ex-England all-rounder, will replace Pakistan’s Imad Wasim as the captain and will have the likes of Evin Lewis, pacers Alzarri Joseph, Anderson Phillip and Jayden Seales, wicketkeeper/batsmen Amir Jangoo and Jahmar Hamilton, left-arm spinning all-rounder Fabian Allen, all-rounders Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua James, Karima Gore, and Shamar Springer at his disposal.

Anderson Mahase is the only one of the WI-born crop who has not played at the international stage, but he was part of the WI team at the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup. The left-arm spinner will want to make a name for himself this year in his debut CPL season.

Kusal Perera will likely partner Lewis at the top of the order, and the Sri Lankan left-hander’s versatility on slow tracks could prove handy this season.

The Patriots have not lived up to the heights of 2021, when they were crowned CPL champions.

Veteran Jason Holder remains as team skipper, with fellow West Indians Kyle Mayers, Andre Fletcher, Alick Athanaze, Ashmead Nedd, Navin Bidaisee, and the Louis brothers Mikyle and Jeremiah returning from the 2025 squad.

Exciting Australian all-rounder Nikhil Chaudhary, Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka, and Wanindu Hasaranga, Pakistan’s Naseem Shah, and Afghanistan’s Waqar Salamkheil are also in the mix this year.

Kevin Wickham impressed during the 2026 West Indies Championship and will want to show that he can adapt his exciting strokeplay to suit the game’s shortened format.

Opening batsman Johnson Charles and left-arm pacer Obed McCoy will be part of the Patriots’ 2026 team, but it remains to be seen whether either player can show they still deserve selection in the CPL, let alone international cricket.

Jamaica are back in the CPL fold after the 10-year stint of the Jamaica Tallawahs (2013-2023).

Rovman Powell will be the team skipper, and he has been joined by fellow Jamaicans in batsman Kirk McKenzie, as well as experienced pace-bowling all-rounders Andre Russell and Odean Smith. Not to mention seasoned campaigners like Keacy Carty, Keemo Paul, and Jeavor Royal.

There has been a bit of conjecture surrounding the seven Pakistan players that form the overseas brigade. They are: Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Shayan Jahangir, Tayyab Arif and Usman Khan.

Vitel Lawes is easily the player to keep an eye on as he will want to prove that his meteoric rise from West Indies Under-19 player to the WI One-Day International ranks is not a false dawn.

Pacers Kelvin Pittman and Jediah Blades will also want to make a name for themselves on the CPL circuit. Blades, just like Lawes, has international experience, but he has yet to stamp his name in the regional T20 contest.

Who are you backing?