Vishnu Vinod sits outside the model's optimal XII. His projected WAR/M of 0.18 is driven by batting (0.21 raw batting WAR/M), but his IPL confidence of 0.15 is the lowest on the roster. The model has just 36 IPL T20 balls to work with, so the projection is almost entirely regression-based. With 539 career batting balls across domestic T20s, there is more data outside the IPL, but the model discounts it.

Batting Profile

Vinod scored 822 career runs at 141 SR across 28 T20 matches. By phase: 139 PP SR (122 balls), 113 mid SR (237 balls), 169 death SR (52 balls).

None of the phases stand out. The powerplay SR of 139 is 13 points below the 152 league average. The middle-overs SR of 113 is 32 points below average. The death numbers (169) are close to average but on a 52 ball sample.

His xImpact of 52 suggests the model sees some raw talent, but the lack of IPL exposure makes it speculative.

Why He Misses the XII

PBKS have Prabhsimran Singh as the primary wicketkeeper. Vinod's batting numbers do not justify displacing any of the top seven batters. His 0.15 IPL confidence means the model cannot distinguish him from a replacement-level player with any certainty.

What This Means for IPL 2026

Vinod is backup wicketkeeper cover. If Prabhsimran Singh is unavailable, Vinod steps in as the keeping option, allowing PBKS to maintain their team structure without using an overseas slot on a keeper. His 17% death share suggests some finishing ability, but the sample is too thin to project with confidence.