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IPL 2024

IPL 2026: Schedule, Teams, Venues, and Season Preview
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is here! As the 19th edition of the world's premier T20 league kicks off on March 28, 2026, all eyes are on the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who ended an 18-year wait last season to lift their maiden trophy.

Once again, 84 matches will be played, promising more action, new rivalries, and the intense pursuit of the Orange and Purple Caps.

🏆 The Defending Champions: RCB’s Historic 2025 Glory
The 2026 season begins with the echoes of RCB’s historic 2025 victory. In a nail-biting final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, RCB defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by just six runs. Virat Kohli’s emotional celebration after 18 seasons of dedication became the defining image of the year. Captain Rajat Patidar leads the squad into 2026 with the goal of becoming the first team since CSK (2010-11) to retain the title.

📅 IPL 2026 Key Details:
Teams & Format The IPL 2026 retains the 10-team structure but introduces a more rigorous league phase to accommodate the expanded 84-match schedule.

Participating Teams:
Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans.

🏟️ Venues and "Home" Grounds

IPL 2026 will be played across 10 venues.

  • Delhi Capitals : Arun Jaitley Stadium.
  • Rajasthan Royals : Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati.
  • Punjab Kings : Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, Mullanpur.
  • • Big news: The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, has been cleared to host matches.

🕒 IPL 2026 Match Timings

To maximize global viewership, the BCCI has maintained the standard broadcast slots:

  • • Evening Matches: 7:30 PM IST.
  • • Afternoon Matches (Double Headers): 3:30 PM IST.
  • • Toss: 30 minutes before the first ball.

🔥 Marquee Clashes to Watch (Phase 1)

The 2026 season opens with high-stakes encounters that will set the tone for the points table:

  • • March 28: RCB vs SRH – The defending champions start their journey at home in Bengaluru.
  • • March 29: MI vs KKR – A battle of the heavyweights at the Wankhede Stadium.
  • •April 1: LSG vs DC – A tactical battle in Lucknow.
  • •April 5: RCB vs CSKVirat Kohli vs MS Dhoni in a clash of titans.

📈 Stay Updated with Hindustan Times

Don't miss a single delivery! Follow Cricket for

  • Live Score IPL 2026: Real-time ball-by-ball updates
  • IPL Points Table: Live standings and Net Run Rate (NRR) analysis
  • • Cap Races: Live tracking of the Orange Cap (Leading Run-scorer) and Purple Cap (Leading Wicket-taker).
  • • Expert Analysis: Post-match breakdowns and fantasy cricket tips.

🏛️ Sources & Official Verification

To ensure our readers get the most accurate and up-to-date information, the data on this page is curated from the following official governing bodies and authorized partners:

Tournament Schedule & Format:

  • • Verified via the IPL T20 Official Website and official press releases from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
  • • Player & Squad Data: Sourced from the IPL T20 Player Auction Results (Abu Dhabi, Dec 2025) and official franchise retention lists.
  • • Broadcasting Rights: Information regarding live telecast and streaming is based on the 2023–2027 Media Rights Cycle awarded to Star Sports Network (TV) and JioStar/JioHotstar (Digital).
  • • Ticketing Partners: Official links are provided through authorized platforms including BookMyShow, District by Zomato, and individual franchise apps.

Plan your summer with the full IPL 2026 Fixture List on Cricket by Hindustan Times—your one-stop destination for all!

…read more

IPL SPECIALS

  • There was no shortage of noise around Hardik Pandya's captaincy and Virat Kohli's batting

    In IPL 2024, upheaval is the name of the game

    Be it zooming powerplay scoring or the broadcaster facing criticism, this IPL has had its share of turbulent times.

  • Mumbai Indians' Hardik Pandya (c) and teammates

    A failed campaign: Where it all went wrong for the Mumbai Indians

    The leadership switch from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya did not go to plan and individual performances dipped too.

  • Chennai Super Kings' Ravindra Jadeja celebrates the wicket of Punjab Kings' Ashutosh Sharma during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings in Dharamshala

    Ravindra Jadeja’s returns a timely assurance for India

    If an IPL economy of 7.26 is heartening, equally promising is how Jadeja steadied CSK’s batting

  • Chennai Super Kings' MS Dhoni plays a shot

    Breaking down MS Dhoni's strange innings against PBKS

    Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep succeeded in keeping MS Dhoni tied down when CSK needed him to fire

  • Punjab Kings' captain Sam Curran shakes hands with Chennai Super Kings' MS Dhoni after Punjab Kings won the IPL match

    Dube failure exposes CSK's middle-overs frailty in seven-wicket defeat to PBKS

    Punjab Kings spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar stifle CSK by not conceding a boundary in eight overs.

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Rajat Patidar celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru

    Rajat Patidar finally gets down to business

    A poor stint with Team India took him off track but the batter has found his game again

  • Sunrisers Hyderabad bowler Pat Cummins celebrates the wicket of Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Faf du Plessis

    IPL’s ‘novice skipper’ Pat Cummins delivering like a seasoned pro for SRH

    Australia’s victorious Test championship and ODI World Cup skipper has led Sunrisers Hyderabad to some astonishing wins this season.

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli runs after playing a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru--

    The Virat Kohli question India needs to answer

    The former skipper is having a great IPL season but how does he fit into India's plans?

  • Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya gestures during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match

    Fans should thank Hardik for making them seen, acknowledged

    After the uproar over his appointment as MI skipper, IPL teams realise that fans are key stakeholders, not faceless.

  • The way Marcus Stoinis helped Lucknow Super Giants take down CSK’s 210 is symbolic of how the anatomy of T20 chases is slowly changing.

    How the anatomy of a T20 chase is changing

    Batters are now aiming to average two-three boundary hits per over for longer periods

  • There was no shortage of noise around Hardik Pandya's captaincy and Virat Kohli's batting

    In IPL 2024, upheaval is the name of the game

    Be it zooming powerplay scoring or the broadcaster facing criticism, this IPL has had its share of turbulent times.

  • Mumbai Indians' Hardik Pandya (c) and teammates

    A failed campaign: Where it all went wrong for the Mumbai Indians

    The leadership switch from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya did not go to plan and individual performances dipped too.

  • Chennai Super Kings' Ravindra Jadeja celebrates the wicket of Punjab Kings' Ashutosh Sharma during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings in Dharamshala

    Ravindra Jadeja’s returns a timely assurance for India

    If an IPL economy of 7.26 is heartening, equally promising is how Jadeja steadied CSK’s batting

  • Chennai Super Kings' MS Dhoni plays a shot

    Breaking down MS Dhoni's strange innings against PBKS

    Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep succeeded in keeping MS Dhoni tied down when CSK needed him to fire

  • Punjab Kings' captain Sam Curran shakes hands with Chennai Super Kings' MS Dhoni after Punjab Kings won the IPL match

    Dube failure exposes CSK's middle-overs frailty in seven-wicket defeat to PBKS

    Punjab Kings spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar stifle CSK by not conceding a boundary in eight overs.

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Rajat Patidar celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru

    Rajat Patidar finally gets down to business

    A poor stint with Team India took him off track but the batter has found his game again

  • Sunrisers Hyderabad bowler Pat Cummins celebrates the wicket of Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Faf du Plessis

    IPL’s ‘novice skipper’ Pat Cummins delivering like a seasoned pro for SRH

    Australia’s victorious Test championship and ODI World Cup skipper has led Sunrisers Hyderabad to some astonishing wins this season.

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli runs after playing a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru--

    The Virat Kohli question India needs to answer

    The former skipper is having a great IPL season but how does he fit into India's plans?

  • Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya gestures during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match

    Fans should thank Hardik for making them seen, acknowledged

    After the uproar over his appointment as MI skipper, IPL teams realise that fans are key stakeholders, not faceless.

  • The way Marcus Stoinis helped Lucknow Super Giants take down CSK’s 210 is symbolic of how the anatomy of T20 chases is slowly changing.

    How the anatomy of a T20 chase is changing

    Batters are now aiming to average two-three boundary hits per over for longer periods

  • There was no shortage of noise around Hardik Pandya's captaincy and Virat Kohli's batting

    In IPL 2024, upheaval is the name of the game

    Be it zooming powerplay scoring or the broadcaster facing criticism, this IPL has had its share of turbulent times.

  • Mumbai Indians' Hardik Pandya (c) and teammates

    A failed campaign: Where it all went wrong for the Mumbai Indians

    The leadership switch from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya did not go to plan and individual performances dipped too.

  • Chennai Super Kings' Ravindra Jadeja celebrates the wicket of Punjab Kings' Ashutosh Sharma during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings in Dharamshala

    Ravindra Jadeja’s returns a timely assurance for India

    If an IPL economy of 7.26 is heartening, equally promising is how Jadeja steadied CSK’s batting

  • Chennai Super Kings' MS Dhoni plays a shot

    Breaking down MS Dhoni's strange innings against PBKS

    Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep succeeded in keeping MS Dhoni tied down when CSK needed him to fire

  • Punjab Kings' captain Sam Curran shakes hands with Chennai Super Kings' MS Dhoni after Punjab Kings won the IPL match

    Dube failure exposes CSK's middle-overs frailty in seven-wicket defeat to PBKS

    Punjab Kings spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar stifle CSK by not conceding a boundary in eight overs.

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Rajat Patidar celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru

    Rajat Patidar finally gets down to business

    A poor stint with Team India took him off track but the batter has found his game again

  • Sunrisers Hyderabad bowler Pat Cummins celebrates the wicket of Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Faf du Plessis

    IPL’s ‘novice skipper’ Pat Cummins delivering like a seasoned pro for SRH

    Australia’s victorious Test championship and ODI World Cup skipper has led Sunrisers Hyderabad to some astonishing wins this season.

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli runs after playing a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru--

    The Virat Kohli question India needs to answer

    The former skipper is having a great IPL season but how does he fit into India's plans?

  • Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya gestures during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match

    Fans should thank Hardik for making them seen, acknowledged

    After the uproar over his appointment as MI skipper, IPL teams realise that fans are key stakeholders, not faceless.

  • The way Marcus Stoinis helped Lucknow Super Giants take down CSK’s 210 is symbolic of how the anatomy of T20 chases is slowly changing.

    How the anatomy of a T20 chase is changing

    Batters are now aiming to average two-three boundary hits per over for longer periods

  • 2026 IPL FAQs

    • When did IPL 2026 start?

      The IPL 2026 season is scheduled to officially begin on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

    • What is the schedule of IPL 2026?

      The BCCI has currently released the schedule for Phase 1 (March 28 to April 12), featuring the first 20 matches. The full schedule for the remaining matches is expected soon, following the announcement of state assembly election dates in several regions.

    • Which teams are playing in the IPL 2026 match on 28th March 2026?

      The season opener features the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

    • How many teams and matches are there in IPL 2026?

      The tournament features 10 teams. This season has expanded to a total of 84 matches (74 league matches and 10 playoff/final matches), making it the largest IPL season to date.

    • What is the schedule for the IPL 2026 final?

      The IPL 2026 Final is confirmed for Sunday, May 31, 2026. It is scheduled to be held in Bengaluru.

    • What is the IPL 2026 playoff schedule?

      *While exact dates are subject to the final schedule release, the tentative window for the playoffs is: Qualifier 1: May 26*, Eliminator: May 27*, Qualifier 2: May 29*, Final: May 31*

    • Where will the IPL 2026 playoffs be held?

      The final will be held in Bengaluru. The venues for the other playoff matches (Qualifier 1, 2, and the Eliminator) are yet to be officially confirmed but typically involve the home grounds of the previous year's finalists or major hubs like Ahmedabad.

    • What are the match timings for IPL 2026?

      Afternoon Matches (Double Headers): 3:30 PM IST, Evening Matches: 7:30 PM IST

    • How can I buy tickets for IPL 2026 matches?

      Tickets can be purchased through official partner platforms like BookMyShow and Insider.in. Additionally, some franchises sell a limited number of tickets through their official team websites and physical stadium box offices.

    • Who is the defending champion of the IPL?

      Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) enter the 2026 season as the defending champions, having won their maiden title in 2025 by defeating Punjab Kings in the final.

    • Where can I watch IPL 2026 live on TV and mobile?

      In India, you can watch the live telecast on Star Sports Network (TV) and stream it digitally for free (or via subscription depending on the plan) on the JioCinema app and website.

    • What is the new "16-match" format for teams?

      Starting this year, the league has moved toward a format where teams play more matches to accommodate the 84-game season. Each team is expected to play 16 league matches before the playoff stage.

    • Are there any new venues added this year?

      Yes, along with the traditional home grounds, the league is utilizing the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur and the ACA Stadium in Guwahati as regular venues for teams like Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals.

    News IPL 2024