IPL 2026 Updates: Franchise skippers unite for Captains' Day, teams put in final preparations

IPL 2026 Live updates: Only three nights to go until the IPL is kickstarted at the Chinnaswamy. A lot seems to be happening very quickly in what has been a tournament buildup for physios and agents so far – proving fitness, finding replacements. Hopefully we have seen the end of that, but you can never be too safe.

IPL 2026 Live updates: More replacements coming in for the tournament – the injury-burdened KKR turn to some Indian capped pace bowling, in the search for some time in the middle, as Navdeep Saini replaces his Delhi teammate Harshit Rana.

GT, meanwhile, pick up Kulwant Khejroliya to replace the injured Prithviraj Yarra.

IPL 2026 Live updates: So far, only twenty matches have been announced, four games for each team – meaning fifty games are yet to be scheduled, depending on election announcements in a range of states. Fans will be looking at their calendars and pencilling in the early dates, but every team will also want to watch so or so particular player – when is Virat Kohli coming to Delhi, or when can fans in Mumbai get their first look at Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? Still lots to hold on for.

IPL 2026 Live updates: IPL's social media channels currently full of videos from the Captains Day event taking place, with all the stars leading their respective teams decked out in their colours. As we mentioned earlier, all Indian players and teammates at the minute, which means it is all a good energy and vibe as they have some fun and games before the real competition begins.

IPL 2026 Live updates: Given they have maintained the core of the group from 2025, RCB will remain in the conversation thanks to their batting and the well-rounded bowling unit. But for the title holders, there are still a few questions – if Josh Hazlewood is unavailable, does the bowling retain the same strength if Jacob Duffy has to play? And who must sit out if the in-form Jacob Bethell has to play?

Things aren't so straightforward for RCB – with one piece of their core missing, they need to search for the right strategy.

IPL 2026 Live updates: Sanju Samson's addition to the Chennai Super Kings feels like a homecoming almost, given the love he has always received from that part of the country, and how he made it count in the recent T20 World Cup. He joins at the top of the order and is locked in there – but the question is whether he will also take the gloves, with much of MS Dhoni's value in 2026 coming from his tactical sense and continued speed with the gloves.

With Samson also being a gun fielder in the outfield, Dhoni will likely retain his spot – but come CSK's first game, still something to keep a wary eye on.

IPL 2026 Live updates: Hardik Pandya rejoined Mumbai Indians in 2024, but he hasn't quite had the success he would have expected with the powerhouse team at his disposal. MI's big question is how that can change, and what is needed to bring the city a first title since 2020.

However, while many have argued that Suryakumar Yadav should come in as captain ahead of Hardik, given that is their relationship for the national team, an equal school of thought argues that Pandya has show capacity as a leader in the IPL.

READ HERE: MI told not to repeat Rohit Sharma mistake with Hardik Pandya: ‘Now SKY is hot topic, next year will be someone else’

IPL 2026 Live updates: What teams have committed to hosting ahead of the tournament, as a draw for new fans but equally as a tip of the hat to old loyal ones, are fan events that allow for unique and energetic interactions with the players and team as a whole. RCB were trailblazers, having done so for several years, but other teams have stepped it up – MI, SRH, and most notably CSK, who welcomed back two decades of CSK alumni to the Chepauk stadium for a glorious reunion, a true trip of nostalgia.

IPL 2026 Live updates: In the week before the IPL, the franchises are trying to figure out which players will be best able to translate their form and numbers into the most value in a starting lineup. Analytics and data will point towards certain players, but it is still tough to account for form and the intangibles – who are the unheralded names who can stand up, make a name for themselves, ensure they won't be forgotten? Every year has a couple of those kinds of players, and teams like SRH, RCB, and KKR have already played intra-squad practice games in an attempt to find them. No doubt the remainder of the teams will have their own versions soon.

IPL 2026 Live updates: Since last year's mega-auction, there has been a converted effort to ensure the captains of each franchise are domestic players, available throughout, with excellent reach externally and within the team. The sole holdout were SRH, who quote rightly stuck with the winning mentality of Pat Cummins – but in the Australian's absence, they have gone to Ishan Kishan, who captained Jharkhand domestically and with great success in this season gone by. Now, every team has a skipper who is Indian, which is certainly significant, if only temporary at the moment.

IPL 2026 Live updates: The last two weeks have proven why the Pakistan Super League's decision to shift their window to match the IPL has arguably been a mistake. It was a call made to ensure that overseas players would have availability during this period, but also meant that if it came down to a choice, the PSL would be left over with players only if they didn't earn IPL contracts. On top of that, if Indian teams do come knocking, it has proven to be the case that the PSL doesn't have the financial incentive or the staying power.

IPL 2026 Live updates: With the T20 World Cup just gone by and the next one two years away, the next cycle of international T20 cricket begins with this IPL as teams begin to test out the options at their disposal for the next showpiece. Teams like Australia, eliminated early, need to answer questions with regards to their approach, while England and South Africa need to understand how to take the next step. Even for India, there are questions – are there upgrades to be made in the team? Will Suryakumar Yadav, 38 during the next World Cup, still be in charge or will soemone younger step into his boots? All these questions need answering, and there will be players aplenty chomping at the bit to take up the call.

IPL 2026 Live updates: The first weekend of the IPL will have a set of powerful teams lock horns. Defending champions RCB will want to prove they still have the steel and the resources, but it is Sunrisers Hyderabad who enter the tournament with a point to prove – can the ferocious batting fight back after a quiet 2025, under the leadership of Ishan Kishan?

On Sunday, it is two historic franchises with Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR barely ever win at the Wankhede, only twice in history, and MI have gone over a decade without a winning start to the IPL. One team must end that curse.

IPL 2026 Live updates: Royal Challengers Bengaluru have had the shadow of the lives lost during the victory parade follow the franchise over the last 10 months, as the Chinnaswamy Stadium passed muster just in the nick of time to be the home ground after big investigations into how fit the city-centre venue was to host matches given security apparatus at its disposal. Not much can be done to lessen the tragedy, but RCB nonetheless try to make a start – but much more will be expected.

Read here: RCB to keep 11 seats reserved for all IPL 2026 home matches as tribute to the stampede victims

IPL 2026 Live updates: High prices and an opaque system behind the roll-out of tickets – this is something that has plagued tournaments in Indian cricket for several years, as the supply and demand of India's favourite pastime continues to try and find a steady balance. What's going wrong?

READ HERE: ₹1 lakh for MI vs RCB: Rapid sell-out, unofficial third-party listings - IPL fans left outraged by lack of tickets

IPL 2026 Live updates: With a couple of days to go for the tournament, the big news surrounds the sale of two Royal franchises – Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Rajasthan Royals, both being bought out by a pair of consortia that have quietly indicated the shift towards American investment in the cash-rich league. The landscape of cricket continues to change, and these signposts have plenty of significance.

READ HERE: RCB, Rajasthan Royals and valuation boom: How IPL’s latest sales pushed league into global sports asset elite

Sunrisers Hyderabad have two clear availability updates before IPL 2026 begins. Pat Cummins is set to miss the opening part of the season as he continues his recovery from a back issue, with Ishan Kishan leading the side in the interim.

SRH have also made a confirmed replacement move: Jack Edwards has been ruled out with a foot injury, and the franchise have signed left-arm seamer David Payne as his replacement.

Royal Challenger Bengaluru's fast bowling availability picture has worsened ahead of IPL 2026. Yash Dayal will not be part of the squad this season, with RCB director of cricket Mo Bobat confirming he is unavailable because of a “personal matter” even though he remains under contract with the franchise.

RCB are also still waiting on Josh Hazlewood, with Bobat confirming the Australia quick is continuing his return-to-play programme.

Rajasthan Royals have alreayd made one confirmed replacement ahead of IPL 2026, with Sam Curran ruled out through injury and Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka signed his place for INR 2 crore. The change was confirmed by IPL on March 23 and then detailed by the franchise.

Punjab Kings' main availability issue ahead of IPL 2026 is Lockie Ferguson, who is set to miss the early part of the season after choosing to stay back in New Zealand following the birth of his child. Lockie Ferguson is likely to miss Punjab's first seven matches before linking up with the squad.

Update from the MI camp is that overseas players Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Corbin Bosch and Sherfane Rutherford have already joined the camp, with the MI also showing the squad back at Wankhede in pre-season training.

The one watch point is Jasprit Bumrah. There is no official MI or IPL announcement ruling him out, but he has not yet been publicly confirmed in the camp, and a report earlier said he had reached the BCCI Centre of Excellence shortly before the season start.

Lucknow Super Giants do not have one clear availability issue at the start of the season. Josh Inglis is set to miss the opening few matches because of his wedding in early April. That limited availability has already been flagged around the auction and remains part of the LSG's early season planning. Meanwhile, there is a positive update too - Mayank Yadav has said he is fully fit after his back injury layoff and ready for IPL 2026.

Kolkata Knight Riders are among the worst-hit teams in terms of availability before IPL 2026. Akash Deep has been ruled out of the season with a lumbar stress injury, and KKR have signed left-arm quick Saurabh Dubey as his replacement for INR 30 lakh. Harshit Rana is also set to miss the season as he recovers from knee surgery, while Matheesha Pathirana remains unavailable for the realy phase he waits on fitness clearance.

Gujarat Titans do not have any confirmed withdrawals or replacements on the books for IPL 2026. Pre-season team update is that GT have their entire squad fit and available, with Sai Sudharsan, who had suffered a rib fracture in January, also looking set to start the season. Jos Buttler, meanwhile, is also expected to join up with the franchise for the new campaign. So, for now, GT's availability picture is relatively clean.

Delhi Capitals have one clear availability setback before IPL 2026: Ben Duckett has withdrawn from the tournament, citing the need to reset physically and mentally ahead of England's home season. As of today, there is still no official announcement of a replacement from either the IPL or the franchise. On the positive side, KL Rahul has linked up with the squad ahead of the season, giving DC a major boost as preparations continue.