Cricket fans, the wait is finally over. The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League is here, and it promises to be the biggest one yet. The TATA IPL 2026 features 10 teams competing in 84 matches from 28 March to 31 May 2026, with Bengaluru hosting both the opening ceremony and the final as defending champions. If you’re planning to follow every ball of this season, here is everything you need to know about the IPL 2026 schedule, teams, venues, captains, and how to watch.
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IPL 2026: Key Dates at a Glance
The 19th Indian Premier League season runs from March 28 to May 31, spanning 78 days of non-stop cricket action. Here’s a quick snapshot:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Tournament Start | March 28, 2026 |
| Opening Match | RCB vs SRH, Bengaluru |
| Total Matches | 84 |
| Total Teams | 10 |
| Format | Double Round-Robin + Playoffs |
| Final | June 3, 2026 (revised) |
| Title Sponsor | TATA Group |
Note: IPL 2025 witnessed an unexpected pause on May 8 due to rising India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam attack. The tournament resumed on May 17 after an eight-day suspension, with the BCCI announcing a revised schedule and pushing the IPL 2025 final to June 3.
Opening Match & Phase 1 Schedule
Here’s the current IPL 2026 status based on today’s date — March 23, 2026:
IPL 2026 Schedule — Current Status
The tournament hasn’t started yet. The first match — RCB vs SRH — is scheduled for March 28, 2026 at 7:30 PM IST at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. So as of today (March 23), no matches have been played yet.
Upcoming Phase 1 Fixtures (March 28 – April 12)
The first phase covers 20 matches from March 28 to April 12, 2026. Here’s the schedule so far announced:
| Match | Date | Teams | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | March 28 (Sat) | RCB vs SRH | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| Match 2 | March 29 (Sun) | MI vs KKR | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| Match 3 | March 30 (Mon) | RR vs CSK | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| Match 4 | March 31 (Tue) | PBKS vs GT | New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| Match 5 | April 1 (Wed) | LSG vs DC | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| Match 6 | April 4 (Sat) | DC vs MI | Delhi | 3:30 PM |
| Match 7 | April 4 (Sat) | GT vs RR | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
The complete second-half schedule will be announced at a later date, after state assembly election dates are finalised.
Key Things to Know Before the Season Starts
- The auction was held on December 16, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, with each franchise given a purse of ₹125 crore. Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, bought by KKR for ₹25.20 crore.
- Notable unsold players included Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jonny Bairstow, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, and Gus Atkinson.
- KKR are already hit by injuries ahead of the season, with Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, and Pathirana all unavailable.
Check back after March 28 for live results, points table, and match-by-match updates!
Tournament Format: How Does IPL 2026 Work?
This year’s IPL features a total of 84 matches — 10 more than last season. All teams face each other twice in a double round-robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the playoff stage.
The playoff structure works as follows:
- Qualifier 1 — 1st vs 2nd place (winner goes directly to the final)
- Eliminator — 3rd vs 4th place
- Qualifier 2 — Eliminator winner vs Qualifier 1 loser
- Final — Qualifier 1 winner vs Qualifier 2 winner
The IPL Governing Council has confirmed that the tournament will expand to 94 matches from 2028 onwards with the return of the complete double round-robin format used until 2021.
All 10 Teams & Their Captains for IPL 2026
The IPL 2026 captains list includes nine Indians and just one overseas player, Pat Cummins. The season also features a new leader in Riyan Parag, who takes the helm at Rajasthan Royals after Sanju Samson was traded to Chennai Super Kings.
| Team | Captain |
|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajat Patidar |
| Chennai Super Kings | Ruturaj Gaikwad |
| Mumbai Indians | Hardik Pandya |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Ajinkya Rahane |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Ishan Kishan (Pat Cummins injured) |
| Rajasthan Royals | Riyan Parag |
| Punjab Kings | Shreyas Iyer |
| Gujarat Titans | Shubman Gill |
| Delhi Capitals | Axar Patel |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Rishabh Pant |
Rajat Patidar captains RCB after leading them to their first-ever IPL title in 2025, with Virat Kohli still in the squad. Patidar faces the challenge of sustaining their winning momentum as defending champions.
Shreyas Iyer continues as Punjab Kings captain, having led them to the IPL final in 2025. In doing so, Iyer became the first captain in IPL history to lead three different teams to the tournament final.
Venues: Where Is IPL 2026 Being Played?
With the return of the home-and-away format, each team plays their home matches at their designated venue. Matches will also be played at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, and MYS Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur. Punjab Kings will play four home matches in New Chandigarh and three in Dharamshala, while Rajasthan Royals will play three home matches in Guwahati and four in Jaipur.
Biggest Storylines to Watch in IPL 2026
1. RCB defending their maiden title After 18 long years, RCB finally won their first IPL trophy in 2025. Rajat Patidar’s side — with Virat Kohli still firing — will be under enormous pressure to prove it wasn’t a one-season wonder.
2. The Sanju Samson–Jadeja trade A pre-season trade saw Ravindra Jadeja join Rajasthan Royals from CSK, with Sanju Samson — Player of the Tournament in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2026 — moving the other way to Chennai Super Kings. This blockbuster swap reshuffles the balance of power significantly.
3. Cameron Green’s record-breaking deal Australia’s Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, with Kolkata Knight Riders acquiring the all-rounder for ₹25.20 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. All eyes will be on whether he justifies that price tag.
4. Punjab Kings are chasing their first title. Shreyas Iyer led PBKS to the final last season, reviving the franchise’s hopes of a maiden IPL trophy. Can they finally break their title drought in 2026?
5. Playoffs picture: Four teams will battle for their spots in the playoffs.
How to Watch IPL 2026 Live
Star Sports Network is the official broadcaster for TATA IPL 2026 in India, while live streaming is available on JioHotstar — the combined platform of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. JioCinema offers live cricket streaming in 4K quality for free, making it accessible to fans without any subscription fees for the free tier.
Final Thoughts
IPL 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic editions in the tournament’s history — a record 84-match season, blockbuster player trades, new captains, young talent, and the weight of a championship defence on RCB’s shoulders. With Bengaluru hosting both the opening ceremony and the final, the tournament has come full circle for the defending champions.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan tracking every ball or a casual viewer tuning in for the big clashes, the IPL 2026 schedule ensures there is something unmissable every single day. Block your calendars, set your reminders, and get ready — the 19th edition is already delivering.
Stay tuned for live score updates, player performance stats, and match predictions throughout the tournament.
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