IPL 2026 starts on March 28, 2026, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The final is scheduled for May 31, 2026, in Bengaluru as well.
The BCCI announced the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule on March 11, covering 20 matches across 10 venues from March 28 to April 12. The remaining fixtures will be released after the state assembly election dates in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala are confirmed. This 19th edition features 84 matches, 10 more than last season, played across 13+ stadiums in India.
Here’s your complete guide to the IPL 2026 schedule, format, teams, venues, match timings, ticket prices, and where to watch it live.
IPL 2026 Key Dates At A Glance
Before we break down the full schedule, here are the dates you should mark right away.
| Detail | Date / Info |
|---|---|
| Tournament Start | March 28, 2026 |
| Opening Match | RCB vs SRH, Bengaluru |
| Phase 1 End | April 12, 2026 (20 matches) |
| Total Matches | 84 (league stage) + 4 playoffs |
| Final | May 31, 2026, Bengaluru |
| Playoffs Begin | Late May 2026 |
| Match Timings | 3:30 PM IST (afternoon) / 7:30 PM IST (evening) |
| Defending Champions | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
Why Has BCCI Released Only a Partial Schedule?
If you’re wondering why only 20 out of 84 matches have been announced so far, the answer is elections.
State assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala are expected to be held during the IPL window. Since Kolkata (KKR’s home), Chennai (CSK’s home), and Guwahati (RR’s second home) fall in these states, the BCCI is waiting for the Election Commission to announce poll dates before finalizing the rest.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the second phase will be unveiled once the election schedule is out.
This isn’t new, by the way. The BCCI did the same thing during IPL 2024 when elections overlapped with the tournament window.
IPL 2026 Phase 1 Schedule: All 20 Matches (March 28 – April 12)
Here’s the complete list of the first 20 matches confirmed by the BCCI. No double-headers on the opening weekend, which is a bit unusual.
| SR.No. | Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 28, Sat | RCB vs SRH | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 2 | Mar 29, Sun | MI vs KKR | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 3 | Mar 30, Mon | RR vs CSK | Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 4 | Mar 31, Tue | PBKS vs GT | PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| 5 | Apr 1, Wed | LSG vs DC | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 6 | Apr 2, Thu | KKR vs SRH | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 7 | Apr 3, Fri | CSK vs PBKS | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 8 | Apr 4, Sat | DC vs MI | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 3:30 PM |
| 9 | Apr 4, Sat | GT vs RR | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 10 | Apr 5, Sun | SRH vs LSG | Rajiv Gandhi Intl Stadium, Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| 11 | Apr 5, Sun | RCB vs CSK | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 12 | Apr 6, Mon | KKR vs PBKS | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | Apr 7, Tue | RR vs MI | Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | Apr 8, Wed | DC vs GT | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | Apr 9, Thu | KKR vs LSG | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 16 | Apr 10, Fri | RR vs RCB | Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati | 3:30 PM |
| 17 | Apr 10, Fri | PBKS vs SRH | PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| 18 | Apr 11, Sat | CSK vs DC | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 3:30 PM |
| 19 | Apr 11, Sat | LSG vs GT | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 20 | Apr 12, Sun | MI vs RCB | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Double-Header Dates in Phase 1
The first phase includes four double-headers. Afternoon games kick off at 3:30 PM IST and evening games at 7:30 PM IST.
| Date | Matches |
|---|---|
| April 4 (Sat) | DC vs MI (Delhi) / GT vs RR (Ahmedabad) |
| April 5 (Sun) | SRH vs LSG (Hyderabad) / RCB vs CSK (Bengaluru) |
| April 10 (Fri) | RR vs RCB (Guwahati) / PBKS vs SRH (New Chandigarh) |
| April 11 (Sat) | CSK vs DC (Chennai) / LSG vs GT (Lucknow) |
Notably, the opening weekend (March 28–30) has no double-headers, which is a departure from recent seasons.
Marquee Matches to Watch in Phase 1
Here are high-intensity matches to look for.
RCB vs SRH – The Season Opener (March 28, Bengaluru)
The defending champions kick things off at their fortress, the Chinnaswamy Stadium. This will be RCB’s first match as title holders, a sentence that still feels surreal after 17 years of waiting. Expect the stadium to be absolutely electric.
RR vs CSK – The Blockbuster Trade Showdown (March 30, Guwahati)
Sanju Samson plays against his former team, the Rajasthan Royals, for the first time after being traded to CSK. On the other side, Ravindra Jadeja faces the Chennai Super Kings after years of being their backbone. This one is pure drama.
MI vs KKR – Five-Time Champs Collide (March 29, Mumbai)
Mumbai Indians under Hardik Pandya take on Kolkata Knight Riders led by Ajinkya Rahane. KKR’s big-money buy of Cameron Green (₹25.20 crore, the most expensive overseas player ever) will be under the spotlight right from Match 2.
RCB vs CSK – The Southern Derby (April 5, Bengaluru)
Few rivalries in cricket match the intensity of RCB vs CSK. With Virat Kohli still in RCB’s ranks and CSK fielding new addition Sanju Samson, this clash promises fireworks.
MI vs RCB – The Phase 1 Finale (April 12, Mumbai)
The first phase ends with a bang. Mumbai Indians host the defending champions RCB at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Historically, this fixture draws some of the highest TV viewership numbers in the IPL.
IPL 2026 Format: How 84 Matches Work
The IPL 2026 format sees a significant expansion from 74 matches last season to 84 league-stage games. Here’s how it breaks down.
All 10 teams face each other twice, making it a partial double round-robin format. Each team plays 14 league matches before the top four qualify for playoffs.
Playoff Structure
The playoff format stays the same as previous seasons and gives the top two teams a safety net.
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | 1st vs 2nd (Winner goes to Final) |
| Eliminator | 3rd vs 4th (Loser is out) |
| Qualifier 2 | Loser of Q1 vs Winner of Eliminator |
| Final | Winner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2 (May 31, Bengaluru) |
From 2028 onwards, the IPL is expected to expand further to 94 matches with a complete double round-robin format, similar to what was used until 2021.
All 10 IPL 2026 Teams and Their Captains
Here’s a quick look at who’s leading whom this season. Some names are familiar, others are refreshing changes.
| Team | Captain | Home Ground(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Ruturaj Gaikwad | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | Hardik Pandya | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Rajat Patidar | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Ajinkya Rahane | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | Shubman Gill | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Riyan Parag | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur / Barsapara, Guwahati |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | Rishabh Pant | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Pat Cummins | Rajiv Gandhi Intl Stadium, Hyderabad |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | Axar Patel | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Shreyas Iyer | PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh / Dharamshala |
The biggest pre-season talking point? Riyan Parag takes over as Rajasthan Royals’ full-time captain after Sanju Samson’s trade to CSK. At 24, he’s one of the youngest skippers in the tournament’s history.
Biggest Trades and Auction Highlights for IPL 2026
The IPL 2026 mini auction was held on December 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi. The auction purse for each franchise was set at ₹125 crore. A total of 77 players were sold (including 29 overseas) for a combined spend of approximately ₹215.45 crore.
Headline Auction Buy
Cameron Green was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player and third most expensive player in IPL history. That’s serious money, even by IPL standards.
Most Expensive Uncapped Players
Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma were both bought by Chennai Super Kings for ₹14.20 crore each, becoming the joint-most expensive uncapped players ever in the IPL. CSK clearly betting big on domestic talent.
The Blockbuster Trade
The trade that shook the cricketing world: CSK acquired Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. Samson heads to Chennai while Jadeja returns to Rajasthan — both playing against their former teams on March 30 in Guwahati. The storylines practically write themselves.
Notable Unsold Players
Not everyone found a buyer. Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jonny Bairstow, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Alzarri Joseph, Gus Atkinson, Deepak Hooda, and Karn Sharma were among the 79 players who went unsold. Tough luck, but that’s the IPL auction for you.
IPL 2026 Venues: Complete List of Stadiums
The IPL 2026 will be played across multiple cities. For Phase 1, 10 venues are confirmed. The total number of venues for the full season is expected to be 13 or more.
| Stadium | City | Capacity | Teams / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru | ~40,000 | RCB (Home) + Final |
| Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai | ~33,000 | MI (Home) |
| MA Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | ~50,000 | CSK (Home) |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata | ~68,000 | KKR (Home) |
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | ~1,32,000 | GT (Home) |
| Rajiv Gandhi Intl Stadium | Hyderabad | ~55,000 | SRH (Home) |
| Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow | ~50,000 | LSG (Home) |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi | ~41,000 | DC (Home) |
| Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur | ~30,000 | RR (Primary Home) |
| Barsapara Cricket Stadium | Guwahati | ~40,000 | RR (Second Home) |
| PCA Stadium | New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) | ~32,000 | PBKS (Primary Home) |
| HPCA Stadium | Dharamshala | ~23,000 | PBKS (Second Home) |
| Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium | Naya Raipur | ~65,000 | RCB (Second Home) |
Split Home Venues
RCB plays 5 home matches in Bengaluru and 2 in Raipur. PBKS splits their home fixtures between 4 in New Chandigarh and 3 in Dharamshala. Rajasthan Royals will play 3 matches in Guwahati and 4 in Jaipur.
Chinnaswamy Stadium Clearance Update
All matches scheduled at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium are subject to clearance from a Karnataka government expert committee. The stadium hasn’t hosted top-flight cricket since the tragic stampede during RCB’s 2025 victory parade, which claimed 11 lives. An inspection and mock demonstration is scheduled for March 13, 2026.
IPL 2026 Match Timings
Match timings remain consistent with previous seasons.
| Match Type | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Evening Matches (Single-header days) | 7:30 PM IST |
| Afternoon Matches (Double-header days) | 3:30 PM IST |
| Evening Matches (Double-header days) | 7:30 PM IST |
Stadium gates typically open 3 hours before the match. So if you’re heading to the ground, plan accordingly, especially for Mumbai and Bengaluru games where traffic can be, well, its own kind of T20 thriller.
IPL 2026 Ticket Prices and How to Book
Getting IPL tickets is often harder than getting a ticket to a Coldplay concert in India. Here’s what you need to know.
Expected Ticket Price Ranges
| Category | Estimated Price Range |
|---|---|
| General Stand | ₹450 – ₹850 |
| Mid-Range Seats | ₹900 – ₹3,000 |
| Premium / Corporate Boxes | ₹4,000 – ₹18,000 |
| VIP / Hospitality | ₹19,000 and above |
Important: IPL 2026 tickets now attract a 40% GST, up from the earlier 28% slab. This means a ticket with a base price of ₹1,000 will now cost you around ₹1,400 after tax. This puts IPL match tickets in the same GST bracket as casinos and race clubs.
Where to Buy IPL 2026 Tickets
BookMyShow and Paytm Insider (District) remain the primary ticket booking platforms. Some franchises also sell through their own official websites. Mumbai Indians have already opened pre-sale registration on BookMyShow, with the actual booking window expected to open around March 26.
Pro tip: Mark yourself as “Interested” for specific teams on BookMyShow to get push notifications the moment tickets go live. For high-demand matches like MI vs CSK or RCB vs MI, tickets sell out in minutes. Not exaggerating, literally minutes.
Where to Watch IPL 2026 Live: TV and Streaming
Whether you’re watching from your couch or sneaking a stream at work (we won’t judge), here’s where to catch the action.
TV Broadcast: Star Sports network holds the satellite broadcasting rights. Matches will be available across Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, and regional language channels.
Live Streaming: JioHotstar is the official digital streaming partner. You’ll need a JioHotstar subscription to stream seamlessly. JioStar holds both the satellite and digital rights for the 2023–2027 cycle.
Team-Wise Home Matches in Phase 1
Here’s a quick breakdown of which teams play at home during the first phase.
| Team | Phase 1 Home Fixtures |
|---|---|
| RCB | 2 home matches (Bengaluru): vs SRH (Mar 28), vs CSK (Apr 5) |
| MI | 2 home matches (Mumbai): vs KKR (Mar 29), vs RCB (Apr 12) |
| CSK | 2 home matches (Chennai): vs PBKS (Apr 3), vs DC (Apr 11) |
| KKR | 3 home matches (Kolkata): vs SRH (Apr 2), vs PBKS (Apr 6), vs LSG (Apr 9) |
| RR | 3 home matches (Guwahati): vs CSK (Mar 30), vs MI (Apr 7), vs RCB (Apr 10) |
| PBKS | 2 home matches (New Chandigarh): vs GT (Mar 31), vs SRH (Apr 10) |
| LSG | 2 home matches (Lucknow): vs DC (Apr 1), vs GT (Apr 11) |
| DC | 2 home matches (Delhi): vs MI (Apr 4), vs GT (Apr 8) |
| GT | 1 home match (Ahmedabad): vs RR (Apr 4) |
| SRH | 1 home match (Hyderabad): vs LSG (Apr 5) |
KKR and RR get the most home games in Phase 1 (3 each), while GT and SRH have just one each. That imbalance will even out once the full schedule drops.
Why Does IPL 2026 Start Later Than Usual?
In previous years, the IPL typically kicked off in the second week of March. This time, the start date was pushed to March 28 for a very good reason.
The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, had its final on March 8, 2026. The BCCI wanted a three-week gap between the World Cup final and the start of the IPL to give players rest and preparation time.
Originally, the start was set for March 26, but it was postponed by 2 more days in late February 2026. This also caused a scheduling clash with the 2026 Pakistan Super League, which had to shift its window for the second consecutive year.
Pre-Season Controversies Around IPL 2026
Mustafizur Rahman’s Exclusion
Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman, bought by KKR for ₹9.2 crore at the auction, was asked by the BCCI to be released in January 2026. The decision followed growing tensions after anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh during 2025.
The move drew mixed reactions. Aakash Chopra supported the decision, while Shashi Tharoor and former Bangladeshi captains Khaled Mahmud and Mohammad Ashraful criticized it. Bangladesh eventually banned the broadcast of IPL in its country.
Chinnaswamy Stadium Safety Concerns
As mentioned, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium hasn’t hosted cricket since the 2025 victory parade stampede. The Karnataka government’s expert committee inspection on March 13 will be crucial in determining whether Bengaluru hosts IPL matches this season.
What’s New in IPL 2026 Compared to Last Season?
Let’s quickly run through the key differences between IPL 2025 and IPL 2026.
| Aspect | IPL 2025 | IPL 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Matches | 74 | 84 |
| Format | Partial double round-robin with groups | Full double round-robin (no groups) |
| Auction Type | Mega Auction | Mini Auction (Abu Dhabi) |
| Ticket GST | 28% | 40% |
| Title Sponsor | Tata | Tata (renewed through 2028) |
| Defending Champions | KKR | RCB |
The biggest structural change is the move to 84 matches. Every team now plays every other team twice, which makes the league stage fairer and reduces the role of luck in determining playoff spots.
Suggested Reads:
Final Words: IPL 2026 Schedule for First 20 Matches Is Out Now!
IPL 2026 shapes up to be one of the most exciting editions yet. With RCB defending their maiden title, blockbuster trades like Samson-to-CSK and Jadeja-to-RR, 84 matches for the first time, and a new generation of captains leading their squads, the storylines are already writing themselves.
The tournament begins March 28 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium and wraps up with the final on May 31. Keep an eye on this space as the BCCI releases the remaining fixtures after state election dates are confirmed.
