IPL 2026, officially known as TATA IPL 2026, is the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. The tournament begins on 28 March 2026 and concludes with the grand final on 31 May 2026. Here is everything a cricket fan needs to know about IPL 2026.
What is IPL 2026?
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the world’s most watched T20 cricket league, organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). IPL 2026 is the 19th edition of the tournament, featuring all 10 franchises competing in 84 matches over 65 days. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) enter the season as defending champions after claiming their maiden IPL title in 2025.
IPL 2026 Quick Facts
- Edition: 19th (IPL 19)
- Sponsorship Title: TATA IPL 2026
- Start Date: 28 March 2026
- Final Date: 31 May 2026
- Final Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Total Teams: 10
- Total Matches: 84 (expanded from 74 in 2025)
- Defending Champions: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Auction Date: 16 December 2025, Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
- Auction Purse Per Team: ₹125 crore
- Most Expensive Auction Buy: Cameron Green (KKR, ₹25.20 crore)
- Most Expensive Player Overall: Rishabh Pant (LSG, ₹27 crore — retained)
IPL 2026 Teams & Captains
All 10 franchises are competing in IPL 2026. See the full breakdown on our IPL 2026 Captains page:
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK) — Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad | CSK Squad
- Mumbai Indians (MI) — Captain: Hardik Pandya | MI Squad
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) — Captain: Rajat Patidar | RCB Squad
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) — Captain: Ajinkya Rahane | KKR Squad
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) — Captain: Pat Cummins | SRH Squad
- Gujarat Titans (GT) — Captain: Shubman Gill | GT Squad
- Delhi Capitals (DC) — Captain: Axar Patel | DC Squad
- Punjab Kings (PBKS) — Captain: Shreyas Iyer | PBKS Squad
- Rajasthan Royals (RR) — Captain: Riyan Parag | RR Squad
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) — Captain: Rishabh Pant | LSG Squad
IPL 2026 Format
IPL 2026 uses an expanded home-and-away format with 84 total matches. Teams are split into two groups of five. Each team plays 14 league stage matches — twice against each team in their own group (home and away) and once against teams from the opposite group. The top four teams from the combined standings advance to playoffs. Check the live IPL 2026 Points Table for standings once the season begins.
IPL 2026 Schedule
The full IPL 2026 Schedule covers all 84 matches from 28 March to 31 May 2026. Evening matches start at 7:30 PM IST; afternoon matches at 3:30 PM IST. The Final is at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on 31 May 2026. See all host stadiums in the IPL 2026 Venues guide.
Key Storylines in IPL 2026
- RCB defends their first title — Can Rajat Patidar lead RCB to back-to-back championships?
- Sanju Samson joins CSK — The blockbuster trade that sent Ravindra Jadeja to RR shook all franchises
- Cameron Green at KKR — The most expensive overseas buy in IPL history at ₹25.20 crore
- Expanded 84-match season — More matches than ever before in IPL history
- New Second Ball Rule — A fresh ball introduced after the 11th over in night matches
- India enter as T20 World Champions — India won the T20 WC 2026 Final on March 8, 2026, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
IPL 2026 Auction Highlights
The IPL 2026 mini-auction was held on 16 December 2025 at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi. See the IPL 2026 Auction Top 10 Most Expensive Players and the full list of unsold players.
IPL 2026 Broadcast & Streaming
Watch all IPL 2026 matches live on Star Sports Network on TV, and stream online on JioHotstar (free, HD and 4K available) in India. For live scores, visit iplt20.com or ESPNcricinfo. International viewers can find their region-specific broadcaster in our How to Watch IPL 2026 guide.