Indian Premier league 2026|dates, format, players, squads, schedule, teams, auction, fixtures & facts.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will host the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament. The tournament is scheduled to run from March 28 through May 31, 2026 and includes 10 teams playing at multiple venues all over India. The reigning champion of IPL, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from Bengaluru, Karnataka, is looking to defend its title. Other teams participating in the 2026 IPL will be Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Titans (GT), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Mumbai Indians (MI), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Format

All 10 teams will play a total of 84 games during the IPL 2026 season, which includes 80 regular-season (or Round Robin) games and four playoffs. In the regular season, all 10 teams each will have 16 games compared to 14 games last year (2025). The four playoff games will be played as follows:

Playoff Matches

• Qualifier 1: This match is played between the first and second ranked teams after the IPL regular season wrap-up. The victor moves straight to the finals, while the losing side has an opportunity to compete again during Qualifier 2.

• Eliminator: This game features the third- and fourth-seed teams competing against one another with the winning team advancing into Qualifier 2.

• Qualifier 2: The loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator will compete in this match with the winner moving on to the final.

• Final: The championship game will see Qualifier 1 vs. Qualifier 2.

IPL 2026 Venues

IPL matches will be held across several major cricket stadiums in India. Expected venues include:

• Mumbai
• Delhi
• Chennai
• Kolkata
• Bengaluru
• Hyderabad
• Ahmedabad
• Jaipur
• Lucknow
• Mohali
• Dharamshala
• Guwahati

These venues host matches for the respective home teams during the league stage.

Home stadiums

• DC – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

• GT – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

• KKR – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

• LSG – Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

• MI – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

• PBKS – Punjab Cricket Association New Stadium – New Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium – Dharamshala

• RR – Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati and Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

• RCB – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru and Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur

• SRH – Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

Schedule

On March 28 – May 31, 2026, the IPL governing council has confirmed that the tournament will occur. However, the IPL schedule is expected to coincide with assembly elections scheduled to be held in India’s Assam, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal during April – May 2026 as a result of current legislative terms expiring. The stadiums within the states for the home venues of both Kolkata and Chennai (KKR and CSK, respectively) as well as the secondary home venue for RR (Guwahati) will also be affected by assembly elections. Due to both security concerns and concerns related to logistics, the entire schedule was not published right away. As of the time of this note, only those match-ups that fall within the first phase of the tournament (March 28 – April 12, 2026) have been announced by BCCI; the balance of matches will be provided once the elections are finalized.

As far as auction and squad

Each IPL franchise is allowed to have a maximum of 25 players on its squad along with a maximum of 8 players from abroad. Each of the 10 franchises retained a combined total of 173 players on its roster from the previous season before the 2026 season. 77 additional players on each team were acquired at the IPL Auction which took place on December 16, 2025 which had over 350 players available for selection.

Highlights

• In IPL 2026 auction, the highest price paid for an Australian all-rounder by KKR was $2.78 million (₹25.20 crore), making Cameron Green both the most expensive IPL player & the most expensive overseas IPL player signed.

• Also at this auction, Indian uncapped & domestic players Prashant Veer & Kartik Sharma, both signed by CSK for $1.57 million (₹14.20 crore), broke the records for being the most expensive uncapped & domestic players in IPL history.

• There were also several major trades amongst players prior to the auction including: Ravindra Jadeja (CSK to RR), Sanju Samson (RR to CSK), Sam Curran (CSK to RR), Mohammad Shami (SRH to LSG), Mayank Markande (KKR to MI), Arjun Tendulkar (MI to LSG), Nitish Rana (RR to DC), Sherfane Rutherford (GT to MI), Shardul Thakur (LSG to MI), Donovan Ferreira (DC to RR).

The final squads for all 10 franchises are listed in the table below.

Conclusion

The Indian Premier League 2026 stands as a testament to how cricket has transformed into a global entertainment powerhouse, blending sport, business, and culture into a single unified experience. Over the years, the IPL has not only revolutionized the way cricket is played but has also redefined how it is consumed by audiences worldwide. With its 19th edition, the league continues to push boundaries through innovation, technological advancements, and expanding global reach. The presence of world-class players, emerging young talent, and intense team rivalries ensures that IPL 2026 will deliver thrilling moments that resonate with fans across generations. Beyond the field, the league’s economic and digital impact highlights its significance as a major contributor to India’s sports economy and entertainment industry. As franchises evolve and strategies become more data-driven, the IPL continues to set new standards for professional leagues globally. Looking ahead, the future of IPL appears brighter than ever, with opportunities for expansion, deeper fan engagement, and enhanced viewing experiences. Whether you are a die-hard cricket fan or a casual viewer, IPL 2026 promises unmatched excitement, unforgettable performances, and a celebration of cricket at its finest, reinforcing its position as the crown jewel of T20 cricket worldwide.

FAQs

1. What is IPL 2026?

IPL 2026 is the 19th season of the Indian Premier League featuring 10 teams and 84 matches.

2. When will IPL 2026 start?

The tournament begins on March 28, 2026.

3. How many teams are in IPL 2026?

There are 10 teams competing in IPL 2026.

4. What is the format of IPL?

It follows a double round-robin format followed by playoffs.

5. Which team is the defending champion?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions.