🏏 TATA Indian Premier League · 19th Edition
IPL
2026
Where Legends Rise, Records Fall, and a Nation Holds Its Breath
Cricket's greatest carnival is back — bigger, bolder, and more unpredictable than ever.
Every spring, something extraordinary happens in India. Cities that rarely agree on anything suddenly speak in one language — the crack of bat on ball, the roar of fifty thousand voices, the flicker of a stadium under floodlights at midnight. The Indian Premier League returns in 2026 for its 19th edition, and if history is any guide, it will rewrite everything we thought we knew about T20 cricket.
This season carries extra weight. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the most beloved nearly-team in IPL history, finally ended their title drought in 2025 — defeating Punjab Kings in a final that reduced grown adults to tears. They arrive in 2026 with the target on their back and a city still drunk on champagne. Can they defend? Or will the ruthless IPL machine chew up even the champions?
"The IPL doesn't care about your history. Every March, the slate is wiped clean and the madness begins again from zero."
The tournament expands to 84 matches — ten more than last season — as the BCCI rolls out a full double round-robin format. Every team plays every other team twice. No flukes. No easy draws. The ten best T20 franchises on the planet, grinding across 66 days, in front of the loudest, most passionate fans in world sport.
There is drama before a single ball is bowled. Ravindra Jadeja — Mr. CSK, the man Chepauk built its dreams around — has traded his yellow for pink, joining Rajasthan Royals. His replacement at CSK? Sanju Samson, moving the other way. The cricket gods are having fun.
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah is racing against time and his own body. After a back scare that nearly ruled him out of the entire season, he has reported to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. If he plays, Mumbai Indians become immediate contenders. If he doesn't, a generation of fans will spend the summer holding their breath.
Two groups. One trophy. Ten cities dreaming.
Group A
Group B
Matches 1–20 · March 28 – April 12, 2026. All times India Standard Time (IST).
| # | Date | Matchup | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 28, Sat | RCB vs SRHOpener | M. Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 2 | Mar 29, Sun | MI vs KKR | Wankhede, Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 3 | Mar 30, Mon | RR vs CSK | Barsapara, Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 4 | Mar 31, Tue | PBKS vs GT | MPCA, Mullanpur | 7:30 PM |
| 5 | Apr 1, Wed | LSG vs DC | BRSABV, 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, Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 8 | Apr 4, Sat | DC vs MI | Arun Jaitley, Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 9 | Apr 5, Sun | GT vs RR | Narendra Modi, Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 10 | Apr 6, Mon | SRH vs LSG | Rajiv Gandhi, Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| 11 | Apr 7, Tue | RCB vs CSK | M. Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 12 | Apr 8, Wed | KKR vs PBKS | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | Apr 9, Thu | RR vs MI | SMS Stadium, Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | Apr 10, Fri | DC vs GT | Arun Jaitley, Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | Apr 10, Fri | KKR vs LSG | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 3:30 PM |
| 16 | Apr 11, Sat | RR vs RCB | SMS Stadium, Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| 17 | Apr 11, Sat | PBKS vs SRH | MPCA, Mullanpur | 3:30 PM |
| 18 | Apr 12, Sun | CSK vs DC | MA Chidambaram, Chennai | 3:30 PM |
| 19 | Apr 12, Sun | LSG vs GT | BRSABV, Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 20 | Apr 12, Sun | MI vs RCB | Wankhede, Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
📌 Phase 2 schedule (Matches 21–84) to be announced by BCCI. Total tournament runs to June 3, 2026.
The auction room reshuffled the pack. Here are the deals that changed everything.
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Ravindra Jadeja → Rajasthan RoyalsCSK's soul leaves yellow for pink. The most emotional trade of the auction. Sanju Samson moves the opposite way to Chennai.
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Cameron Green → Kolkata Knight Riders₹25.20 Crore (~$3M)Record for an overseas player. KKR bet big on the Australian all-rounder to fill their middle-order gap.
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Prashant Veer & Kartik Sharma → CSK₹14.20 Crore eachJoint record for uncapped players. Chennai back two young guns to lead their next chapter.
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Mustafizur Rahman — Withdrawn from KKRRemoved at BCCI's request following India-Bangladesh diplomatic tensions. Bangladesh subsequently banned IPL broadcasts domestically. Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe) steps in as replacement.
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Jasprit Bumrah — Race against time for MIBack issue kept India's best bowler sidelined. Confirmed at BCCI Centre of Excellence for conditioning. Expected to join MI for their opening game vs KKR (Match 2).
14 iconic stadiums. 14 different atmospheres. From the deafening Eden Gardens to the cauldron of Chepauk.
Top 4 after 70 league matches. One champion on June 3 in Bengaluru.
Note: The tournament was briefly suspended May 8–17 following the Pahalgam attack and India-Pakistan tensions. The BCCI revised the schedule, pushing the final back to June 3. The four playoff qualifiers — PBKS, RCB, GT and MI — have been confirmed.
"PBKS were the final's heartbreak team in 2025. This year, they return as league leaders — hungry, dangerous, and absolutely done with nearly."
The final is poised to be one for the ages. RCB defending on home soil in Bengaluru. Punjab Kings seeking redemption. Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions, lurking with Bumrah finally fit. Gujarat Titans, relentless and clinical. The IPL has a habit of saving its most outrageous drama for last. Don't look away.
The Greatest Show on Earth
84 matches. 10 cities. One trophy. The TATA IPL 2026 season starts March 28 — and it won't stop until someone lifts the cup on June 3 in Bengaluru.
