The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to be the largest edition of the tournament yet. Following a thrilling 2025 season where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally secured their maiden title, the league is expanding its format to accommodate more action.
Here is the essential information for IPL 2026.
Key Dates And Schedule
The BCCI has confirmed the tournament window, though the full match-by-match list is being released in phases due to upcoming state assembly elections.
- Start Date: March 28, 2026
- Final Match: May 31, 2026
- Total Matches: 84 (Increased from 74 in previous years)
- Opening Match: Tradition dictates the defending champions (RCB) host the first game at their home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Participating Teams And Captains
Ten teams will compete for the trophy this year. Following the December auction in Abu Dhabi and several high-profile trades, some teams have new leadership:
| Team | Captain |
|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajat Patidar |
| Chennai Super Kings | Ruturaj Gaikwad |
| Mumbai Indians | Hardik Pandya |
| Punjab Kings | Shreyas Iyer |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Ajinkya Rahane |
| Delhi Capitals | Axar Patel |
| Rajasthan Royals | Riyan Parag |
| Gujarat Titans | Shubman Gill |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Pat Cummins |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Rishabh Pant |
Venues
The tournament will be played across India, with a few franchises utilizing secondary “home” grounds to reach more fans:
- Bengaluru: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Hosts the Opening & Final)
- Mumbai: Wankhede Stadium
- Ahmedabad: Narendra Modi Stadium (Likely host for Playoff matches)
- Raipur: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium (Confirmed to host 2 RCB home games)
- Hyderabad: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium
- Other key cities: Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow, and New Chandigarh.
Tournament Format
- League Stage: Teams will follow a double round-robin format.
- Expansion: The move to 84 matches is part of a gradual plan to reach 94 matches by 2028.
- Playoffs: The top four teams on the points table will qualify for the Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Grand Final.
Note on Full Fixtures: The BCCI is releasing the schedule in two parts. The first 15–20 days of fixtures are announced first, with the remaining schedule finalized once the Election Commission of India confirms polling dates for West Bengal and Assam.
