Retired cricket stars from around the world will compete once again in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2026. The tournament runs from March 11 to March 27, 2026, covering 19 T20 matches across four Indian cities. Six franchises have signed up over 97 former international players, making this the largest LLC season yet.
LLC gives fans a chance to watch their childhood heroes bat, bowl, and field one more time. Players like Chris Gayle, Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, and Ross Taylor headline the rosters. These names once dominated Test matches, ODIs, and T20 Internationals. Now they take the field together in a league built just for retired cricketers.
This season also takes cricket to cities that rarely host big events. Matches will take place in Haldwani, Coimbatore, Amritsar, and Gwalior. Fans in these cities will get to watch legends perform live, right in their own backyard.
A Quick Look Back At LLC History
LLC started in 2022 in Oman. World Giants, led by Jacques Kallis, beat Asia Lions by 27 runs to win the first title. A second edition followed later that year in India. India Captains, captained by Gautam Gambhir, took the trophy with a 104-run win.
The 2023 season saw two champions crowned. Asia Lions won the Masters edition in Doha. Manipal Tigers claimed the main season title in Visakhapatnam.
The 2024 edition ended with one of the most exciting finals in LLC history. Southern Super Stars beat Konark Suryas Odisha in a Super Over at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar. Martin Guptill smashed two sixes in the first two balls of the Super Over to seal the win. That made Southern Super Stars the defending champions heading into 2026.
LLC 2026 Complete Match Schedule
The league stage runs from March 11 to March 23. Every team plays every other team once. That adds up to 15 league games. After that, four playoff matches decide the champion.
The opening game takes place on March 11. Mumbai Spartans face India Captains at the Indira Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Haldwani. The final takes place on March 27. Venues for the playoffs have not yet been confirmed.
Here is the full match-by-match schedule:
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 11 | Mumbai Spartans vs India Captains | Haldwani, Indira Gandhi International Cricket Stadium | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 12 | Royal Riders Punjab vs India Tigers | Haldwani, Indira Gandhi International Cricket Stadium | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 13 | Konark Suryas Odisha vs Southern Super Stars | Coimbatore, Sri Ramakrishna College Ground | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 14 | Mumbai Spartans vs India Tigers | Haldwani, Indira Gandhi International Cricket Stadium | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 15 | Konark Suryas Odisha vs Royal Riders Punjab | Coimbatore, Sri Ramakrishna College Ground | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 16 | India Captains vs Southern Super Stars | Amritsar, Gandhi Sports Complex Ground | 2:30 PM IST |
| March 17 | Royal Riders Punjab vs Southern Super Stars | Amritsar, Gandhi Sports Complex Ground | 2:30 PM IST |
| March 17 | Mumbai Spartans vs Konark Suryas Odisha | Gwalior, Captain Roop Singh Stadium | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 18 | India Captains vs India Tigers | Coimbatore, Sri Ramakrishna College Ground | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 19 | Mumbai Spartans vs Southern Super Stars | Gwalior, Captain Roop Singh Stadium | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 20 | Konark Suryas Odisha vs India Tigers | Amritsar, Gandhi Sports Complex Ground | 2:30 PM IST |
| March 21 | India Captains vs Royal Riders Punjab | Gwalior, Captain Roop Singh Stadium | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 22 | Southern Super Stars vs India Tigers | Amritsar, Gandhi Sports Complex Ground | 2:30 PM IST |
| March 22 | Konark Suryas Odisha vs India Captains | Gwalior, Captain Roop Singh Stadium | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 23 | Mumbai Spartans vs Royal Riders Punjab | Amritsar, Gandhi Sports Complex Ground | 2:30 PM IST |
| March 24 | Qualifier 1 (TBC vs TBC) | TBC | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 25 | Eliminator (TBC vs TBC) | TBC | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 26 | Qualifier 2 (TBC vs TBC) | TBC | 7:30 PM IST |
| March 27 | Final (TBC vs TBC) | TBC | 7:30 PM IST |
Note: March 17 and March 22 each feature two matches (a double-header day).
The Six Competing Teams And Their Star Players
All six franchises built their squads through a player auction. Together, they spent INR 30.56 crore to sign 97 cricketers. Each squad mixes hard-hitting batters, sharp bowlers, and seasoned all-rounders. An additional INR 9.00 crore remains available for direct signings before the season begins.
Here are the six teams with some of their headline names:
| Team | Key Players |
|---|---|
| Mumbai Spartans | Suresh Raina, Carlos Brathwaite, S Sreesanth, Isuru Udana, Chadwick Walton |
| India Captains | Irfan Pathan, Hashim Amla, Hamilton Masakadza, Sheldon Jackson, Lahiru Thirimanne |
| Royal Riders Punjab | Thisara Perera, Asghar Afghan, M.S Shahzad, Rishi Dhawan, Angelo Perera |
| India Tigers | Chris Gayle, Shikhar Dhawan, Aaron Finch, Robin Uthappa, Pawan Negi |
| Konark Suryas Odisha | Ross Taylor, Piyush Chawla, Ben Dunk, Vinay Kumar, Naman Ojha |
| Southern Super Stars | Martin Guptill, Harbhajan Singh, Dinesh Karthik, Dilshan Munaweera, Hamid Hassan |
Players to Watch This Season
- Chris Gayle (India Tigers) needs no introduction. The “Universe Boss” has hit more T20 sixes than almost anyone in history. At 46, he still draws crowds like few others can. His presence alone makes India Tigers a must-watch team.
- Suresh Raina (Mumbai Spartans) held the record for most IPL runs for years. Known for his quick footwork and sharp fielding, Raina brings energy and leadership to every game. He will captain a squad that also includes Carlos Brathwaite and S Sreesanth.
- Martin Guptill (Southern Super Stars) won the 2024 final almost single-handedly with his Super Over heroics. The New Zealander still hits the ball as cleanly as ever. Alongside Harbhajan Singh and Dinesh Karthik, Southern Super Stars look strong again.
- Shikhar Dhawan (India Tigers) brings charisma and consistency. A left-hander who loves big stages, Dhawan partners with Gayle and Aaron Finch at the top of the order. That top three can destroy any bowling attack on its day.
- Ross Taylor (Konark Suryas Odisha) is New Zealand’s all-time leading run scorer in Tests. His calm approach and ability to anchor an innings give Konark Suryas a reliable middle order alongside Piyush Chawla’s crafty leg-spin.
Four Host Cities Across India
LLC 2026 takes cricket beyond the usual metro cities. Each venue brings its own flavor.
- Haldwani kicks off the tournament. The Indira Gandhi International Cricket Stadium hosts the first four matches. Nestled in Uttarakhand, this city rarely gets top-tier cricket. LLC 2026 changes that.
- Coimbatore hosts matches at the Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science Ground. This Tamil Nadu city has a strong local cricket following. Four league matches will take place here.
- Amritsar brings cricket to Punjab at the Gandhi Sports Complex Ground. Afternoon matches here start at 2:30 PM IST, giving fans a weekend outing with a different schedule than the usual evening games.
- Gwalior rounds out the venues with the Captain Roop Singh Stadium. This historic Madhya Pradesh ground has hosted international cricket before and brings that big-match atmosphere.
How the Points System Works
- The league stage follows a round-robin format. Every team faces each of the other five teams once. That gives us 15 league matches. Points decide who moves forward.
- A win earns 2 points. A no-result or abandoned match gives 1 point to each team. A loss earns nothing. The top four teams at the end of the league stage qualify for the playoffs.
- If two or more teams finish on equal points, Net Run Rate (NRR) breaks the tie. The playoff stage follows a standard format with Qualifier 1, an Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final.
- This setup means every single match counts. A washed-out game or a narrow defeat can flip the standings. Teams cannot afford a slow start or rely on a late surge.
How to Follow LLC 2026
Here is the Info of Streaming Details of LLC 2026:
| Category | Platform / Channel | Specific Details |
|---|---|---|
| Digital (India) | FanCode | Exclusive primary digital partner for Legends League Cricket 2026. |
| Television (India) | Sony Sports Network | Official TV broadcaster for the tournament in India. |
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What Makes LLC 2026 Special
LLC 2026 is not just another cricket tournament. It fills a gap that no other league does. Retired cricketers stay connected to the sport they shaped. Fans get to relive memories. Cities that rarely host cricket events welcome international stars.
The franchise model and serious auction spending (INR 30.56 crore across 97 players) show that this league means business. It is no longer just a nostalgia trip. The competition is real, the rosters are deep, and the stakes feel genuine.
Starting March 11 from Haldwani, LLC 2026 promises 17 days of entertainment, star power, and the kind of cricket that makes you remember why you fell in love with the game in the first place.
