IPL Start Date 2026: Everything You Need to
Know About TATA IPL 2026
The IPL start date 2026 is confirmed—28 March 2026. The BCCI and Star Sports officially announced this date right before the T20 World Cup 2026 final on 8 March. If you were waiting for the 2026 IPL starting date, the wait is over. Here’s the complete breakdown—first match, schedule details, teams, venues, and everything important for the season.
IPL 2026 Start Date: The Official Confirmation
IPL 2026 starts on 28 March 2026.
Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the IPL, confirmed the ipl start date 2026 during a pre-final broadcast on 8 March 2026. The announcement was made just before the India vs. New Zealand T20 World Cup Final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Originally, BCCI had internally planned IPL 2026 to begin on 26 March—a 3-week gap after the T20 World Cup Final scheduled for 8 March. But the start date was shifted by two days to 28 March, and the final is confirmed for 31 May 2026.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| IPL 2026 Start Date | 28 March 2026 |
| IPL 2026 Final Date | 31 May 2026 |
| Total Matches | 84 |
| Total Teams | 10 |
| Edition | 19th (IPL 19) |
| Official Title | TATA IPL 2026 |
| Defending Champions | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) |
When Will IPL 2026 Start — The First Match Details
The IPL 2026 first match will feature defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
This is the IPL tradition — the defending champions play the opening game. RCB won their maiden IPL title in 2025 by defeating Punjab Kings in the final. They host the IPL start date 2026 first match.
Likely opponent: Punjab Kings (PBKS), the 2025 runners-up. However, the official first match opponent is yet to be confirmed by the BCCI.
Venue for opening match: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The stadium had been suspended after a tragic stampede during RCB’s 2025 victory celebrations, which claimed 11 lives. The Karnataka government and KSCA have now cleared the ground to host IPL matches again after extensive safety upgrades.
IPL 2026 Schedule: What We Know So Far
The full IPL 2026 schedule is being released in two phases. Here is why:
Why two phases? Assembly elections are scheduled in three states—West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. These states are home bases for KKR (Kolkata), CSK (Chennai), and RR’s secondary venue (Guwahati). Until the Election Commission announces poll dates, finalizing the complete schedule is not possible. This is a standard BCCI practice followed since 2009.
Phase 1: First two weeks of matches — to be announced soon.
Phase 2: Remaining league stage + playoffs — announced after election dates are confirmed.
IPL 2026 Playoff & Final Venues:
- Qualifier 1: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- IPL 2026 Final: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (31 May 2026)
This makes IPL 2026 a special season for RCB—they open the season at home, and the final is also at their home ground.
IPL 2026 Expanded to 84 Matches — What Changes This Season
This is the first IPL season with 84 matches in total, up from 74 in previous seasons. The IPL Governing Council officially announced this expansion starting from the 2026 edition. Plans are in place to expand further to 94 matches from 2028 when more teams could be added.
What this means practically: more double-headers, more weekend cricket, and more total days of action across the 10 teams
IPL 2026 Teams: All 10 Franchises
All 10 teams continue in IPL 2026. No new franchise has been added yet.
| Team | Captain | Home Ground |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Rajat Patidar | Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Shreyas Iyer | IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Ruturaj Gaikwad | MA Chidambaram, Chennai |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | Hardik Pandya | Wankhede, Mumbai |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Ajinkya Rahane | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | Axar Patel | Arun Jaitley, Delhi |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Pat Cummins | Rajiv Gandhi, Hyderabad |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Riyan Parag | SMS, Jaipur |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | Shubman Gill | Narendra Modi, Ahmedabad |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | Rishabh Pant | BRSABV Ekana, Lucknow |
IPL 2026 Auction: Key Highlights and Big Numbers
The IPL 2026 mini-auction was held on 16 December 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UAE — the third consecutive year the auction was held outside India.
Auction Numbers at a Glance:
- Total players registered: 1,355
- Players shortlisted: 369
- Players sold: 77
- Auction purse per team: ₹125 crore (~US$15 million)
- Combined purse spent by all teams: ₹237.55 crore
Biggest buys:
- Cameron Green (KKR) — ₹25.20 crore — The most expensive overseas player in IPL history, breaking Mitchell Starc’s previous record of ₹24.75 crore set in 2024. Green’s actual contract is capped at ₹18 crore as per new IPL rules; the excess goes to BCCI’s welfare fund.
- Matheesha Pathirana (KKR) — ₹18 crore — The Sri Lankan death bowler who was a CSK favourite, now wearing KKR colours.
- Prashant Veer & Kartik Sharma (CSK) — ₹14.20 crore each — Joint most expensive uncapped players in IPL history. CSK completely shifted their approach, going for young explosive talent over experience.
- Notable players who went unsold: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jonny Bairstow, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Alzarri Joseph, Gus Atkinson, Deepak Hooda, Karn Sharma.
RCB's Squad for IPL 2026: Defending Champions
RCB enters IPL 2026 as defending champions with a largely settled squad. Their biggest auction addition was Venkatesh Iyer at ₹7 crore — ironically a player they were chasing at ₹23.50 crore before KKR grabbed him last year.
RCB's likely best XI:
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Venkatesh Iyer, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood
The squad stability is RCB’s biggest strength this season — they didn’t need major rebuilding after their 2025 title win.
RCB Venue Update: RCB will play 5 home matches at Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru. Their remaining 2 home fixtures move to Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, Raipur, Chhattisgarh — due to the earlier suspension of Chinnaswamy.
Where to Watch IPL 2026 Live
On TV: Star Sports (all Star Sports channels)
Online/OTT: JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar (expected, official confirmation awaited)
Tickets: Available on BookMyShow and Paytm Insider once BCCI announces the schedule and opens bookings.
IPL 2026 — The Bangladesh Controversy You Should Know About
A significant off-field development: Following anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh in 2025 and the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in December 2025, there were widespread calls to exclude Bangladeshi players from IPL 2026.
In January 2026, BCCI requested KKR to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. KKR complied and is permitted to name a replacement player. This move was criticised by former cricketers including Madan Lal, Shashi Tharoor, Khaled Mahmud, and Mohammad Ashraful, while Aakash Chopra and BJP politician Sangeet Singh Som supported BCCI’s decision.
This has also put the India tour of Bangladesh on hold, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board has asked ICC to shift Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches out of India.
Key Dates Summary for IPL 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| IPL 2026 Auction | 16 December 2025 (Abu Dhabi) |
| IPL 2026 Start Date | 28 March 2026 |
| IPL 2026 Men First Match | 28 March 2026 (RCB vs opponent TBC) |
| IPL 2026 Final | 31 May 2026 |
| Opening Ceremony Venue | Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Final Venue | Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
Frequently Asked Questions
IPL 2026 starts on 28 March 2026. Star Sports officially confirmed the date on 8 March 2026.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will play the opening match. Their opponent is yet to be officially announced, but Punjab Kings are widely expected.
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The final is on 31 May 2026
84 matches total — this is the first season with an expanded match count, up from 74 previously.
The schedule is being released in two phases due to state assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. Phase 1 (first two weeks) will be announced shortly.
Cameron Green, bought by KKR for ₹25.20 crore — the most expensive overseas player in IPL auction history.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who won their maiden IPL title in 2025 by defeating Punjab Kings in the final.
