The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League runs from March 28 to May 31, 2026, featuring 74 matches across 10 teams over 65 days. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru open the tournament against Sunrisers Hyderabad at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, with the final returning to the same venue on May 31.
BCCI has confirmed the Phase 1 schedule covering 20 matches from March 28 to April 12, played across 10 venues: Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh (Mullanpur), Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. The remaining 60 league-stage and 4 playoff fixtures will be announced after state assembly election dates are finalised. Four double-headers are scheduled in Phase 1, with afternoon matches at 3:30 PM IST and evening games at 7:30 PM IST.
Opener: RCB vs SRH — Sat, March 28, 7:30 PM IST — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
The IPL 2026 mega auction was held on December 16, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, with a combined purse of ₹237.55 crore across all 10 franchises. Teams retained 173 players (including 49 overseas) before the auction, with Punjab Kings leading at 21 retentions and Kolkata Knight Riders at 12. Cameron Green was the most expensive overseas signing at ₹25.20 crore. Notable releases included Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer from KKR, and Glenn Maxwell, Quinton de Kock, and Faf du Plessis across franchises.
At 44, MS Dhoni enters what many believe is his final IPL season. Chennai Super Kings retained him ahead of the auction, and former teammate Irfan Pathan has suggested this could be "the last time" we see Dhoni in CSK colours. Whether or not he confirms retirement, every Chepauk appearance carries the weight of a farewell.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their maiden IPL title in 2025 and now face the historically brutal challenge of defending it. Only Mumbai Indians have achieved consecutive titles (2019-20, excluding the pandemic-disrupted season). RCB open on home turf and play nine home games at Chinnaswamy — a significant tactical advantage given the ground's batting-friendly conditions and vocal crowd support.
Sanju Samson moves to Chennai Super Kings, giving CSK a dynamic wicketkeeper-batter alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad and Dewald Brevis. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja — a CSK legend — now represents Rajasthan Royals, adding left-arm spin depth and lower-order firepower to an already stacked RR squad. These trades have reshuffled the balance of power across the league.
After his remarkable recovery from the December 2022 car accident, Rishabh Pant enters IPL 2026 with a ₹27 crore captaincy contract — a testament to his value as an impact player. His aggressive left-handed batting in the middle overs and ability to change games in a single over make him one of the most watched players this season.
Pre-season favourites with the strongest all-round squad. Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler open, Rashid Khan anchors the spin, and Kagiso Rabada leads the pace attack alongside Mohammed Siraj. Depth across all departments.
The five-time champions retained their legendary core: Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav. Seeking a record-extending 6th title, MI's combination of experience and match-winners makes them perennial contenders.
Retained their exact squad from the 2025 final (lost by just 6 runs). A full year of squad continuity is rare in the IPL — familiarity and chemistry could be their edge. One of the two strongest title contenders alongside GT.
Defending champions with home advantage at Chinnaswamy. Pre-tournament win probability estimated at 22%. The pressure of defending a first-ever title against nine hungry franchises will test their mettle.
The Sanju Samson acquisition transforms their batting lineup. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dewald Brevis, and Samson form a formidable top-order. Add Dhoni's tactical nous from the dugout and CSK remain a force at Chepauk.
All 20 Phase 1 matches are BCCI-confirmed with fixed venues and dates. The schedule features each team playing at least twice in Phase 1, ensuring every franchise gets early-season momentum. Double-headers on April 4-5, 11, and 12 pack the most action into the opening fortnight.
Matches 21-70 are provisional scenario pages built from historical head-to-head data, venue statistics, and squad composition analysis. These will be updated with official dates and venues as BCCI releases the Phase 2 schedule. Playoff matches (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and Final) are scheduled for late May, with the Final on May 31 in Bengaluru.
Data sources: iplt20.com (BCCI Phase 1 announcement), ESPNcricinfo (season dates), iplt20.com (retentions). Predictions generated by bharath.ai's statistical model using historical IPL data (2008-2025), squad composition, and venue metrics. Model v1.0 — first season, not yet backtested.