IPL 2026 Schedule, Team, Venue, Time Table, PDF, Points Table, Ranking & Winning Predictions
IPL 2026 Schedule: The BCCI has announced that IPL 2026 will run from March 15 to May 31, 2026. The nineteenth season of the Indian Premier League is set to be played with 84 matches in double round-robin format. All 10 teams will play each other twice in the league stage followed by playoffs.
The IPL 2026 will return to the home and away format. Each team will play their home games at their home venues. The tournament will be played for 78 days with matches in two time slots - 3:30 PM IST and 7:30 PM IST.
Here in this article, we will discuss the IPL 2026 schedule, teams, venues, time table, PDF download, points table predictions, rankings and winning predictions all you need to know.
Latest update - All teams started looking into their player retaintion and getting ready for the auction, more information to follow.
RCB 2026 Retained & Released Players, Purse Balance
IPL 2026 Schedule
The IPL 2026 is scheduled to begin on 15th March and the final of the premier tournament is set to be held on 31st May. The tournament will have 84 matches including playoffs.
Here is the IPL 2026 schedule format:
IPL 2026 Tournament Dates:
- Start Date: March 15, 2026
- End Date: May 31, 2026
- Total Matches: 84 matches
- Format: Double round-robin + playoffs
- Duration: 78 days
Match Timings:
- Afternoon Match: 3:30 PM IST
- Evening Match: 7:30 PM IST
The detailed match schedule with fixtures will be announced by BCCI closer to the tournament.
The complete fixture list with match dates and team combinations will be released by BCCI.
IPL 2026 Auction
The IPL 2026 mini-auction will be held on December 16, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This auction comes after the player retention window closed in mid-November, with franchises making key trade moves and releasing several players.
Each team will finalize their squads during this auction, filling available slots within their remaining purse limits.
Important Auction Details
- Date: December 16, 2025
- Venue: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
- Maximum Squad Size: 25 players per team
- Player Slots Available: Varies, some teams have already retained many players
Franchise Purse and Auction Strategy
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the largest auction purse at â‚ą64.3 crore, with 13 slots to fill, including six overseas spots. They are expected to rebuild almost half their squad after releasing marquee players like Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have the second largest purse of â‚ą43.4 crore, following dramatic trade deals including acquiring Sanju Samson and offloading Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. This purse gives them flexibility to target key players, especially in pace bowling and finishing roles.
Other teams' purse sizes vary, with Rajasthan Royals (â‚ą16.05 crore), Delhi Capitals (â‚ą21.8 crore), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (â‚ą25.5 crore) among others preparing strategic bids to fill gaps.
Key Auction Narratives
- KKR and CSK are expected to engage in intense bidding wars given their large remaining funds.
- Major trades ahead of the auction have reshaped teams’ strategies and auction priorities.
- Many prominent players like Glenn Maxwell, Andre Russell, and others released by their teams are expected to generate significant interest.
- Teams are focusing on strengthening pace bowling, overseas specialists, and middle-order flexibility.
Broadcast Information
The auction event will be broadcast live on official IPL partner networks and digital platforms, allowing fans worldwide to watch the auction unfold in real time.
Stay tuned to official IPL channels and iplt20.com for live updates and full auction results on December 16, 2025.
IPL 2026 Major Transfers and Trades
In the lead-up to the IPL 2026 auction, several high-profile player transfers and trades have made headlines, reshaping team strategies and squad compositions.
Key Transfers and Trades Before Auction
- Ravindra Jadeja: Traded from Chennai Super Kings to Rajasthan Royals, adding experience and all-round strength to RR’s squad.
- Sanju Samson: Moved from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings in a swap deal with Jadeja.
- Andre Russell: Released by Kolkata Knight Riders after a long and successful stint, now set to enter the auction pool.
- Venkatesh Iyer: Also released by KKR, joining the list of prominent players available in the upcoming auction.
- Glenn Maxwell: Released by Royal Challengers Bangalore, expected to attract bids from multiple franchises.
- Several franchises including Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings have retained most of their core squads, focusing their auction strategies on filling specific gaps.
These transfer moves have significantly impacted team auction purses and priorities, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive auction day on December 16, 2025.
Stay tuned for comprehensive auction coverage and squad announcements tracking how these trades affect team performances in IPL 2026.
IPL 2026 Teams
The IPL 2026 will have the same 10 teams that played in the previous seasons. All teams will participate in the mega auction to build their squads for the 2026 season.
Here are the 10 IPL 2026 teams:
| Team | 2025 Captain | Coach | Home Ground |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Stephen Fleming | M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Delhi Capitals | Rishabh Pant | Hemang Badani | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Gujarat Titans | Shubman Gill | Ashish Nehra | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Shreyas Iyer | Chandrakant Pandit | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Rishabh Pant | Justin Langer | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Mumbai Indians | Hardik Pandya | Mahela Jayawardene | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Punjab Kings | Shreyas Iyer | Ricky Ponting | PCA Stadium, Mohali |
| Rajasthan Royals | Sanju Samson | Rahul Dravid | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | Faf du Plessis | Andy Flower | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Pat Cummins | Daniel Vettori | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad |
Captain and coach information based on 2025 season. Official announcements for 2026 are pending.
IPL 2026 Venues
The IPL 2026 matches will be played across different cricket stadiums in India. The home and away will be back which means each team will play their home matches at their home ground.
IPL 2026 Venues List:
| Venue | City | Capacity | Home Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | 50,000 | Chennai Super Kings |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi | 41,820 | Delhi Capitals |
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | 132,000 | Gujarat Titans |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata | 66,000 | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow | 50,000 | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai | 33,108 | Mumbai Indians |
| PCA Stadium | Mohali | 26,950 | Punjab Kings |
| Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur | 30,000 | Rajasthan Royals |
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bangalore | 40,000 | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| Rajiv Gandhi Stadium | Hyderabad | 55,000 | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
Some matches may also be played at neutral venues like HPCA Stadium Dharamshala and MCA Stadium Pune.
IPL 2026 Points Table
The IPL 2026 points table will have 10 teams. Each team will play 14 matches in the league stage. The top 4 teams will qualify for playoffs.
Predicted IPL 2026 Points Table:
| Position | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mumbai Indians | 14 | 10 | 4 | 20 |
| 2 | Chennai Super Kings | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 |
| 4 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 14 | 8 | 6 | 16 |
| 5 | Rajasthan Royals | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| 6 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| 7 | Gujarat Titans | 14 | 6 | 8 | 12 |
| 8 | Delhi Capitals | 14 | 5 | 9 | 10 |
| 9 | Lucknow Super Giants | 14 | 4 | 10 | 8 |
| 10 | Punjab Kings | 14 | 3 | 11 | 6 |
This is predicted points table based on team analysis. Actual table will depend on match results.
IPL 2026 Winning Predictions
Based on team strength and past performance, here are the winning odds for IPL 2026:
IPL 2026 Championship Odds:
| Team | Odds | Chances |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 5.0 | 20% |
| Chennai Super Kings | 6.0 | 17% |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7.0 | 14% |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 8.0 | 13% |
| Rajasthan Royals | 9.0 | 11% |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | 10.0 | 10% |
| Gujarat Titans | 12.0 | 8% |
| Delhi Capitals | 15.0 | 7% |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 18.0 | 6% |
| Punjab Kings | 25.0 | 4% |
Mumbai Indians are favorites with their 5 IPL titles and strong team. Chennai Super Kings with MS Dhoni's experience also have good chances. Mumbai Indians showed good form in recent seasons.
These are early predictions. Final odds will depend on auction results and team squads.
Also read: Will MS Dhoni Return for IPL 2026
IPL 2026 Teams Squads
The IPL 2026 auction is scheduled for December 16, 2025. Before the auction, teams have finalized their player retentions and some major trades have been made. Each team will complete their squads during the auction.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad (Expected)
- Coach: Stephen Fleming
- Retained Players: MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Note: Ravindra Jadeja has been traded to Rajasthan Royals and will not be retained by CSK.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Captain: To Be Announced (TBA)
- Coach: TBA
Gujarat Titans (GT)
- Captain: TBA
- Coach: TBA
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Captain: TBA
- Coach: TBA
- Note: Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer have been released and will enter the auction pool.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Captain: TBA
- Coach: TBA
Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Captain: TBA
- Coach: Mahela Jayawardene
- Retained core players include: Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Captain: TBA
- Coach: TBA
- Record 21 players retained.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
- Captain: Sanju Samson (Expected)
- Coach: Rahul Dravid
- New addition: Ravindra Jadeja acquired from CSK.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
- Captain: TBA
- Coach: TBA
- Virat Kohli retained; Glenn Maxwell released.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Captain: TBA
- Coach: TBA
Complete squad lists will be available after the IPL 2026 auction. The current retentions and trades indicate significant squad reshaping, especially with Jadeja's trade and Russell's release.
IPL 2026 Live Streaming
The IPL 2026 matches will be shown live on TV and online platforms.
Where to Watch IPL 2026:
TV Channels (India):
- Star Sports 1
- Star Sports 1 HD
- Star Sports 1 Hindi
- Star Sports Select 1
Online Streaming:
- Disney+ Hotstar (Paid)
- JioCinema (Free for some matches)
International TV:
- UK: Sky Sports Cricket
- USA: Willow TV
- Australia: Fox Cricket
- South Africa: SuperSport
Languages: Commentary will be available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali and other languages.
Official broadcasting details will be confirmed by BCCI.
IPL 2026 Time Table
The complete IPL 2026 time table will have 84 matches spread over 78 days.
League Stage: 70 matches (each team plays 14 matches)
Playoffs: 4 matches (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, Final)
Match Schedule:
- Morning: No matches
- Afternoon: 3:30 PM IST (Weekend double headers)
- Evening: 7:30 PM IST (Most matches)
Playoffs Schedule:
- Qualifier 1: 1st vs 2nd team
- Eliminator: 3rd vs 4th team
- Qualifier 2: Loser of Q1 vs Winner of Eliminator
- Final: Winner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2
Detailed match schedule with dates will be released by BCCI.
IPL 2026 Schedule PDF Download
The official IPL 2026 schedule PDF is not released yet by BCCI. The PDF will have complete fixture list with match dates, timings and venues.
What will be in IPL 2026 PDF:
- All 84 match fixtures
- Match dates and timings
- Venue details
- Team wise fixtures
- Playoff schedule
- TV broadcast details
Where to Download:
- Official IPL website (iplt20.com)
- BCCI website
- Team official websites
The PDF schedule will be available 2-3 months before the tournament starts.
Check iplt20.com for official schedule updates.
Summary
IPL 2026 is confirmed to be played from March 15 to May 31, 2026 with 84 matches. All 10 teams will participate with home and away returning. The tournament will be played over 78 days with matches at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM IST.
The auction will decide team squads and captains for 2026. Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad are early favorites based on past performance.
Fans can watch IPL 2026 on Star Sports channels and Disney+ Hotstar. The detailed schedule PDF will be available closer to the tournament.
Stay updated with official announcements from BCCI and visit iplt20.com for latest news.
This article will be updated with official information when announced by BCCI.
