Every IPL season brings a fresh wave of excitement, rivalry, and world-class T20 cricket — and TATA IPL 2026 is already looking like one for the history books. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are back to defend their maiden title, while nine other franchises are hungry to dethrone them.
Whether you're planning to follow every single match, catch only the big clashes, or figure out where and how to watch without missing a ball — this is your complete, no-fluff guide to the IPL 2026 schedule, full fixtures, venues, match timings, tournament format, and live streaming details.
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League is officially underway. Here are the headline details every cricket fan needs to know right now:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | TATA IPL 2026 — 19th Edition |
| Season Dates | March 28 to May 31, 2026 |
| Opening Match | RCB vs SRH — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Final Date | May 31, 2026 (venue TBC) |
| Total Matches | 74 (70 league + 4 playoffs) |
| Venues | 13 stadiums across 12 cities |
| Title Sponsor | TATA Group (2024–2028 deal, ₹2,500 crore) |
| Defending Champion | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (maiden title, 2025) |
| TV Rights (India) | Star Sports Network |
| Digital Rights (India) | JioHotstar (app & website) |
| Afternoon Matches | 3:30 PM IST (double-header days) |
| Evening Matches | 7:30 PM IST |
The same 10 franchises return for IPL 2026, but with significant squad reshuffles after the December 2025 auction in Abu Dhabi. Here's your quick team reference:
- Cameron Green (KKR) — ₹25.20 crore, the most expensive overseas player in IPL 2026 auction history
- Prashant Veer & Kartik Sharma (CSK) — ₹14.20 crore each, joint-record for uncapped players
- Ravindra Jadeja — traded from CSK to Rajasthan Royals; Sanju Samson moved the other way in a blockbuster swap
- Total auction purse per franchise: ₹125 crore; 77 players sold from 369 shortlisted
- Notable unsold players included Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jonny Bairstow, Daryl Mitchell, and Devon Conway
The format for IPL 2026 returns to a group-stage structure similar to 2023, with two virtual groups of five teams each. Understanding it helps you follow the standings and predict who reaches the playoffs.
The complete BCCI schedule was released in two phases due to Assembly Elections in Assam, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, and Puducherry. Here is a phase-wise breakdown with key fixtures:
| # | Match | Date | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCB vs SRH | March 28 | 7:30 PM |
| 2 | MI vs KKR | March 29 | 7:30 PM |
| 3 | RR vs CSK | March 30 | 7:30 PM |
| 4 | PBKS vs GT | March 31 | 7:30 PM |
| 5 | LSG vs DC | April 1 | 7:30 PM |
| 6 | KKR vs SRH | April 2 | 7:30 PM |
| 7 | CSK vs PBKS | April 3 | 7:30 PM |
| 8 | DC vs MI | April 4 | 7:30 PM |
| 9 | GT vs RR | April 5 | 7:30 PM |
| 10 | SRH vs LSG | April 6 | 7:30 PM |
| 11 | RCB vs CSK | April 7 | 7:30 PM |
| 12 | KKR vs PBKS | April 8 | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | RR vs MI | April 9 | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | DC vs GT | April 10 | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | KKR vs LSG | April 11 | 7:30 PM |
| 16 | RR vs RCB | April 12 | 3:30 PM |
| 17 | PBKS vs SRH | April 12 | 7:30 PM |
The second phase covers the bulk of the tournament — 53 league matches across 12 cities — including all the major rivalries and potential title deciders. Key fixtures from Phase 2 include:
| Match | Date (Approx.) | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| CSK vs KKR | Mid April | Two most decorated franchises (5 titles each) go head to head |
| MI vs RCB | Late April | Most followed vs. Defending Champions — a sold-out guaranteed |
| MI vs CSK | April 23 | The classic El Clásico of Indian cricket |
| RCB vs DC | Late April | Virat Kohli at Chinnaswamy — always a spectacle |
| GT vs MI | Late April | Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium fills 1.3 lakh fans |
| KKR vs RR | May | Jadeja's new home faces his old team in what promises to be emotional |
| KKR vs DC | May 24 | Final league match of IPL 2026 season |
| Match | Format | Who Plays | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | Playoff | 1st vs 2nd (league stage) | Winner goes directly to Final |
| Eliminator | Playoff | 3rd vs 4th (league stage) | Loser is eliminated |
| Qualifier 2 | Playoff | Q1 loser vs Eliminator winner | Winner reaches Final |
| Grand Final | Final | Q1 winner vs Q2 winner | IPL 2026 Champion crowned |
Playoff venues and exact dates to be announced by BCCI. Final confirmed for May 31, 2026.
With 74 matches spread across 65 days, some are unmissable. These are the IPL 2026 fixtures every cricket fan should mark on their calendar — and why:
IPL 2026 spreads across 12 cities and 13 venues — the widest geographic reach in recent seasons. Two notable changes this edition: Raipur debuts as a venue hosting two of RCB's home games, and Delhi Capitals play all their home matches in Delhi — unlike the past few seasons where Visakhapatnam was shared.
| City | Stadium | Capacity | Home Team | Match Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | ~35,000 | RCB | Evening 7:30 |
| Raipur | Nava Raipur Cricket Stadium | ~65,000 | RCB (2 matches) | Evening 7:30 |
| Mumbai | Wankhede Stadium | ~33,000 | MI | Evening 7:30 |
| Chennai | MA Chidambaram Stadium | ~38,000 | CSK | Evening 7:30 |
| Kolkata | Eden Gardens | ~68,000 | KKR | Both slots |
| Ahmedabad | Narendra Modi Stadium | ~1,32,000 | GT | Both slots |
| Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi Int'l Stadium | ~55,000 | SRH | Evening 7:30 |
| Jaipur | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | ~30,000 | RR | Evening 7:30 |
| Guwahati | ACA Cricket Stadium | ~40,000 | RR (3 matches) | Evening 7:30 |
| Delhi | Arun Jaitley Stadium | ~41,000 | DC (full home leg) | Evening 7:30 |
| Lucknow | BRSABV Ekana Stadium | ~50,000 | LSG | Evening 7:30 |
| Dharamsala | HPCA Cricket Stadium | ~23,000 | PBKS (3 matches) | Evening 7:30 |
| New Chandigarh | Mullanpur Stadium | ~30,000 | PBKS | Evening 7:30 |
Here is a complete breakdown of where you can catch every IPL 2026 match — in India and internationally. One important shift this season: free online streaming is no longer available. JioHotstar is the sole digital platform, and it requires a subscription or a bundled telecom plan.
📺 TV — Star Sports (Free)
- All 74 matches live on Star Sports Network
- No subscription or login required on TV
- Available in 8 languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Haryanvi
- DTH providers: Tata Play, Airtel, Dish TV, D2H
- Also available via cable operators like DEN Networks
📱 JioHotstar — Digital (Paid)
- Official digital streaming platform for IPL 2026
- Available on app (Android/iOS) and jiostar.com
- Plans from ₹79/month or bundled into Jio ₹349 prepaid (covers full season)
- Airtel, Vi, and BSNL also have bundled plans
- 11 language options + 360° view + Multi-cam + Vertical live feed
- Minimum 5 Mbps for HD; 15 Mbps for 4K
- Supported on Smart TVs, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, Apple TV
🌏 International Viewing
- UK: Sky Sports (Sky Go app for mobile)
- USA: Willow TV — $9.99/month or $79.99/year (Amazon Prime add-on available)
- Australia: Kayo Sports (streaming) + Fox Cricket (TV)
- New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ (Sky Go & ESPN app)
- Africa: DStv app (SuperSport channels)
| Plan | Provider | Price | JioHotstar | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jio Prepaid ₹349 | Jio | ₹349 | Included | Most users — covers entire IPL season |
| Direct JioHotstar | JioHotstar | ₹79/month | Yes | Non-Jio users who want streaming only |
| Airtel Bundle Plan | Airtel | Varies | Included | Airtel subscribers on select plans |
| Vi Plan with OTT | Vi (Vodafone-Idea) | Varies | Select plans | Vi users — check JioHotstar inclusion |
Whether you're watching from a stadium or streaming from home, these tips make your IPL experience far better:
Mark Key Matchdays Now
Save the schedule to your phone. MI vs CSK (April 23) and the RCB opener (March 28) will fill your calendar fast. Set reminders for doubleheader days too — 3:30 PM + 7:30 PM matches need planning.
Sort Your Streaming Plan Early
Recharge with a bundled JioHotstar plan before March 28. Don't wait for the first match to discover your plan doesn't include streaming — the ₹349 Jio prepaid covers the full season.
Follow Live Analytics
Pure scorecards only tell half the story. Pitch conditions, dew factor, bowling restrictions, and runrate pressure shape every T20. Shivaa India provides all of this in real time.
Watch the Trade Drama Unfold
Jadeja vs CSK. Samson at CSK. Cameron Green at Eden Gardens. IPL 2026 is full of players facing their old teams — watch those debut moments closely.
Use the Multi-Cam Feature
JioHotstar's 360° and Multi-cam viewing features are available this season. Switch between pitch-side, umpire, and aerial angles for a stadium-like experience from your phone.
Choose Your Language Commentary
Star Sports and JioHotstar offer commentary in 11 languages including Hindi, English, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Marathi, Gujarati, Haryanvi, and Malayalam. Pick what you enjoy most.
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