The Indian Premier League 2026 season began on Saturday 28 March 2026 with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashing Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The 19th edition of the IPL runs from 28 March to 31 May 2026 and features all ten franchises competing for the richest prize in domestic Twenty20 cricket.
What is the Indian Premier League?
The Indian Premier League is the world’s leading franchise Twenty20 cricket tournament, operated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Founded in 2008, the tournament features ten city-based franchises contesting 74 matches over roughly two months. Each team plays 14 league-phase matches before the top four progress to the playoffs. Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator feed into Qualifier 2, with the winner of Qualifier 2 playing the winner of Qualifier 1 in the final. The IPL draws the world’s top T20 players and commands broadcast rights deals running into billions of dollars.
When did it take place?
The 2026 season began on Saturday 28 March 2026 and is scheduled to run until Sunday 31 May 2026, culminating in the final. The opening ceremony was held ahead of the season opener at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Fixtures for the first 16 days were announced on 11 March, with the remainder of the schedule unveiled on 26 March after the announcement was split to accommodate state assembly elections in India.
Where was it held?
Matches are being played across all ten franchise home venues, including the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru), Eden Gardens (Kolkata), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), M. A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai), Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi), Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (Hyderabad), Punjab Cricket Association Stadium (Mohali/New Chandigarh), Sawai Mansingh Stadium (Jaipur) and the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium (Lucknow).
Results
The season opener saw defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru chase down Sunrisers Hyderabad’s 201 for 9 inside 16 overs, winning by six wickets with 26 balls to spare. The comprehensive victory set a new IPL record for the quickest successful chase of a target above 200. Ishan Kishan, marking his first match as SRH captain, top-scored with 80 off 38 balls and Aniket Verma smashed 43 off 17, but their efforts were overshadowed by RCB’s openers Devdutt Padikkal (61 off 26) and Virat Kohli (69 not out off 38). New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy took 3 for 22 on his IPL debut and was named Player of the Match.
Background and form going in
Royal Challengers Bengaluru entered 2026 as defending champions after finally lifting the IPL title in 2025, ending an 18-year wait that had become one of Indian cricket’s longest-running subplots. Virat Kohli returned as the face of the franchise and remained its leading run-scorer. Sunrisers Hyderabad appointed Ishan Kishan as captain ahead of the season, and retained Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma as their leading batters. The 2026 auction, held in December 2025, was headlined by several high-profile buys as franchises reshaped their squads for the new cycle.
How to Watch
In India, the IPL is broadcast live by Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar as part of a record multi-billion-dollar rights deal. In the UK, Sky Sports Cricket carries every match, while Willow TV holds the rights in the United States. In Australia, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports show the tournament, and SuperSport covers sub-Saharan Africa.
History and Records
The IPL, founded in 2008, has grown into the most valuable T20 competition in the world. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings share the record for most titles, with five each. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, despite being one of the most marketable franchises, did not win their first title until 2025. The 2026 season is the 19th edition of the competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does IPL 2026 start?
The season started on Saturday 28 March 2026 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Who are the defending champions?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who won the 2025 IPL for their first title.
When is the IPL 2026 Final?
The final is scheduled for Sunday 31 May 2026.
How can I watch IPL 2026?
Star Sports and JioHotstar in India, Sky Sports Cricket in the UK, Willow TV in the US, and Fox Sports in Australia.