Cricket fans, get ready for another season of high-voltage action! This IPL would be special for a lot of reasons. With the tournament set to begin on March 22nd, the stage is all set for another thrilling summer of cricket.
This year’s edition follows a dramatic last season, where RCB finally lifted their maiden title, ending an 18-year-long wait. From high-scoring matches to mid-season twists due to geopolitical tensions, last season had everything. A total of 74 matches will be played across iconic stadiums, featuring star players, new captains, and fierce rivalries.
Whether you’re cheering for CSK at Chepauk or watching a nail-biter at Eden Gardens, this season is sure to deliver unforgettable moments.
The wait for the much-anticipated TATA IPL 2026 schedule is finally over. We provides a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about it.
Reliving IPL 2025
Before diving into the TATA IPL 2026 Schedule, let’s take a look back at one of the most dramatic seasons in IPL history. The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League had it all: high scores, last-over thrillers, and even a mid-season suspension due to the India–Pakistan crisis.
The tournament kicked off on 22 March, with KKR hosting RCB at Eden Gardens. But in a surprising turn of events, the defending champions KKR couldn’t even make it past the league stage. In contrast, RCB finally broke their 18-year curse, winning their maiden IPL title in a nerve-wracking final against Punjab Kings, clinched by just 6 runs.
Sai Sudharsan of Gujarat Titans lit up the tournament with the bat, scoring a phenomenal 759 runs, while his teammate Prasidh Krishna dominated with the ball, bagging 25 wickets.
The season saw a unique shift in dynamics, a mid-season pause after 9 May due to geopolitical tensions, and a comeback on 17 May with matches relocated to six different venues. Despite the challenges, the energy remained unmatched. Fans witnessed tight finishes, powerful performances, and emerging stars, making TATA IPL 2026 a true rollercoaster.
IPL 2026 Schedule
The curtain has fallen on the IPL 2025 season, and excitement is already building for the next edition.
Whether you’re planning your travel to the stadiums or setting reminders for your favorite team’s clashes, this breakdown has got you covered.
From power-packed weekend double-headers to intense weekday rivalries, the IPL 2026 promises a well-balanced mix of entertainment and competition.
The IPL traditionally occurs during the Indian summer (late March to May).
Here are the details about the tentative TATA IPL 2026 match list:
March & April Month Schedule
Here are the details of the group stage matches which will be played in March and April:
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
| 22nd March | KKR vs RCB | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 23rd March | SRH vs RR | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| 23rd March | MI vs CSK | Chennai; | 7:30 PM |
| 24th March | DC vs LSG | Vizag | 7:30 PM |
| 25th March | GT vs PBKS | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 26th March | RR vs KKR | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 27th March | SRH vs LSG | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| 28th March | RCB vs CSK | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 29th March | GT vs MI | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 30th March | DC vs SRH | Vizag | 3:30 PM |
| 30th March | RR vs CSK | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 31st March | MI vs KKR | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 1st April | LSG vs PBKS | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 2nd April | RCB vs GT | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 03rd April | KKR vs SRH | Vizag | 7:30 PM |
| 04th April | LSG vs MI | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 05th April | CSK vs DC | Chennai | 3:30 PM |
| 05th April | PBKS vs RR | New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| 06th April | KKR vs LSG | Kolkata | 3:30 PM |
| 06th April | SRH vs GT | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| 07th April | MI vs RCB | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 08th April | PBKS vs CSK | New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| 9th April | GT vs RR | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 10th April | RCB vs DC | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 11th April | CSK vs KKR | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 12th April | LSG vs GT | Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
| 12th April | SRH vs PBKS | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| 13th April | RR vs RCB | Jaipur | 3:30 PM |
| 13th April | DC vs MI | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 14th April | LSG vs CSK | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 15th April | PBKS vs KKR | New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| 16th April | DC vs RR | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 17th April | MI vs SRH | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 18th April | RR vs PBKS | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 19th April | GT vs DC | Ahmedabad | 3:30 PM |
| 19th April | RR vs LSG | Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| 20th April | PBKS vs RCB | New Chandigarh | 3:30 PM |
| 20th April | MI vs CSK | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 21st April | KKR vs GT | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 22nd April | LSG vs DC | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 23rd April | SRH vs MI | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| 24th April | RCB vs RR | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 25th April | CSK vs SRH | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 26th April | KKR vs PBKS | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 27th April | MI vs LSG | Mumbai | 3:30 PM |
| 27th April | DC vs RCB | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 28th April | RR vs GT | Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| 29th April | DC vs KKR | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 30th April | CSK vs PBKS | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
May Month Schedule
Here are the details of the group stage matches which will be played in May:
| 1st May | RR vs MI | Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| 2nd May | GT vs SRH | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 3rd May | RR vs CSK | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 4th May | KKR vs RR | Kolkata | 3:30 PM |
| 4th May | PBKS vs CSK | Dharamsala | 7:30 PM |
| 5th May | SRH vs DC | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| 6th May | MI vs GT | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 7th May | KKR vs CSK | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 8th May | PBKS vs DC | Dharamsala | 7:30 PM |
IPL 2026 Playoffs
Once the group stage games finish, the playoffs of the 2026 season will begin.
Here’s how it will be played:
| 29 May | Qualifier 1 – 1st Position Team on League Stage vs 2nd Position Team of League Stage | TBC | 7:30 PM |
| 30 May | Eliminator – Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2 | TBC | 7:30 PM |
| 01June | Qualifier 2 – Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator | TBC | 7:30 PM |
| 03 June | Final – Winner of Qualifier 2 vs Winner of Qualifier 1 | TBC | 7:30 PM |
Note: The above schedule time table or match list has been announced by the BCCI.
IPL 2026 Auction, Player Retention Rules and Salary Structure
The excitement for IPL 2026 doesn’t stop there. It is preparing for its next season, with significant changes to player retention rules. These new rules will impact how franchises build their teams and manage their budgets.
It’s especially exciting to see how Chennai Super Kings will approach this year’s auction, with plenty of speculation about whether legendary players like MS Dhoni will participate. Let’s explore the latest updates and their implications for the franchises.
Salary Slab for Retained Players Before IPL 2026 Auction
One of the significant changes in the retention rules is the introduction of a new salary slab for retained players. Teams can now retain 5 capped players (Indian or overseas) along with 1 uncapped player, meaning each team can retain a total of 6 players.
However, franchises can only retain two uncapped players in total, and the salary of an uncapped retained player is Rs 4 crore.
The retained players’ salaries will be deducted from the overall purse of Rs 120 crore, meaning if a franchise retains more players, their auction budget will be reduced accordingly.
Here is the salary slab for retained players under the updated rules:
Direct Retention Salary Structure:
| Retained Player | Amount |
| Retained Player 1 | INR 18 crore |
| Retained Player 2 | INR 14 crore |
| Retained Player 3 | INR 11 crore |
| Retained Player 4 | INR 18 crore |
| Retained Player 5 | INR 14 crore |
Uncapped Player Salary Structure:
- Uncapped Retained Player: INR 4 crore
This new retention framework allows franchises to secure their core players while ensuring a competitive auction pool. With an increased auction purse and new retention caps, the IPL 2026 auction promises to be a pivotal moment for teams looking to rebuild or strengthen their squads.
IPL 2026 Teams and Captains
Below is the list of the teams and captains participating in the IPL Schedule 2026.
| SR No | IPL Team | IPL Team Captain |
| 1 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | R Gaikwad |
| 2 | Mumbai Indians | Hardik Pandya |
| 3 | Rajasthan Royals | Sanju Samson |
| 4 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Ajinkya Rahane (Likely) |
| 5 | Punjab Kings | Shreyas Iyer |
| 6 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Pat Cummins |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals | Axar Patel |
| 8 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Rajat Patidar |
| 9 | Lucknow Super Giants | Rishabh Pant |
| 10 | Gujarat Titans | Shubman Gill |
IPL 2026 Venues
| City | Stadium | Home Team |
| Mumbai | Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai Indians (MI) |
| Chennai | M.A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) |
| Kolkata | Eden Gardens | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) |
| Delhi | Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi Capitals (DC) |
| Bengaluru | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) |
| Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) |
| Ahmedabad | Narendra Modi Stadium | Gujarat Titans |
| Jaipur | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Rajasthan Royals (RR) |
| Mohali | PCA Stadium | Punjab Kings (PBKS) |
| Lucknow | Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) |
TATA IPL 2026 Schedule PDF Download
If you’re someone who likes to keep things handy and stay updated without checking the internet every time, downloading the whole schedule in PDF format is your best bet.
With just a single click, you can save the entire fixture, featuring all 74 matches, including match dates, venues, and IST timings, right to your device.
Click here to get the full Schedule PDF download version to have it offline.
So, mark your calendars for the opening match on March 22nd, which is expected to be held at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. It features 74 enthralling matches, culminating in the grand finale on May 25th.
Be sure to stay tuned for the official time table announcement from the BCCI.
IPL 2026: FAQs
Q1: When will the first match of IPL 2026 be played?
A: The first match is to be played on March 22nd.
Q2: How many matches are there in the Indian Premier League 2026 Schedule?
A: 74 matches this season.
Q3: Where will the IPL 2026 final be held?
A: The venue for the final is yet to be confirmed by the BCCI, but the match will most likely be played in Ahmedabad.
Q4: Will MS Dhoni play IPL 2026?
A: As of now, neither MS Dhoni nor CSK management has clarified anything yet.
