IPL 2026 Scheduled from March 26 to May 31

Mumbai, Dec 2025 : The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed all Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises that the 2026 season of the tournament will be held from March 26 to May 31, according to a media report on Monday. The schedule was shared with team representatives during a briefing conducted by IPL Chief Development Officer Hemang Amin ahead of the player auction scheduled in Abu Dhabi.

The 2026 season will mark the 19th edition of the world’s most popular domestic T20 league. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are expected to kick off the tournament with the opening match on March 26. However, uncertainty remains over whether RCB will be able to host their home games at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The venue’s availability is under review following a tragic stampede that occurred earlier this year during celebrations of RCB’s maiden IPL title.

According to the report, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has received conditional approval from the state government to host IPL matches at the stadium. The clearance, however, is subject to strict compliance with safety, crowd management, and security guidelines laid down by the authorities. Final decisions on the venue are expected after further inspections and assessments.

Meanwhile, preparations for IPL 2026 gathered pace with the BCCI finalising the auction player pool late on Monday night. Nineteen additional players were added to the list on the eve of the auction, expanding the options available to franchises. Among the notable late entrants are Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears, and South African all-rounder Ethan Bosch.

The IPL 2026 auction will be held on Tuesday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, marking the third consecutive year that the auction is taking place outside India, following Dubai in 2024 and Jeddah in 2025. The overseas location underscores the league’s global appeal and growing international footprint.

All ten franchises are expected to be aggressive at the auction table as they look to build competitive squads capable of lifting the IPL trophy. A total of 77 player slots are available across teams, including 31 positions reserved for overseas players. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), three-time IPL champions, have the highest number of vacancies with 13 slots to fill, while Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) follow with 10 openings.

From an initial longlist of 1,355 registered players, the BCCI has shortlisted 359 cricketers for the auction. This includes 244 Indian players and 115 overseas players. Forty players have been placed in the highest base price bracket of Rs 2 crore, with Ravi Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer being the only Indian names in that elite category.

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green is expected to be the biggest attraction of the auction. Given the limited availability of quality pace-bowling all-rounders in a mini-auction format, demand for Green is likely to be intense, with bids projected to cross the Rs 25 crore mark.

Several other high-profile players are also set to draw strong interest from franchises. England’s Liam Livingstone and Jamie Smith, New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert, and South African veteran David Miller are among those expected to spark bidding battles. Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, recently released by Chennai Super Kings, is another name likely to be closely watched.

With clear dates announced and the auction set to shape team combinations, excitement is building ahead of IPL 2026, which promises another high-octane season of competitive cricket and global attention.
Team Maverick.