The IPL 2026 will run from March 26 to May 31, maintaining its usual summer-time slot. This will be the 19th edition of the league and fans can yet again expect more than two months of intense T20 action.
While the complete schedule is yet to be announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the league will commence approximately three weeks after the completion of men’s T20 World Cup. The quadrennial worldwide event would be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, just a few days before players switch their attention to franchise cricket.
The IPL will clash with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the second year in a row, this time from March 26 to May 3. The overlap might, once again, complicate the availability of international players, particularly those from overseas who are playing in both leagues.
Meanwhile, franchises are gearing up for the IPL 2026 auction slated to be held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. There are 77 available spots (31 reserved for overseas players), with the total number of shortlisted players standing at 369.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are the team having maximum vacancies as they have room for as many as 13 players whereas Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) come second by having 10 available slots. KKR also have the highest remaining purse of ₹64.30 crore, while Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are next with ₹43.40 crore and that’s a lot of leeway at the auction table for both teams to stretch their purse-strings in quest of performance and success on the field, starting from 2019 IPL onwards!
The excitement around IPL 2026 comes on the back of a historic moment in the previous season, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched their first-ever IPL title, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in the final played in Ahmedabad.
