Sports
IPL 2026 : IPL 2026 to Begin on March 26, Final Scheduled for May 31
IPL 2026 will be played from March 26 to May 31, overlapping with the PSL once again, as franchises prepare for the December 16 auction in Abu Dhabi.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to be held from March 26 to May 31, retaining its traditional window in the international cricket calendar.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet released the full schedule, the 19th edition of the tournament is expected to start around three weeks after the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be played from February 7 to March 8 across India and Sri Lanka, according to ESPNcricinfo. As in previous seasons, the IPL is slated to conclude by the end of May.
The 2026 season will once again overlap with the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3, marking the second consecutive year of a scheduling clash between the two leagues.
Preparations for the tournament are already underway, with IPL franchises gearing up for the mega auction scheduled to take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. A total of 369 players have been shortlisted for the auction, with 77 slots available across teams, including 31 reserved for overseas players.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the highest number of vacancies at 13, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad with 10 slots. After trades and player retentions, KKR also possess the biggest remaining purse at ₹64.30 crore (approximately USD 7.1 million), while Chennai Super Kings follow with ₹43.40 crore (around USD 4.8 million).
The previous IPL season in 2025 was initially scheduled from March 22 to May 25 but faced disruption due to rising cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. The tournament was suspended on May 9, resumed on May 15, and eventually concluded on June 3.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru emerged as champions, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final held in Ahmedabad, ending their long wait for an IPL title.
However, the celebrations in Bengaluru were overshadowed by tragedy, as stampede-like situations outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium led to the deaths of 11 people. A subsequent inquiry later declared the stadium unfit to host large-scale events.
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