The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season will kick off on Thursday, March 26, with the final scheduled for Sunday, May 31, marking another extended edition of the T20 league.
According to Cricbuzz, the dates were communicated to all ten franchises by IPL CEO Hemang Amin during a briefing held ahead of Tuesday’s mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. While the full match schedule is yet to be released and is expected in the coming days, key details about the season have begun to emerge.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to feature in the opening match of the tournament. However, it is still unclear whether the fixture will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Traditionally, the IPL opener is hosted at the home venue of the reigning champions, but the availability of the Bengaluru stadium remains uncertain.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has received conditional clearance from the state government to host IPL matches. Final approval will depend on the completion and verification of safety and security arrangements.
Meanwhile, preparations for the IPL mini-auction are underway. Franchises will bid for a total of 77 available slots, including 31 reserved for overseas players. The highest reserve price has been set at ₹2 crore, with 40 players entering the auction in this top bracket.
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