IPL 2026 Schedule to be Announced on THIS Date, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia Shares Major Updates

After India’s big win at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, all eyes are now on the upcoming cricket tournament. The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to begin from March 28 to May 31, instead of the initial window of March 26 and May 30. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia shared that the complete IPL 2026 schedule will be unveiled on March 12, 2026. 

The upcoming Edition of the Indian Premier League will feature a total of 84 matches, making it the largest in IPL history to date, compared with 74 in the previous season. Here’s what the BCCI Secretary has to share. 

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IPL 2026 Schedule: When will IPL begin and end?

🚨 Announcement 🚨 Get ready! #TATAIPL2026 is all set to start from the 28th of MARCH! pic.twitter.com/RF4Ixvo1J5 — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 8, 2026

On Tuesday, March 10, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said to ANI, “We plan to announce the IPL 2026 schedule by March 12. For now, we are going to announce the IPL schedule for the first 20 days.” The other matches of the tournament’s schedule will be revealed later as the BCCI aims to avoid a clash with assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu. IPL 2026 is will begin from March 28 to May 31.

The IPL 2026 playoffs are expected to start on May 26, 2026. Bengaluru has already been confirmed as the host for Qualifier 1 and the Final, which is scheduled for May 31, 2026. Meanwhile, the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 are likely to take place in Ahmedabad and Raipur, although official confirmation is yet to be announced.

Moreover, the IPL Matches are expected to be hosted across 10 major Indian cities, including Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Raipur, allowing fans and cricket lovers in different regions to watch games live. All 10 IPL franchises will return for the 2026 season with their captains already confirmed. The IPL team includes experienced international players and emerging stars, making the competition even more exciting. Below is the list of teams and their respective captains. 

1. Chennai Super Kings – Ruturaj Gaikwad
2. Mumbai Indians – Hardik Pandya
3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Rajat Patidar
4. Kolkata Knight Riders – Ajinkya Rahane
5. Gujarat Titans – Shubman Gill
6. Rajasthan Royals – Riyan Parag
7. Lucknow Super Giants – Rishabh Pant
8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – Pat Cummins
9. Delhi Capitals – Axar Patel
10. Punjab Kings – Shreyas Iyer 

Last year, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were the champions, having defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in the 2025 final held in Ahmedabad. Nonetheless, fans and cricket lovers are eagerly waiting for the 2026 official fixture list, venue confirmations, and ticket bookings.