IPL 2026 Begins: 84 Matches, Bigger Battles, Ultimate Glory

IPL 202

Cricket Fever Reloaded – More Matches, More Madness!

📌 Table of Contents

 

🏏 Tournament Overview

The TATA IPL 2026 season kicked off on March 28 with an expanded 84-match format, running until May 31.
Bengaluru hosts both the opening match and the grand finale, with 10 teams competing in a thrilling double round-robin format.

🔥 Opening Fixtures

  • March 28: RCB vs SRH – Bengaluru (7:30 PM IST)
  • March 29: MI vs KKR – Mumbai
  • March 30: RR vs CSK – Guwahati
  • March 31: PBKS vs GT – Chandigarh

The season opener at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium set the stage for a high-energy start to the tournament.

⚡ First Week Highlights

  • April 1: LSG vs DC – Lucknow
  • April 2: KKR vs SRH – Kolkata
  • April 3: CSK vs PBKS – Chennai

Double-header excitement begins on April 4 and 5, featuring blockbuster clashes like RCB vs CSK, popularly known as the “Southern Derby”.

📅 Phase 1 Schedule

The BCCI has released the first phase covering 20 matches until April 12 due to state elections.

  • April 6: KKR vs PBKS – Kolkata
  • April 7: RR vs MI – Guwahati
  • April 8: DC vs GT – Delhi
  • April 9: KKR vs LSG – Kolkata
  • April 10: RR vs RCB – Guwahati
  • April 12: MI vs RCB – Mumbai

The MI vs RCB clash highlights a major showdown between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

🌍 Teams & Venues

The 10 teams include RCB, MI, CSK, KKR, RR, PBKS, GT, LSG, DC, and SRH. Matches are played across major venues like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and more.

The playoffs will feature the top four teams, with Qualifier 1 giving a direct path to the final.

🆕 Recent Updates

  • Navdeep Saini replaces Harshit Rana for KKR
  • Kulwant Khejroliya replaces Prithviraj Yarra for GT
  • Spencer Johnson joins CSK squad

As of March 26, no match results have been recorded, with excitement building among fans worldwide.


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IPL 2026 Mini Auction: Big Money, Bold Moves & One Night That Changes Everything

IPL 2026 Mini Auction: Big Money, Bold Moves & One Night That Changes Everything

“One Auction. One Night. One Mistake Can Cost a Season.”

The IPL 2026 Mini Auction is all set to ignite excitement on December 16, 2025, at the iconic Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, starting 2:30 PM IST. This high-stakes, one-day event could redefine team strategies and fan expectations for the upcoming season.

Out of 1,390 registered players, only 350 have been shortlisted, including 240 Indian and 110 overseas players. With 77 slots to be filled and a massive ₹237.55 crore total purse, franchises are ready for intense bidding wars.

Auction Rules You Must Know

Each IPL team begins with a ₹151 crore base budget, but smart retentions and trades have reshaped the battlefield.

  • Kolkata Knight Riders lead the table with ₹64.3 crore and 13 slots, including six overseas spots

  • Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, are nearly maxed out with only ₹2.75 crore left

Key rules include:

  • One Right-to-Match (RTM) card per team

  • Two-part salary system (auction price + ₹7.5 lakh per match)

  • Trades allowed until one week before auction day

  • Squad size: 18–25 players, max 8 overseas

Fans can catch the action live on Star Sports, JioCinema, and the IPL YouTube channel.

Team Needs & Smart Strategies

  • Chennai Super Kings (₹43.4 crore, 9 slots) are hunting quality all-rounders, especially after the surprise Sanju Samson trade

  • Punjab Kings (₹11.50 crore, 4 slots) need clever buys—spinners and a game-changing overseas player

  • Rajasthan Royals (₹16.05 crore) have room to rebuild, with strong trade buzz around Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran

Recent trade headlines include Shardul Thakur & Sherfane Rutherford to MI, and Arjun Tendulkar joining LSG, adding extra drama before the hammer falls.

Big Names, Bigger Bids

All eyes are on Cameron Green, who could cross ₹25 crore, making him the auction’s hottest property. Other buzzing names include Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, and Ravi Bishnoi.

With 40 players priced at ₹2 crore base, expect fierce battles for uncapped Indian talents and proven international stars.

Complete breakdown of capped and uncapped players 

 Sr. No Capped/Uncapped players No. of players
1 Capped Indians 16
2 Capped Overseas 96
3 Uncapped Indian 224
4 Uncapped overseas 14
   Total 350

A full list of players as per their base price.

 Sr. No Reserve Price No. of players
1 200 40
2 150 9
3 125 4
4 100 17
5 75 42
6 50 4
7 40 7
8 30 227
  Total 350

Note: Prices in lakhs.

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