The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) began on 28 March 2026, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The tournament will continue until 31 May 2026.
📊 Tournament Overview
- Edition: 19th
- Duration: 28 March – 31 May 2026
- Teams: 10 franchises
- Matches: 70 league matches followed by playoffs
- Venues: Matches scheduled across 12–13 cities in India
📋 Format & Groups
The tournament follows a two-group format with a round-robin league stage and playoffs.
- Group A: Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants
- Group B: Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans
🔑 Key Highlights
- Opening match featured RCB vs SRH in Bengaluru.
- RCB entered the season as the defending champions.
- The playoffs will include Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final.
