IPL 2026: RCB will play opening match in Bangalore on March 26
IPL 2026: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is officially scheduled to begin on Thursday, March 26, 2026, and will conclude with the final on May 31, 2026. IPL 2026: RCB will play opening match in Bangalore on March 26.
This schedule was recently briefed to franchises by IPL CEO Hemang Amin just before the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. As is tradition, the opening match features the defending champions. Since Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their maiden title in 2025, they are set to play the curtain-raiser.
While the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is the intended venue, its final clearance is currently conditional. Following a tragic stampede during RCB’s title celebrations in June 2025, the Karnataka state government has been cautious.
However, recent reports indicate that Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and the KSCA are working closely to meet the necessary safety and security benchmarks to ensure the match stays in Bangalore.
IPL 2026:
Tournament Start – March 26, 2026
Tournament Final – May 31, 2026
Total Teams – 10
Total Matches – 74 (standard format)
The full fixture list with specific timings and double-header dates is expected to be released by the BCCI in the coming weeks, once the venue clearances for Bangalore are finalized. The IPL 2026 Mini Auction was held on December 16, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
It was a historic event that saw the record for the most expensive overseas player broken and unprecedented sums spent on uncapped Indian talent. A total of 77 slots were filled by the 10 franchises, with a collective spend of approximately Rs 215.15 crore.
The auction was dominated by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who entered with the largest remaining purses.
Cameron Green’s Record: Cameron Green – KKR – Rs 25.20 crore
Matheesha Pathirana – Rs KKR – Rs 18.00 crore
Prashant Veer – CSK – Rs 14.20 crore – Uncapped Indian
Kartik Sharma – CSK – Rs 14.20 crore – Uncapped Indian
Liam Livingstone – SRH – Rs 13.00 crore
KKR broke the bank for the Australian all-rounder, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, surpassing Mitchell Starc’s previous record.
In a shift from traditional strategy, CSK spent a combined Rs 28.4 crore on two uncapped players, Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, making them the joint-most expensive uncapped players ever.
Despite the massive bids, a new rule ensures that overseas players’ actual take-home salary is capped at Rs 18 crore. Any amount bid above this (like Green’s Rs 25.2cr) goes to the BCCI’s player welfare fund, though the full amount is still deducted from the team’s purse.
Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan, who initially went unsold, were picked up in the accelerated rounds for Rs 75 lakh each by Delhi Capitals and CSK, respectively.
Also Read: Prashant Veer most expensive uncapped player in IPL history
