New Delhi, March 8: The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to commence on March 28, as confirmed by broadcaster Star Sports ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 final. Last season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended an 18-year wait by clinching the IPL 2025 title.
With less than 20 days to go before the start of the IPL, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may announce the tournament’s schedule in two parts. The dates for the first half of IPL 2026 are expected to be revealed on Monday. All teams have begun their preparations for the upcoming season, with several franchises also organizing training camps. Additionally, some teams have unveiled their much-anticipated jerseys.
The BCCI faced delays in announcing the IPL 2026 schedule due to uncertainties regarding the home grounds of RCB and Rajasthan Royals (RR), as well as potential conflicts with elections in some cities. The scheduling of IPL matches will be determined based on election dates in various Indian states to ensure that both events can proceed smoothly without overlap.
State assembly elections are set to take place between March and May in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. The Election Commission is currently finalizing voting dates for these regions, which is why the BCCI has not yet confirmed the complete schedule for the upcoming IPL season. As defending champions, RCB will play the tournament’s opening match at Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28, although the identity of their opponent will be disclosed once the schedule is released.
RCB won the IPL 2025 title by defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final. Batting first, RCB scored 190 runs for the loss of nine wickets, while Punjab Kings managed to score only 184 runs after losing seven wickets. Krunal Pandya was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance with both bat and ball.
Sai Sudharsan of Gujarat Titans won the Orange Cap by scoring 759 runs, while Prasidh Krishna claimed the Purple Cap with 25 wickets. Surya Kumar Yadav was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his consistent performances. The 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi also made headlines with his explosive batting in IPL 2025.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
