IPL 2026: dates, format, fixtures and team details

March 26 : The Indian Premier League is a franchise-based Twenty20 cricket tournament organised by the Indian board (BCCI).

First held in 2008, it quickly became the most lucrative cricket tournament in the world.

Here is what you need to know about the 19th edition of the competition which starts next month:

WHEN IS THE IPL HAPPENING?

- The 19th edition of the IPL runs from March 28 to May 31.

WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF THE IPL?

- The 10 participating teams play in a double round-robin format in which they play each other twice, once away and once at home. 

- The top four teams in a unified points table qualify for the playoffs. The top two teams play each other in 'Qualifier 1' with the winners reaching the final.

- The teams placed third and fourth compete in an 'Eliminator' with the winners progressing to 'Qualifier 2' to face the losers of 'Qualifier 1' for a place in the final.

WHERE IS THE IPL TAKING PLACE?

- The IPL is held in the home cities of the franchises based across India. However, some teams may choose to split their home games between two or more cities.

- The 70 league matches of the 2026 edition will be played across 13 venues.

- M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the home ground of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will host the opening game.

- The other venues are - Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Eden Gardens in Kolkata, MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur