The Indian Premier League 2026 gets under way on 28 March, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match in Bengaluru. Fans across the country are eagerly waiting to watch their favourite teams and star players return to action.
This season marks a significant shift in the tournament’s scale and structure. With 10 teams competing, IPL 2026 will feature a record 84 matches, making it the longest edition in the tournament’s history. The league has already announced the schedule for the first phase, covering 20 matches — including four double-headers — to be played between 28 March and 12 April.
The expanded fixture list signals the ever-growing popularity of cricket in India. IPL 2026 marks the return of the full double round-robin format, in which each team faces every other team twice — once at home and once away. Last used in 2021, the format’s comeback ensures greater competitive balance and gives fans significantly more cricket across the season. The tournament is expected to expand further to 94 matches from 2028 onwards.
With more games in the calendar, younger domestic players stand to benefit considerably. The extended format offers them greater opportunities to showcase their talent and gain valuable experience by sharing dressing rooms with some of the biggest names in world cricket.
Despite the emergence of new talent, the presence of players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni continues to drive fan engagement. With these icons having stepped away from international T20 cricket, the IPL remains the primary stage where supporters can watch them in action.
The IPL continues to dominate the global T20 landscape. It is widely regarded as one of the most valuable and widely watched sports leagues in the world, ranking among the top competitions globally in terms of brand value and viewership on a per-match basis. From a commercial standpoint, the league has surpassed other T20 competitions, setting new benchmarks in revenue generation, sponsorship, and global reach.