IPL 2026 to begin on March 26, final scheduled for May 31: Report

The 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League is likely to begin on Thursday, March 26, according to a Cricbuzz report published a day before the mini-auction. The report also added that the final is expected to be played on May 31, which would make the tournament a little over two months in duration.

Whether the tournament will kick off at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the home ground of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is still under review. The BCCI withdrew hosting rights from the venue following a tragic incident last year, when 11



people lost their lives in a stampede during RCB’s title celebration event. Since that incident, the Chinnaswamy Stadium has not hosted a single match.

The report further stated that 19 additional players have been added to the mini-auction pool. Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran is among the most notable names included and is expected to generate significant interest. His presence in the auction has attracted attention particularly because he was sidelined from the Indian Test squad without getting an opportunity to play a single match.