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IPL 2026 schedule : Team Squad, Match Predictions & Betting Guide


IPL 2026 schedule
Published:
 March 10, 2026 | Updated: 10:30 AM IST

The wait is finally over for cricket fans across India. The Indian Premier League 2026 is all set to kick off on March 28, 2026, with the final scheduled for May 31, 2026 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru . This 19th edition of the IPL promises to be bigger than ever with 84 matches – that’s 10 more than previous seasons!

For all my fellow cricket enthusiasts and betting enthusiasts on Saffronexch, this is the time we’ve been waiting for. Two months of non-stop cricketing action, thrilling finishes, and plenty of opportunities to put your cricket knowledge to good use.

In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about IPL 2026 schedule – from the full schedule to team-by-team analysis, player performances, and of course, my personal betting insights for each match.

🏆 IPL 2026: Tournament Overview at a Glance

Let me start with the basic details you need to bookmark:

DetailsInformation
TournamentIndian Premier League 2026 (19th Edition)
Start DateMarch 28, 2026
Final DateMay 31, 2026
Total Matches84
Teams10 Franchises
Defending ChampionsRoyal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Final VenueM. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Match Timings3:30 PM IST (Afternoon) & 7:30 PM IST (Evening)
BroadcastStar Sports Network (TV) / Jio-Hotstar (Digital)

The BCCI has officially confirmed these dates, and the opening match will feature the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at their home ground . While the full schedule is being released in two phases due to assembly elections in some states, the first 15-20 days of matches have been announced and I’ve compiled them for you below.

📅 IPL 2026 Full Schedule: First Phase (March 28 – April 15)

Here’s the confirmed schedule for the first phase of IPL 2026. I’ll keep updating this as BCCI releases more dates.

DateDayMatchVenueTime (IST)
March 28SaturdayRCB vs PBKSBengaluru7:30 PM
March 29SundaySRH vs RRHyderabad3:30 PM
March 29SundayCSK vs MIChennai7:30 PM
March 30MondayDC vs LSGVisakhapatnam7:30 PM
March 31TuesdayGT vs PBKSAhmedabad7:30 PM
April 1WednesdayRR vs KKRGuwahati7:30 PM
April 2ThursdaySRH vs LSGHyderabad7:30 PM
April 3FridayCSK vs RCBChennai7:30 PM
April 4SaturdayGT vs MIAhmedabad7:30 PM
April 5SundayDC vs SRHVisakhapatnam3:30 PM
April 5SundayRR vs CSKGuwahati7:30 PM
April 6MondayMI vs KKRMumbai7:30 PM
April 7TuesdayLSG vs PBKSLucknow7:30 PM
April 8WednesdayRCB vs GTBengaluru7:30 PM
April 9ThursdayKKR vs SRHKolkata7:30 PM
April 10FridayLSG vs MILucknow7:30 PM
April 11SaturdayCSK vs DCChennai3:30 PM
April 11SaturdayPBKS vs RRNew Chandigarh7:30 PM
April 12SundayKKR vs LSGKolkata3:30 PM
April 12SundaySRH vs GTHyderabad7:30 PM
April 13MondayMI vs RCBMumbai7:30 PM
April 14TuesdayPBKS vs CSKNew Chandigarh7:30 PM
April 15WednesdayGT vs RRAhmedabad7:30 PM

Note: The remaining matches will be announced once election dates are confirmed by the Election Commission .

🏏 IPL 2026 Teams: Complete Squad List After Auction

The IPL 2026 auction was held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025, and it was a massive event. Teams spent a combined ₹215.45 crore on 77 players, with 29 overseas players finding buyers . Let me break down each team’s final squad for you.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Icon Player: MS Dhoni
Key Auction Buys: Kartik Sharma (₹14.20 cr), Prashant Veer (₹14.20 cr), Rahul Chahar (₹5.20 cr)

BattersBowlersAll-rounders
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)Khaleel AhmedShivam Dube
MS Dhoni (wk)Mukesh ChoudharyJamie Overton*
Sanju Samson (wk)Nathan Ellis*Ramakrishna Ghosh
Ayush MhatreNoor Ahmad*Akeal Hosein*
Dewald Brevis*Anshul KambojMatthew Short*
Urvil PatelGurjapneet SinghZak Foulkes*
Sarfaraz KhanShreyas GopalAman Khan
 Rahul Chahar 
 Kartik Sharma 
 Prashant Veer 
 Matt Henry* 

My Take on CSK: With Sanju Samson joining from RR, CSK’s middle order looks rock solid . The big buys – Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma – are uncapped but CSK has a history of turning unknowns into stars. On the spinning tracks of Chepauk, CSK will be dangerous. For betting on Saffronexch, I’d keep an eye on CSK’s home matches – they rarely lose at Chepauk.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

Captain: Hardik Pandya
Key Players: Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav
Key Trades/Auctions: Shardul Thakur, Sherfane Rutherford, Will Jacks*

BattersBowlersAll-rounders
Rohit SharmaJasprit BumrahHardik Pandya (c)
Suryakumar YadavTrent Boult*Mitchell Santner*
Tilak VarmaDeepak ChaharCorbin Bosch*
Ryan Rickelton*Allah Ghazanfar*Naman Dhir
Robin Minz (wk)Ashwani KumarRaj Angad Bawa
Will Jacks*Mayank MarkandeShardul Thakur
Quinton de Kock* Sherfane Rutherford*
Danish Malewar Atharva Ankolekar
Mayank Rawat Mohammad Izhar

My Take on MI: Five-time champions and always a threat. The core of Rohit, Surya, Hardik, and Bumrah remains intact. Adding Will Jacks was a masterstroke – he gives them an explosive opener and part-time spin option . MI’s death bowling with Bumrah and Boult is arguably the best in the tournament. On Saffronexch, MI matches usually have high-scoring odds – something to factor in.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Captain: Ajinkya Rahane
Star Signing: Cameron Green (₹25.20 crore – most expensive overseas player in IPL history!) 

BattersBowlersAll-rounders
Ajinkya Rahane (c)Harshit RanaSunil Narine*
Rinku SinghVaibhav AroraAndre Russell*
Angkrish RaghuvanshiUmran MalikRamandeep Singh
Manish PandeyVarun ChakravarthyAnukul Roy
Rahul TripathiMatheesha Pathirana*Cameron Green*
Finn Allen*Mustafizur Rahman*Rachin Ravindra*
Tim Seifert*Kartik TyagiRovman Powell*
Sarthak RanjanPrashant Solanki 
Daksh KamraAkash Deep 

My Take on KKR: Spending ₹25.20 crore on Cameron Green shows KKR means business. Green gives them a genuine all-rounder who can bat anywhere in the top order and bowl 4 crucial overs . With Narine and Russell still around, KKR has that X-factor. At Eden Gardens, the short boundaries mean high scores – perfect for live betting on total runs.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Captain: Rajat Patidar
Key Player: Virat Kohli
Defending Champions: Won IPL 2025 against PBKS 

BattersBowlersAll-rounders
Virat KohliJosh Hazlewood*Krunal Pandya
Rajat Patidar (c)Yash DayalSwapnil Singh
Devdutt PadikkalBhuvneshwar KumarTim David*
Phil Salt* (wk)Nuwan Thushara*Romario Shepherd*
Jitesh Sharma (wk)Rasikh DarJacob Bethell*
Mangesh YadavSuyash SharmaVenkatesh Iyer
Vihaan MalhotraAbhinandan Singh 
Jordan Cox*Vicky Ostwal 
Kanishk ChouhanJacob Duffy* 
Satwik Deswal  

My Take on RCB: The curse is broken – RCB finally won in 2025 . Now they’re aiming for back-to-back titles. Virat Kohli looked in sublime touch last season, and adding Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crore gives them a solid Indian all-rounder . At Chinnaswamy, no score is safe. For betting tips, always expect high-scoring games when RCB plays at home.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Captain: Shreyas Iyer
Key Players: Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
2025 Performance: Runners-up 

BattersBowlersAll-rounders
Prabhsimran Singh (wk)Arshdeep SinghMarcus Stoinis*
Priyansh AryaYuzvendra ChahalAzmatullah Omarzai*
Shreyas Iyer (c)Lockie Ferguson*Marco Jansen*
Shashank SinghXavier Bartlett*Harpreet Brar
Nehal WadheraVyshak VijaykumarMitchell Owen*
Harnoor PannuYash ThakurCooper Connolly*
Pyla AvinashBen Dwarshuis*Suryansh Shedge
Vishnu Vinod (wk) Praveen Dubey
Musheer Khan Vishal Nishad

My Take on PBKS: Last year’s runners-up will want to go one step further. Shreyas Iyer brings captaincy experience, and with Chahal and Arshdeep, their bowling attack is lethal . PBKS is often unpredictable – which makes betting on Saffronexch interesting. They can beat anyone on their day.

Gujarat Titans (GT)

Captain: Shubman Gill
Key Players: Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan
Coach: Ashish Nehra

BattersBowlersAll-rounders
Shubman Gill (c)Mohammed SirajWashington Sundar
Sai SudharsanPrasidh KrishnaRahul Tewatia
Jos Buttler* (wk)Rashid Khan*Shahrukh Khan
Kumar Kushagra (wk)Kagiso Rabada*Glenn Phillips*
Anuj Rawat (wk)Ishant SharmaNishant Sindhu
Tom Banton*Gurnoor BrarJayant Yadav
 Manav SutharJason Holder*
 Sai KishoreArshad Khan
 Ashok Sharma 
 Luke Wood* 
 Prithviraj Yarra 

My Take on GT: Titans have built a balanced squad. Buttler and Gill opening – that’s a nightmare for any bowling attack . With Rashid and Rabada in the same XI, they can defend any total. GT is my dark horse for the title this year.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Captain: Riyan Parag
Key Additions: Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran (both traded from CSK) 

BattersBowlersAll-rounders
Yashasvi JaiswalJofra Archer*Ravindra Jadeja
Riyan Parag (c)Tushar DeshpandeSam Curran*
Dhruv Jurel (wk)Sandeep SharmaShimron Hetmyer*
Shubham DubeyKwena Maphaka*Ravi Bishnoi
Vaibhav SuryavanshiNandre Burger*Adam Milne*
Lhuan-Dre Pretorius*Kuldeep SenDonovan Ferreira*
 Sushant MishraYudhvir Singh
 Ravi SinghVignesh Puthur
 Brijesh Sharma 
 Aman Rao 
 Yash Raj Punja 

My Take on RR: The big trade – Samson out, Jadeja and Curran in – completely changes RR’s dynamics . Jadeja at his home ground in Jaipur will be massive. Jaiswal is my pick for Orange Cap this season . RR at Sawai Mansingh is always a tough proposition.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Captain: Pat Cummins*
Key Players: Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen
Big Buy: Liam Livingstone* (₹13 crore) 

BattersBowlersAll-rounders
Travis Head*Pat Cummins* (c)Abhishek Sharma
Ishan Kishan (wk)Harshal PatelNitish Kumar Reddy
Heinrich Klaasen* (wk)Jaydev UnadkatKamindu Mendis*
Aniket VermaBrydon Carse*Liam Livingstone*
Smaran RavichandranEshan Malinga*Jack Edwards*
Salil AroraZeeshan AnsariHarsh Dubey
 Shivam MaviSakib Hussain
 Krains FuletraOnkar Tarmale
 Praful Hinge 
 Amit Kumar 

My Take on SRH: Remember when SRH scored 287 in an innings? They still play that brand of cricket . With Head, Klaasen, and Livingstone in the same lineup, they could be the first team to cross 300 in IPL history. For live betting, SRH matches are gold – runs flow quickly at Hyderabad’s ground.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Captain: Rishabh Pant
Key Additions: Mohammed Shami, Arjun Tendulkar 

BattersBowlersAll-rounders
Rishabh Pant (c) (wk)Avesh KhanMitchell Marsh*
Nicholas Pooran* (wk)Mohsin KhanShahbaz Ahmed
Aiden Markram*Mayank YadavArshin Kulkarni
Matthew Breetzke*Mohammed ShamiAyush Badoni
Himmat SinghAnrich Nortje*Abdul Samad
Josh Inglis* (wk)Naman TiwariWanindu Hasaranga*
Mukul ChoudharyAkash Singh 
Akshat RaghuwanshiPrince Yadav 
 Digvesh Rathi 
 Manimaran Siddharth 
 Arjun Tendulkar 

My Take on LSG: Rishabh Pant leading, Shami and Nortje bowling at death, Pooran finishing games – LSG has all boxes ticked . At Ekana, the pitch is slower, so spinners like Hasaranga will be key. Keep an eye on LSG’s home games for low-scoring betting opportunities.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Captain: Axar Patel
Key Players: KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc*
Traded In: Nitish Rana (from RR) 

BattersBowlersAll-rounders
KL Rahul (wk)Kuldeep YadavAxar Patel (c)
Abishek Porel (wk)Mitchell Starc*Tristan Stubbs*
Karun NairT. NatarajanAshutosh Sharma
Prithvi ShawMukesh KumarVipraj Nigam
Sameer RizviDushmantha Chameera*Ajay Mandal
Nitish RanaLungi Ngidi*Madhav Tiwari
David Miller*Kyle Jamieson*Tripurana Vijay
Ben Duckett*Auqib Dar 
Pathum Nissanka*  
Sahil Parakh  

My Take on DC: Axar Patel as captain is an interesting choice. With Starc and Kuldeep, their bowling has variety . KL Rahul will want to prove a point after being released by LSG. DC at Arun Jaitley Stadium is usually a batting paradise.

🎯 My IPL 2026 Match Predictions & Betting Tips

After analyzing all teams and player form, here are my bold predictions for IPL 2026:

Who Will Win IPL 2026?

I think the final will be between RCB and MI . Here’s why:

RCB has the momentum of winning in 2025 and retained their core. Venkatesh Iyer adds balance they lacked earlier .

MI has the most experienced bowling attack. Bumrah in knockout matches is worth 20 runs extra.

My Bet: RCB to win back-to-back titles. At Chinnaswamy in the final, the home crowd will push them over the line.

Orange Cap Prediction (Most Runs)

I’m backing Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) to win the Orange Cap . Here’s the math:

Last season: 559 runs

This season target: 700+ runs

Jaiswal’s powerplay hitting and spin game are both top-notch .

Other contenders: Virat Kohli (RCB), Shubman Gill (GT), Jos Buttler (GT)

Purple Cap Prediction (Most Wickets)

Jasprit Bumrah (MI) is my pick. In death overs, no one comes close. With Boult at the other end, batters can’t just target Bumrah.

Dark horse: Varun Chakravarthy (KKR) – mystery spinners always do well in IPL.

Will Someone Score 300+ in an Innings?

Yes – and it will be SRH . They hold the record at 287. With Head, Klaasen, Livingstone, and Abhishek Sharma, they have six hitters. One day, everything will click, and 300 is possible.

Will Virat Kohli Hit 2 Centuries?

I think yes . Kohli has done it before (4 in 2016). At Chinnaswamy, with the shorter boundaries, he’ll feast. Two centuries in IPL 2026 is very achievable.

Young Players to Watch in IPL 2026

Keep an eye on these uncapped Indians who could be match-winners :

PlayerTeamRole
Prashant VeerCSKAll-rounder (₹14.20 cr signing)
Kartik SharmaCSKWicket-keeper batter
Auqib DarDCFast bowler (₹8.40 cr)
Krains FuletraSRHAll-rounder
Ashok SharmaGTFast bowler
Vaibhav SuryavanshiRRYoung batter

📊 IPL Betting Guide: How to Bet on Saffronexch

For those of you looking to bet on IPL 2026 schedule &  matches, here’s my personal guide to different betting markets on Saffronexch:

Match Winner Bets

The simplest bet – pick which team wins. But don’t just go by team names. Check:

Head-to-head record at that venue

Pitch report (batting or bowling friendly?)

Toss winner (chasing teams win more at some grounds)

Top Batsman / Top Bowler Bets

Great value bets. For example:

Abhishek Sharma at Wankhede? He smashed 135* there against England recently .

Jasprit Bumrah in death overs? Always a safe bet.

Live Betting (In-Play)

This is where Saffronexch shines. During the match, odds keep changing. If you see a batsman struggling but the odds for his wicket are high – that’s your moment.

Fancy Bets Markets

Total sixes in the match (over/under)

Powerplay score

Method of first dismissal

Player performance (runs, wickets, catches)

Dream11 Fantasy Tips

For daily fantasy cricket, here’s my formula:

Pick 3-4 top-order batsmen (they face more balls)

Pick 2 genuine wicket-takers

Always include 1-2 all-rounders (double points)

Captain: someone in form

Vice-captain: someone consistent

Example Dream11 Team for RCB vs MI:

Batters: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav

WK: Phil Salt

AR: Hardik Pandya (VC), Will Jacks (C), Krunal Pandya

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, Deepak Chahar

🏟️ IPL 2026 Venues & Pitch Reports

Understanding the venue is half the battle won in betting. Here’s my quick guide to all IPL 2026 schedule &  venues:

StadiumCityTeamTypical ScorePitch Behavior
M. ChinnaswamyBengaluruRCB190-210Batting paradise, short boundaries
WankhedeMumbaiMI180-200Good bounce, dew factor in second innings
Eden GardensKolkataKKR170-190Spin helps, big ground
ChepaukChennaiCSK150-170Spin-friendly, slow turner
Narendra ModiAhmedabadGT170-190Balanced pitch, big ground
Sawai MansinghJaipurRR160-180Slower, assists spinners
Rajiv GandhiHyderabadSRH180-200Flat pitch, high scoring
EkanaLucknowLSG150-170Sticky, low and slow
Arun JaitleyDelhiDC170-190True bounce, good for batting
PCANew ChandigarhPBKS170-190Balanced, some assistance for pacers
ACA StadiumGuwahatiRR (few matches)160-180Spin-friendly 
ACA-VDCAVisakhapatnamDC (few matches)170-190Good batting track
Shaheed StadiumRaipurRCB (2 matches)160-180New venue, unknown behavior 

Dew Factor: In evening matches (March-April), dew is heavy in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. Teams bowling second struggle. Always check dew forecast before betting on the toss winner.

🔥 IPL 2026: Key Player Battles to Watch

These individual battles often decide match outcomes. I’ll be watching closely:

Virat Kohli vs Jasprit Bumrah

The master batsman vs the master bowler. When RCB plays MI, this battle defines the game. Bumrah has dismissed Kohli 4 times in IPL – but Kohli’s strike rate against him is still 140+.

Sanju Samson vs Ravindra Jadeja

Now that both are in different teams (Samson in CSK, Jadeja in RR) , this will be spicy. Samson knows Jadeja’s variations – but Jadeja knows Samson’s weaknesses too.

Travis Head vs Mitchell Starc

Former Australia teammates, now opponents. Head smashed Starc in Tests, but in T20s, Starc has the edge. SRH vs DC will be must-watch.

Shubman Gill vs Rashid Khan

Gill captains GT, Rashid is his main bowler. In nets, they face each other daily. In matches, Gill has to score off Rashid – exciting contest.

🚀 How to Get Your IPL Betting ID on Saffronexch

If you haven’t yet created your IPL Cricket ID for the 2026 season, here’s how to do it in 60 seconds:

Step 1: Visit Saffronexch.one

Step 2: Click on “Get IPL ID Now” (Yellow button)

Step 3: Enter your mobile number (no OTP required)

Step 4: Receive your unique IPL ID via WhatsApp instantly

Step 5: Deposit minimum ₹100 to activate your account

Step 6: Use code IPL 2026 schedule 500 for 500% welcome bonus up to ₹50,000

Why Saffronexch for IPL 2026?

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24×7 WhatsApp support in Hindi/English

All betting markets available (Match Winner, Top Batsman, Top Bowler, Live Betting, Fancy Bets)

2,50,000+ active users trust us

📱 IPL 2026 Live Streaming & Score Updates

Want to watch matches while betting on Saffronexch? Here’s where to catch the action:

PlatformTypeDetails
Star Sports NetworkTVAll matches live (channels 1-3 in Hindi, English, regional)
Jio-HotstarDigitalMobile streaming (subscription needed)
Saffronexch WhatsAppUpdatesLive score + betting odds every over
BCCI Official AppAppFree live scores, no video

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (IPL 2026 Betting)

Is IPL betting legal on Saffronexch?

Saffronexch operates under international license (Curacao eGaming). Indian users are protected under international law. We provide a platform for skill-based entertainment. Users must be 21+ and play responsibly.

What is the minimum deposit for IPL betting?

Minimum deposit is ₹100. All UPI, Paytm, PhonePe, and bank transfer options available.

How fast are withdrawals?

Withdrawals take 15 minutes to 2 hours maximum. We have processed ₹18,75,000 in 22 minutes as record 

Can I bet on live matches?

Yes! Live betting is available on all IPL 2026 matches. Odds update in real-time as the match progresses.

What is 500% welcome bonus?

Use code IPL 2026 schedule 500 on first deposit. You get 5x your deposit amount as bonus money (max ₹50,000 bonus). Terms apply.

Which IPL team is best for betting?

No “best” team – it depends on form, pitch, and head-to-head. Generally, MI and CSK are most consistent. RCB is strong at home. Check my match predictions daily on Saffronexch blog.

🎯 Final Words: My IPL 2026 Betting Strategy

After 18 seasons of IPL, here’s what I’ve learned about betting smart:

  1. Don’t bet on every match. Pick 2-3 matches where you’ve done proper research.

  2. Follow the toss. In IPL, toss wins 55% of matches, especially in dew conditions.

  3. Watch player form, not reputation. Kohli might be King, but if he’s struggling, don’t bet blind.

  4. Use live betting. The best odds come during the match when momentum shifts.

  5. Set a budget. IPL is 2 months long – don’t blow your bank on day one.

  6. Stay updated. Follow team news, injuries, replacements. A late change can swing odds.

I’ll be posting daily match predictions, Dream11 teams, and live betting tips throughout IPL 2026 schedule on my Saffronexch blog. Bookmark this page and check back before every match.

Let the games begin! 🏏

Disclaimer: This Page is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Online betting involves financial risk. Please play responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose. You must be 21+ years old. If you feel betting is becoming a problem, seek professional help.

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