IPL 2026 is set for a packed, two‑month window with key dates, auction details, and venue questions already shaping the narrative around the 19th edition of the league.

Tournament dates and RCB’s opener

The IPL 2026 season is slated to run from March 26 to May 31, as communicated by the BCCI to all franchises ahead of the mini‑auction in Abu Dhabi. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are scheduled to kick off the tournament on March 26, though their opponent for the opener has not yet been officially detailed in the report.

The final is expected to take place on May 31, giving the league its usual 10‑week window that allows for a full league stage plus playoffs before the international calendar tightens again.

Chinnaswamy uncertainty after stampede

A major talking point is whether RCB will actually be able to play their home matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The venue’s status remains uncertain after the tragic stampede during RCB’s title‑celebration event earlier in the year, which led to serious questions over crowd safety and stadium readiness.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has reportedly received conditional clearance from the state government to host IPL games, but that permission is tied to strict compliance with upgraded safety and security protocols laid out by the authorities. Until those requirements are fully met and signed off, Chinnaswamy’s availability for IPL 2026 will remain under watch.

Auction pool, slots and big purses

On the eve of the auction, the BCCI finalised the player pool by adding 19 more names, including Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, New Zealand pacer Ben Sears, and South Africa’s Ethan Bosch. From an original longlist of 1,355 players, 359 have been shortlisted for the auction – 244 Indian and 115 overseas.

Key auction numbers:

• Total slots available: 77

• Overseas slots available: 31

• Maximum base price bracket (₹2 crore): 40 players

• Only Indian names at ₹2 crore: Ravi Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer

Among franchises, Kolkata Knight Riders have the most vacancies with 13 slots to fill, while Sunrisers Hyderabad follow with 10.

Who are the hottest auction targets?

Given the mini‑auction dynamics and limited top‑end options, demand is heavily skewed toward multi‑dimensional players and strike bowlers. Several names are expected to trigger intense bidding wars across the 10 tables:

• Cameron Green – Australia’s seam‑bowling all‑rounder is widely tipped to be the biggest draw, with projections that his bids could cross ₹25 crore in this mini‑auction environment.

• Ravi Bishnoi – India’s premier young leg‑spinner, one of only two Indians in the ₹2‑crore base bracket, and a prime target for teams needing wicket‑taking spin through the middle overs.

• Liam Livingstone – England’s power‑hitting all‑rounder who can bat in the middle order and bowl both off‑spin and leg‑spin, perfectly suited for modern IPL roles​

• Jamie Smith – The England keeper‑batter has become a highly rated white‑ball prospect and offers stability plus firepower in the top/middle order.

• Matt Henry – New Zealand pacer with new‑ball swing and death‑overs experience, ideal for sides needing a lead overseas quick.

• Tim Seifert – Aggressive keeper‑batter option for teams seeking a top‑order overseas wicketkeeper.

• David Miller – Veteran South Africa finisher, still among the best left‑hand middle‑order options in T20 cricket.

• Matheesha Pathirana – Sri Lanka’s slingy death‑overs specialist, released by CSK, is expected to be in strong demand for his end‑overs skills.​

With KKR and CSK both entering with large purses and multiple gaps to fill, and several other sides chasing similar profiles, the mini‑auction in Abu Dhabi is set to be aggressive and fast‑moving. It will also be the third straight IPL auction held outside India, after previous editions in Dubai (2024) and Jeddah (2025).

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Quick tournament snapshot

• Tournament window: March 26 – May 31, 2026

• Edition: 19th IPL season

• Opening fixture: RCB to start their title defence on March 26

• Final: May 31

• Auction venue: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi

• Auction pool: 359 players (244 Indian, 115 overseas)

• Vacant slots: 77 (31 overseas)

• Biggest purse: KKR; next biggest vacancies: SRH

• Key uncertainties: Chinnaswamy Stadium’s readiness and safety clearance for RCB home games