IPL 2026 Season Kicks Off Today: RCB vs SRH in Opening Match at Bengaluru
IPL 2026 opens on March 28 with RCB vs SRH at Bengaluru. The season runs till May 31 with 74 matches. MS Dhoni plays his 19th IPL season at age 44.
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Key Points for RAS
- IPL 2026 begins March 28 with defending champions RCB vs SRH at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, running through May 31 with 10 teams and 74 matches.
- 11 seats at Chinnaswamy Stadium will be permanently left empty as a tribute to the 11 fans who died in a stampede during last year's victory parade.
- MS Dhoni, now 44, will play his 19th IPL season for Chennai Super Kings.
- Major ownership changes marked the pre-season: RCB sold for $1.78 billion and Rajasthan Royals for $1.635 billion.
- Virat Kohli leads RCB in defence of their IPL title; Mumbai Indians led by Hardik Pandya feature Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rohit Sharma.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season officially begins today, March 28, with the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The season will run through May 31, 2026, featuring 10 teams competing across 74 matches. Virat Kohli leads RCB in defence of their IPL title. The build-up to the season has been overshadowed by the deaths of 11 fans in a stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during last year's victory parade; state cricket officials have decided to permanently leave 11 seats empty as a tribute. MS Dhoni, now 44, will play his 19th IPL season for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Mumbai Indians, led by Hardik Pandya, boast a star-studded squad featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rohit Sharma. Matches will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network across multiple languages. IPL 2026 is also notable for major ownership changes — RCB was sold for $1.78 billion and Rajasthan Royals for $1.635 billion ahead of this season.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 When does IPL 2026 start and finish, and which teams are playing in it?
IPL 2026 begins on March 28, 2026 and runs through May 31, 2026, with 10 teams competing across 74 matches. The season opens with defending champions RCB vs SRH at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
2 How much were RCB and Rajasthan Royals sold for before IPL 2026 season?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were sold for $1.78 billion to a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group, while Rajasthan Royals were sold for $1.635 billion to a US-based consortium — among the largest franchise deals in cricket history, completed before IPL 2026.
3 What tribute did Chinnaswamy Stadium make to the 11 stampede victims for IPL 2026?
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has permanently left 11 seats empty as a tribute to the 11 fans who died in a stampede outside the venue during last year's IPL 2025 victory parade. Additionally, the BCCI cancelled the IPL 2026 opening ceremony out of respect.
4 How old is MS Dhoni in IPL 2026 and which is his IPL season for CSK?
MS Dhoni, now 44 years old, will play his 19th IPL season for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026 — a remarkable milestone demonstrating his longevity in the league since its founding in 2008.
5 Who leads Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 and what key players are in their squad?
Mumbai Indians are led by Hardik Pandya in IPL 2026. Their star-studded squad features Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rohit Sharma — one of the strongest bowling and batting combinations in the tournament.
Mains Exam Angle
Practice question with model answer for RAS Mains
Q: Discuss the economic and sporting significance of IPL 2026, featuring 10 teams, 74 matches, MS Dhoni's 19th season, and record franchise sales of $1.78 billion (RCB) and $1.635 billion (Rajasthan Royals).
Answer (50 words):
IPL 2026 opened 28 March with defending champions RCB vs SRH at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium, running through 31 May across 74 matches among 10 teams. Virat Kohli leads RCB; MS Dhoni, 44, plays his 19th IPL season. RCB sold for $1.78 billion and Rajasthan Royals for $1.635 billion.
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