The 2026 Indian Premier League runs from mid-March to late May with 74 matches across 10 franchises and 8 venues. This page is your single-source tracker for fixtures, results, standings and playoff math. Bookmark it — we refresh every section within sixty minutes of the last ball of each match day.
Opening week fixtures
The opening week features a marquee double-header every evening, with the season opener showcasing two of the most successful franchises in league history. Below is the published schedule as of editorial lock on 20 July 2026 — verify the date and start time on match day, since the BCCI occasionally adjusts fixtures for broadcast windows.
| Match | Date | Venue | Start (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 21 March 2026 | Wankhede Stadium | 7:30 PM |
| Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 22 March 2026 | M. A. Chidambaram | 7:30 PM |
| Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals | 23 March 2026 | Eden Gardens | 7:30 PM |
| Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings | 24 March 2026 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | 7:30 PM |
| Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants | 25 March 2026 | Narendra Modi Stadium | 7:30 PM |
| Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 26 March 2026 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | 7:30 PM |
| Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings | 27 March 2026 | Wankhede Stadium | 7:30 PM |
Points table explainer
The IPL uses a straightforward points system: two points for a win, one point each for a no-result or tie, and zero for a loss. When teams finish level on points, the league table applies Net Run Rate (NRR) as the primary tiebreaker, then head-to-head record, then most wickets taken across the season.
For fantasy players, the practical implication is that NRR matters hugely in the back half of the season — teams in mid-table often play for NRR boost even when the win is unlikely, which shows up as elevated strike rates for top-order batters in dead rubbers.
NRR in plain language
Net Run Rate = (total runs scored per over faced) minus (total runs conceded per over bowled). A team that scores at 9.0 runs per over and concedes at 7.5 has an NRR of +1.5. A team batting first in a high-scoring game can move NRR dramatically in one match — sometimes by 0.5 or more.
Playoff scenarios
The top four teams after the league stage qualify for the playoffs. The format is qualifier-eliminator:
- 1st place vs 2nd place — Qualifier 1 (winner goes straight to the final)
- 3rd place vs 4th place — Eliminator (winner advances)
- Qualifier 1 loser vs Eliminator winner — Qualifier 2 (winner goes to final)
Historically, finishing 1st at the league stage gives a team roughly a 55% chance of making the final. Finishing 2nd is closer to 40%, and Eliminator winners go on to lift the title about 18% of the time.
The eight venues in rotation
For fantasy purposes, venue matters because pitch behaviour drives scoring patterns. The 2026 season uses eight primary venues, each with a slightly different average first-innings score and spin/seam split. Wankhede and Eden Gardens tend to be high-scoring flat tracks, while Chepauk and the new Mullanpur ground favour spin in the second innings.
| Venue | City | Typical 1st-innings score | Spinners / Pacers split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai | 175 – 195 | 40 / 60 |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata | 170 – 190 | 45 / 55 |
| M. A. Chidambaram | Chennai | 155 – 175 | 60 / 40 |
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | 180 – 200 | 40 / 60 |
| Sawai Mansingh | Jaipur | 165 – 185 | 50 / 50 |
| Arun Jaitley | Delhi | 170 – 185 | 45 / 55 |
| Rajiv Gandhi International | Hyderabad | 175 – 190 | 45 / 55 |
| Mullanpur (PCA) | Mohali | 160 – 180 | 55 / 45 |
What this tracker omits
We do not publish speculative fixtures or rounds beyond the official BCCI announcement. We do not maintain a live win-probability model — for ball-by-ball win probability, the official IPL app and the league broadcaster carry more accurate feeds. We focus on the editorial layer: which games matter for playoff math, which venues to target, and which matchups create fantasy upside.
Recent match note
Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday night. Samson hit 48, Brevis 41, and Noor Ahmad took three to be adjudged Player of the Match. Read the full match report from Chepauk.
Frequently asked questions
The season opens on 21 March 2026 with Mumbai Indians hosting Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Wankhede Stadium.
74 matches across the league stage, plus up to 4 playoff matches depending on whether the final is played or affected by rain.
The official IPL website, the BCCI app and the IPL Live Fantasy app all carry ball-by-ball commentary and live scorecards.
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are tied at five titles each as of the 2025 season. Kolkata Knight Riders have three.
If the rain rule does not allow even a five-over chase, the higher-ranked team from the league stage advances. There is no reserve day for the Eliminator.
Filed by IPL Live Fantasy editorial desk · Updated 20 July 2026.