IPL 2026 LIVE Updates: Franchise skippers unite for Captains' Day, India's brightest prepare for crucial IPL season

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IPL 2026 LIVE: The Indian Premier League's 2026 season is days away as the ten franchises put in the leg work to be best prepared for the initial part of the season – but behind the scenes, plenty already taking place.

5 Mins agoThe wait for the full schedule continues

26 Mins agoCaptains join forces for Captains Day, photoshoot in Mumbai

45 Mins agoRCB's quest for back-to-back hinges on Josh Hazlewood's availability

59 Mins agoSamson or Dhoni with the gloves?

1 Hr 15 Mins agoHardik-SKY-Rohit triangle still causing upset in MI dressing room?

1 Hr 33 Mins agoFan events the other big pre-tournament trend

1 Hr 55 Mins agoIntra-squad preparation games catch the eye

12:01 PM IST, Mar 25Ishan Kishan taking over SRH means IPL starts with Indian captains across the board

11:38 AM IST, Mar 25Gulf between PSL, IPL widens as Pakistan bleeds players across the border

11:23 AM IST, Mar 25Key IPL for post-World Cup sweepstakes

10:57 AM IST, Mar 25RCB vs SRH, MI vs KKR highlight opening weekend

10:28 AM IST, Mar 25RCB's gesture towards victims of 2025 stampede

10:08 AM IST, Mar 25Ticket drama enrages fans before IPL start – MI vs RCB in focus

9:49 AM IST, Mar 25RCB, RR acquisitions make pre-tournament headlines

9:16 AM IST, Mar 25SRH start with Cummins absent

9:13 AM IST, Mar 25RCB availability watch

9:07 AM IST, Mar 25Rajasthan Royals forced into early change

9:05 AM IST, Mar 25Punjab Kings sweating on Lockie Ferguson

9:02 AM IST, Mar 25Mumbai Indians wait on Bumrah

8:54 AM IST, Mar 25LSG availability check

8:49 AM IST, Mar 25KKR's pace stock take early hit

8:45 AM IST, Mar 25GT get timely boost

8:40 AM IST, Mar 25Delhi Capitals hit by Ben Duckett pulout as replacement wait continues

8:37 AM IST, Mar 25CSK availability watch

8:32 AM IST, Mar 25IPL 2026 full schedule wait continues as BCCI toes fixture drop to election dates

8:26 AM IST, Mar 25IPL starts on 28th March

8:17 AM IST, Mar 25Lack of tickets outrages the fans

6:31 AM IST, Mar 25RCB acquisition garnered global interest

6:16 AM IST, Mar 25Aditya Birla Group-led consortium buys RCB

5:45 AM IST, Mar 25Meet RR's new owners

5:29 AM IST, Mar 25US-based Kal Somani-led consortium to acquire Rajasthan Royals

IPL 2026 LIVE: Just three more days before the annual carnival kicks off with reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. But ahead of the start of the tournament, IPL finds itself grappling with conversations on its standing in global sports leagues after the soaring valuations of Rajasthan Royals and Bengaluru, whose acquisition was completed on Tuesday evening for a mouth-watering deal....Read More

A consortium comprising Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone acquired RCB for $1.78 billion, ending a weeks-long bidding war, while Rajasthan Royals was acquired by a US-based Kal Somani-led consortium for USD 1.63 billion (approx ₹15,290 crore).

Meanwhile, the BCCI announced the schedule for only the first phase of IPL 2026, which comprises 20 matches, running until April 12. The timeline for the remaining 54 matches is yet to be finalised and will be announced after key election announcements in states such as Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.

Follow all the updates here:

Mar 25, 2026 7:37:50 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: The wait for the full schedule continues

IPL 2026 Live updates: So far, only twenty matches have been announced, four games for each team – meaning fifty games are yet to be scheduled, depending on election announcements in a range of states. Fans will be looking at their calendars and pencilling in the early dates, but every team will also want to watch so or so particular player – when is Virat Kohli coming to Delhi, or when can fans in Mumbai get their first look at Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? Still lots to hold on for.

Mar 25, 2026 7:16:23 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Captains join forces for Captains Day, photoshoot in Mumbai

IPL 2026 Live updates: IPL's social media channels currently full of videos from the Captains Day event taking place, with all the stars leading their respective teams decked out in their colours. As we mentioned earlier, all Indian players and teammates at the minute, which means it is all a good energy and vibe as they have some fun and games before the real competition begins.

Mar 25, 2026 6:57:46 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: RCB's quest for back-to-back hinges on Josh Hazlewood's availability

IPL 2026 Live updates: Given they have maintained the core of the group from 2025, RCB will remain in the conversation thanks to their batting and the well-rounded bowling unit. But for the title holders, there are still a few questions – if Josh Hazlewood is unavailable, does the bowling retain the same strength if Jacob Duffy has to play? And who must sit out if the in-form Jacob Bethell has to play?

Things aren't so straightforward for RCB – with one piece of their core missing, they need to search for the right strategy.

Mar 25, 2026 6:43:05 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Samson or Dhoni with the gloves?

IPL 2026 Live updates: Sanju Samson's addition to the Chennai Super Kings feels like a homecoming almost, given the love he has always received from that part of the country, and how he made it count in the recent T20 World Cup. He joins at the top of the order and is locked in there – but the question is whether he will also take the gloves, with much of MS Dhoni's value in 2026 coming from his tactical sense and continued speed with the gloves.

With Samson also being a gun fielder in the outfield, Dhoni will likely retain his spot – but come CSK's first game, still something to keep a wary eye on.

Mar 25, 2026 6:27:36 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Hardik-SKY-Rohit triangle still causing upset in MI dressing room?

IPL 2026 Live updates: Hardik Pandya rejoined Mumbai Indians in 2024, but he hasn't quite had the success he would have expected with the powerhouse team at his disposal. MI's big question is how that can change, and what is needed to bring the city a first title since 2020.

However, while many have argued that Suryakumar Yadav should come in as captain ahead of Hardik, given that is their relationship for the national team, an equal school of thought argues that Pandya has show capacity as a leader in the IPL.

READ HERE: MI told not to repeat Rohit Sharma mistake with Hardik Pandya: ‘Now SKY is hot topic, next year will be someone else’

Mar 25, 2026 6:09:26 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Fan events the other big pre-tournament trend

IPL 2026 Live updates: What teams have committed to hosting ahead of the tournament, as a draw for new fans but equally as a tip of the hat to old loyal ones, are fan events that allow for unique and energetic interactions with the players and team as a whole. RCB were trailblazers, having done so for several years, but other teams have stepped it up – MI, SRH, and most notably CSK, who welcomed back two decades of CSK alumni to the Chepauk stadium for a glorious reunion, a true trip of nostalgia.

Mar 25, 2026 5:47:12 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Intra-squad preparation games catch the eye

IPL 2026 Live updates: In the week before the IPL, the franchises are trying to figure out which players will be best able to translate their form and numbers into the most value in a starting lineup. Analytics and data will point towards certain players, but it is still tough to account for form and the intangibles – who are the unheralded names who can stand up, make a name for themselves, ensure they won't be forgotten? Every year has a couple of those kinds of players, and teams like SRH, RCB, and KKR have already played intra-squad practice games in an attempt to find them. No doubt the remainder of the teams will have their own versions soon.

Mar 25, 2026 5:31:10 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Ishan Kishan taking over SRH means IPL starts with Indian captains across the board

IPL 2026 Live updates: Since last year's mega-auction, there has been a converted effort to ensure the captains of each franchise are domestic players, available throughout, with excellent reach externally and within the team. The sole holdout were SRH, who quote rightly stuck with the winning mentality of Pat Cummins – but in the Australian's absence, they have gone to Ishan Kishan, who captained Jharkhand domestically and with great success in this season gone by. Now, every team has a skipper who is Indian, which is certainly significant, if only temporary at the moment.

Mar 25, 2026 5:08:02 PM IST

Gulf between PSL, IPL widens as Pakistan bleeds players across the border

IPL 2026 Live updates: The last two weeks have proven why the Pakistan Super League's decision to shift their window to match the IPL has arguably been a mistake. It was a call made to ensure that overseas players would have availability during this period, but also meant that if it came down to a choice, the PSL would be left over with players only if they didn't earn IPL contracts. On top of that, if Indian teams do come knocking, it has proven to be the case that the PSL doesn't have the financial incentive or the staying power.

Mar 25, 2026 4:53:24 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Key IPL for post-World Cup sweepstakes

IPL 2026 Live updates: With the T20 World Cup just gone by and the next one two years away, the next cycle of international T20 cricket begins with this IPL as teams begin to test out the options at their disposal for the next showpiece. Teams like Australia, eliminated early, need to answer questions with regards to their approach, while England and South Africa need to understand how to take the next step. Even for India, there are questions – are there upgrades to be made in the team? Will Suryakumar Yadav, 38 during the next World Cup, still be in charge or will soemone younger step into his boots? All these questions need answering, and there will be players aplenty chomping at the bit to take up the call.

Mar 25, 2026 4:27:19 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: RCB vs SRH, MI vs KKR highlight opening weekend

IPL 2026 Live updates: The first weekend of the IPL will have a set of powerful teams lock horns. Defending champions RCB will want to prove they still have the steel and the resources, but it is Sunrisers Hyderabad who enter the tournament with a point to prove – can the ferocious batting fight back after a quiet 2025, under the leadership of Ishan Kishan?

On Sunday, it is two historic franchises with Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR barely ever win at the Wankhede, only twice in history, and MI have gone over a decade without a winning start to the IPL. One team must end that curse.

Mar 25, 2026 3:58:40 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: RCB's gesture towards victims of 2025 stampede

IPL 2026 Live updates: Royal Challengers Bengaluru have had the shadow of the lives lost during the victory parade follow the franchise over the last 10 months, as the Chinnaswamy Stadium passed muster just in the nick of time to be the home ground after big investigations into how fit the city-centre venue was to host matches given security apparatus at its disposal. Not much can be done to lessen the tragedy, but RCB nonetheless try to make a start – but much more will be expected.

Read here: RCB to keep 11 seats reserved for all IPL 2026 home matches as tribute to the stampede victims

Mar 25, 2026 3:38:59 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Ticket drama enrages fans before IPL start – MI vs RCB in focus

IPL 2026 Live updates: High prices and an opaque system behind the roll-out of tickets – this is something that has plagued tournaments in Indian cricket for several years, as the supply and demand of India's favourite pastime continues to try and find a steady balance. What's going wrong?

READ HERE: ₹1 lakh for MI vs RCB: Rapid sell-out, unofficial third-party listings - IPL fans left outraged by lack of tickets

Mar 25, 2026 3:19:43 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: RCB, RR acquisitions make pre-tournament headlines

IPL 2026 Live updates: With a couple of days to go for the tournament, the big news surrounds the sale of two Royal franchises – Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Rajasthan Royals, both being bought out by a pair of consortia that have quietly indicated the shift towards American investment in the cash-rich league. The landscape of cricket continues to change, and these signposts have plenty of significance.

READ HERE: RCB, Rajasthan Royals and valuation boom: How IPL’s latest sales pushed league into global sports asset elite

Mar 25, 2026 2:46:37 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: SRH start with Cummins absent

Sunrisers Hyderabad have two clear availability updates before IPL 2026 begins. Pat Cummins is set to miss the opening part of the season as he continues his recovery from a back issue, with Ishan Kishan leading the side in the interim.

SRH have also made a confirmed replacement move: Jack Edwards has been ruled out with a foot injury, and the franchise have signed left-arm seamer David Payne as his replacement.

Mar 25, 2026 2:43:48 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: RCB availability watch

Royal Challenger Bengaluru's fast bowling availability picture has worsened ahead of IPL 2026. Yash Dayal will not be part of the squad this season, with RCB director of cricket Mo Bobat confirming he is unavailable because of a “personal matter” even though he remains under contract with the franchise.

RCB are also still waiting on Josh Hazlewood, with Bobat confirming the Australia quick is continuing his return-to-play programme.

Mar 25, 2026 2:37:48 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Rajasthan Royals forced into early change

Rajasthan Royals have alreayd made one confirmed replacement ahead of IPL 2026, with Sam Curran ruled out through injury and Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka signed his place for INR 2 crore. The change was confirmed by IPL on March 23 and then detailed by the franchise.

Mar 25, 2026 2:35:46 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Punjab Kings sweating on Lockie Ferguson

Punjab Kings' main availability issue ahead of IPL 2026 is Lockie Ferguson, who is set to miss the early part of the season after choosing to stay back in New Zealand following the birth of his child. Lockie Ferguson is likely to miss Punjab's first seven matches before linking up with the squad.

Mar 25, 2026 2:32:33 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Mumbai Indians wait on Bumrah

Update from the MI camp is that overseas players Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Corbin Bosch and Sherfane Rutherford have already joined the camp, with the MI also showing the squad back at Wankhede in pre-season training.

The one watch point is Jasprit Bumrah. There is no official MI or IPL announcement ruling him out, but he has not yet been publicly confirmed in the camp, and a report earlier said he had reached the BCCI Centre of Excellence shortly before the season start.

Mar 25, 2026 2:24:30 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: LSG availability check

Lucknow Super Giants do not have one clear availability issue at the start of the season. Josh Inglis is set to miss the opening few matches because of his wedding in early April. That limited availability has already been flagged around the auction and remains part of the LSG's early season planning. Meanwhile, there is a positive update too - Mayank Yadav has said he is fully fit after his back injury layoff and ready for IPL 2026.

Mar 25, 2026 2:19:05 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: KKR's pace stock take early hit

Kolkata Knight Riders are among the worst-hit teams in terms of availability before IPL 2026. Akash Deep has been ruled out of the season with a lumbar stress injury, and KKR have signed left-arm quick Saurabh Dubey as his replacement for INR 30 lakh. Harshit Rana is also set to miss the season as he recovers from knee surgery, while Matheesha Pathirana remains unavailable for the realy phase he waits on fitness clearance.

Mar 25, 2026 2:15:35 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: GT get timely boost

Gujarat Titans do not have any confirmed withdrawals or replacements on the books for IPL 2026. Pre-season team update is that GT have their entire squad fit and available, with Sai Sudharsan, who had suffered a rib fracture in January, also looking set to start the season. Jos Buttler, meanwhile, is also expected to join up with the franchise for the new campaign. So, for now, GT's availability picture is relatively clean.

Mar 25, 2026 2:10:39 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Delhi Capitals hit by Ben Duckett pulout as replacement wait continues

Delhi Capitals have one clear availability setback before IPL 2026: Ben Duckett has withdrawn from the tournament, citing the need to reset physically and mentally ahead of England's home season. As of today, there is still no official announcement of a replacement from either the IPL or the franchise. On the positive side, KL Rahul has linked up with the squad ahead of the season, giving DC a major boost as preparations continue.

Mar 25, 2026 2:07:38 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: CSK availability watch

Chennai Super Kings have replaced the injured Nathan Ellis with Spencer Johnson for IPL 2026, but Johnson is not arriving with a clean recent match run behind him. Ellis was ruled out after aggravating an old hamstring injury in the domestic One-Day Cup final on March 11, prompting CSK to bring in Johnson for INR 1.5 crore. But Johnson has not played top-level cricket since IPL 2025 because of a back stress fracture, and South Australia coach Ryan Harris said he is only back bowling gradually and was around 60% in his build-up. So the confirmed CSK update is twofold: Ellis is out, Johnson is in, and Johnson himself is returning from a long layoff.

Mar 25, 2026 2:02:00 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: IPL 2026 full schedule wait continues as BCCI ties fixture drop to election dates

There is no confirmed release date yet for the next part of the IPL 2026 schedule. In its official first-phase announcement, the BCCI said only that the remaining fixtures would be released once the poll dates for the state assembly elections are announced. The first phase currently runs from March 28 to April 12, and covers 20 matches across 10 venues. As of today, the IPL's official announcements page has not released any follow-up schedule beyond that first-phase notice, so the wait for the rest of the season is still on.

Mar 25, 2026 1:56:12 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: IPL starts on 28th March

IPL 2026 gets underway on the 28th of March with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, with the match set to start at 7:30 PM IST. The new season opens in Bengaluru as part of the league's first phase schedule, and the spotlight is instantly on two sides expected to set the early pace. With a fresh campaign, a packed house and the usual Chinnaswamy buzz, the tournament hardly needs a warm-up act. It starts with a marquee clash straight away.

Mar 25, 2026 1:47:55 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Lack of tickets outrages the fans

A report has stated that RCB home-match tickets that went live at 4 pm on March 24 sold out in less than a minute, while Mumbai Indians tickets for major home fixtures also vanished quickly. The same report said resale listings for MI vs KKR ranged from around ₹6,500 to ₹50,000, while MI vs RCB tickets ranged from around ₹15,000 to ₹1 lakh.

Mar 25, 2026 1:15:33 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Comparing RCB's valuation with global sports teams

IPL 2026 Live updates: The valuation of USD 1.78B leaves RCB at the 11th spot among global teams, led by NFL team Dallas Cowboys (USD 13B), which sits at about 12x revenue. NFL and NBA rule the top 10 list, with LA Digers being the only MLB side, valued at USD 7.15B, followed by La Liga giants Real Madrid (USD 6.75B) and Premier League side Manchester United (USD 6.6B)

Mar 25, 2026 12:39:56 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Who is Aryaman Birla?

IPL 2026 Live updates: Aryaman had left Mumbai at the age of 17 to purse his cricketing dreams. He enrolled himself for trials in Madhya Pradesh cricket, and was picked for junior-cricket division. After a breakthrough performance in Col CK Nayudu Trophy, he earned his Ranji debut in 2017. Overall, he played nine first-class matches, and was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals as well in 2018. He was part of the IPL squad for two years, but did not get a game. A month after being released by the franchise, Aryaman, son of Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairperson of Aditya Birla Group, gave up on his dreams in December 2019, and shifted focus to family business

Mar 25, 2026 12:19:36 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: RCB announces new chairman

IPL 2026 Live updates: The consortium revealed that Aditya Birla Group Director Aryaman Vikram Birla will serve as chairman of the franchise while Satyan Gajwani of Times of India Group will serve as vice chairman.

Mar 25, 2026 12:01:11 PM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: RCB acquisition garnered global interest

IPL 2026 Live updates: It was in November last year that United Spirits launched a strategic review of its 100% holding in the Bengaluru franchise, labelling the team "non-core" to its primary alcohol business. Over the next few months, the franchise witnessed an intense bidding war involving global private equity firms KKR and Blackstone, Indian tycoons Adar Poonawalla, CEO of vaccine maker Serum Institute of India, and Manipal Education and Medical Group chairman Ranjan Pai, as well as Manchester United co-chairman Avram Glazer.

Mar 25, 2026 11:46:13 AM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates:Aditya Birla Group-led consortium buys RCB

IPL 2026 Live updates: A consortium comprising Indian and overseas entities bought RCB for USD 1.78 billion. It comprised Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone. The seller, United Spirits, the Indian arm of UK-based drinks giant Diageo, confirmed the "all-cash deal" on Tuesday.

Mar 25, 2026 11:30:46 AM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: BCCI yet to approve the deal

IPL 2026 Live updates: The sale of RR is subject to BCCI approval and will take effect after the IPL 2026 season. "If you look at the sale of the latest IPL entrants Lucknow Super Giants, it is way more than that. It just shows remarkable growth of the league," a well-placed source told PTI, drawing a comparison with the sale of LSG to RPSG Group for a little over ₹7,000 crore back in 2021. "I expect the deal to be announced in the next four to five days."

Mar 25, 2026 11:15:54 AM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: Meet RR's new owners

IPL 2026 Live updates: Kal Somani is a co-owner of Motor City Golf Club, a Detroit-based team that will join the Tomorrow's Golf League (TGL) in 2027. The league was co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in partnership with the PGA Tour. Somani is also believed to be one of the league's early investors.

Rob Walton, 81, the eldest son of Sam Walton, served as chairman of Walmart from 1999 to 2015. Four years ago, he led a group that included his daughter, Carrie Walton Penner, and her husband, Greg Penner, to buy the Denver Broncos for a record USD 4.65 billion. Walton also owns a 10 per cent stake in the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Meanwhile, the Hamp family is led by Sheila Ford Hamp, who is the principal owner and chairperson of the Detroit Lions.

Mar 25, 2026 10:59:45 AM IST

IPL 2026 Live updates: US-based Kal Somani-led consortium to acquire Rajasthan Royals

IPL 2026 Live updates: The valuation of Rajasthan Royals, one least expensive among the original eight teams of the IPL, multiplied by almost 24 per cent, when US-based Kal Somani-led consortium acquired the franchise for USD 1.63 billion. Other parties in the consortium include Rob Walton from the Walmart family and the Hamp family (Ford Motor Company).

British-Indian Manoj Badale held a 65 per cent stake in the franchise, which was originally sold for USD 67 million in 2008 to his company Emerging Media.

The deal is currently subject to BCCI's approval, which will likely be complete by the end of the IPL 2026 season.

Mar 25, 2026 10:39:06 AM IST

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