The Indian Premier League enters its 19th season in 2026. The tournament continues under the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and brings together 10 franchises from different Indian cities.
Virat Kohli played a match winning knock for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the finals. Scoring 75 in the chase, he showed why everyone calls him the chase master. Moreover, Kohli won the POTM award for the same, overtaking Rohit Sharma for most POTM in IPL as an Indian.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has received a call up for the India A team against Sri Lanka A. Riyan Parag was a part of the team but he suffered with an injury during the IPL. Gaikwad has now replaced him, making his way to the line-up for the upcoming series.
We provide 2026 Indian Premier League real-time rankings based on team performance throughout the tournament. Stay updated with the lates match results, wins, losses, draws and points on SportsCafe.
Struggling to get every small detail about your cricketing idol? Don't worry, SportsCafe has got you covered.
IPL 2026 keeps the 10-team format used in recent seasons. The participating teams include Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Each franchise builds a squad through auctions and retention rules under BCCI guidelines. Every team may select up to 25 players with a maximum of 8 overseas cricketers in the squad. Matches run across several Indian stadiums with home and away fixtures in most cases.
The season schedule spreads across several weeks with league matches followed by playoff rounds. The top 4 teams at the end of the league stage qualify for the playoffs. Qualifier 1, Eliminator, and Qualifier 2 decide the finalists before the championship match.
IPL began in 2008 under the BCCI. The league introduced a city-based franchise system similar to major sports leagues in football and basketball. Rajasthan Royals won the first season under captain Shane Warne. Over time, the tournament grew into the largest franchise league in cricket. Top Indian players and overseas stars joined franchises, while stadium attendance and television audiences increased every season. The league also introduced player auctions, salary caps, and retention rules. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings lead the championship count with 5 titles each. Kolkata Knight Riders hold 3 titles. Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Deccan Chargers, Gujarat Titans, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru also have championship wins in IPL history. Media rights also expanded during the league’s growth. The broadcast cycle from 2023 to 2027 became the most valuable rights deal in cricket league history.
Each IPL franchise operates under a private ownership group that manages sponsorship deals, branding agreements, and commercial partnerships. Jersey sponsors appear in several positions, such as front logo, back sponsor, and chest branding.
Here is the table with IPL 2026 teams, their owners, and sponsors:
| Team | Owner | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor (Front) | Shirt Sponsor (Back) | Chest Branding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd | playR | Etihad Airways | FedEx | Ashok Leyland |
| Delhi Capitals | GMR Group, JSW Group | PUMA | Hero FinCorp | Not publicly listed | DP World |
| Gujarat Titans | Torrent Group | Not publicly listed | Birla Estates | Not publicly listed | Astral Pipes |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Knight Riders Sports Pvt Ltd | Not publicly listed | Lux Cozi | Not publicly listed | Tata Steel |
| Lucknow Super Giants | RPSG Group | Not publicly listed | JK Cement | Not publicly listed | KEI Industries |
| Mumbai Indians | Reliance Industries (Indiawin Sports) | Skechers | Lauritz Knudsen | Not publicly listed | DHL |
| Punjab Kings | KPH Dream Cricket Pvt Ltd | Not publicly listed | Not publicly listed | Not publicly listed | BKT Tyres |
| Rajasthan Royals | Royals Sports Group | Not publicly listed | Luminous | Not publicly listed | Red Bull |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd | PUMA | Nothing | Not publicly listed | KEI Wires |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Sun TV Network | Not publicly listed | Shree Cement | BKT Tyres | Kuhl |
Sponsorship arrangements change across seasons when contracts end or new brands enter the league. Teams often announce jersey partnerships shortly before the tournament begins.
The IPL website runs a live match center during the season. The platform displays live scores, commentary, standings, and team statistics. Match highlights and post-match interviews appear shortly after each game. Fans may also track fixtures and results through sports broadcasters and cricket statistics platforms. Television networks broadcast matches in several languages, while digital services stream the tournament across mobile devices, smart TVs, and computers. The schedule includes league matches followed by playoff games. League standings decide which teams advance to the playoffs. The playoff structure uses 4 teams and ends with the IPL final.
Each franchise receives a salary cap for squad construction during the IPL auction. The cap controls player spending so that teams maintain balanced squads across the tournament. After the auction finishes, franchises often retain a small portion of their budget.
In 2026, the brand values of individual IPL teams are as follows:
| Team | Purse Remaining | Overseas Slots Left |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹5.45 crore | 0 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | ₹4.55 crore | 0 |
| Punjab Kings | ₹3.50 crore | 0 |
| Rajasthan Royals | ₹2.65 crore | 0 |
| Chennai Super Kings | ₹2.40 crore | 0 |
| Gujarat Titans | ₹1.45 crore | 1 |
| Mumbai Indians | ₹55 lakh | 0 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹45 lakh | 0 |
| Delhi Capitals | ₹35 lakh | 0 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ₹25 lakh | 0 |
Media distribution also plays a major role in the IPL ecosystem. Broadcasters across several regions transmit the tournament to international audiences.
| Country | Channels | Years of Rights |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Kannada, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu HD, Star Gold, Star Bharat, Star Utsav Movies, Star Jalsa Movies, Star Maa Movies, Star Suvarna Plus, Star Vijay Super | 2024–2027 |
| Australia | Foxtel, Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports | 2023–present |
| New Zealand | Colors TV | 2024–present |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports, DAZN | 2023–present |
| Sri Lanka | Supreme TV, ThePapare.com | 2023–present |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | SuperSport | 2021–present |
Several updates shape the IPL 2026 season.
These changes keep the tournament dynamic each season and create new squad combinations across franchises.
When did the Indian Premier League start?
The IPL began in 2008 under the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
How many teams play in IPL 2026?
The 2026 season includes 10 franchises from different Indian cities.
Which teams have the most IPL titles?
The Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings lead with 5 championships each.
How many players can an IPL squad contain?
A team may register 25 players in the squad.
How many overseas players can appear in the squad?
Each squad may include 8 overseas players, though only 4 play in the starting lineup.
How do teams qualify for IPL playoffs?
The top 4 teams in the league table advance to the playoff stage.
Where can live scores for IPL matches be checked?
Live scores appear on the official IPL website, sports television broadcasts, and cricket statistics platforms.
