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All you need to know ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League, with all 84 matches live on Sky Sports.

The 19th edition of the IPL runs from March 28 to May 31.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening game on Saturday at M Chinnaswamy Stadium (2pm start UK and Ireland time).

RCB finally landed their first IPL title last season when they defeated Punjab Kings in the final to deny their opponents a maiden trophy.

Teams are split into two virtual groups of five, although there is only one table. This year, sides will play the other four franchises in their group once plus the five sides in the other group twice for a total of 14 group games.

Franchises earn two points for a win, none for a loss and one in the event of no result, with the top four teams in the table after the league stage advancing to the play-offs.

The teams that finish first and second advance to the first qualifier, with the winner of that match progressing directly to the final and the losers dropping into the second qualifier.

The eliminator between the sides who finish third and fourth in the table will then take place, with the winners reaching the second qualifier and the losers knocked out.

The winners of the eliminator and the losers of the first qualifier will then meet in the second qualifier. Whoever wins that takes the second spot in the final.

Thirteen England players were retained, traded or signed in the auction with Titans and RCB having three each.