IPL 2026

How to watch IPL 2026 live: Fixtures, Format, Groups & Schedule

4 Mins Read

PureVPNSportsHow to watch IPL 2026 live: Fixtures, Format, Groups & Schedule

The Indian Premier League 2026 is the 19th edition of one of the world’s biggest T20 cricket leagues, running from late March to the end of May 2026. Featuring 10 franchise teams and over 70 matches, the tournament delivers daily high-intensity action, culminating in playoffs and a grand final.

In India, fans can watch matches live on the JioHotstar app, which offers full digital coverage of the tournament along with live scores, highlights, and match replays. It’s the primary platform for online streaming, making it easy to follow fixtures, track teams, and watch every game in real time.

If you’re outside India, access to JioHotstar is restricted due to regional licensing. In that case, PureVPN can help by connecting you to an Indian server, allowing you to watch IPL 2026 matches uninterrupted from anywhere.

How to Watch IPL 2026 live on JioHotstar

You can watch Watch IPL 2026 live on JioHotstar. You will just need to connect to the Indian server using PureVPN to overcome regional content barriers.

Here is what to do:

  1. Subscribe to PureVPN.
  2. Download the app on your device.
  3. Connect to the Indian server.
  4. Sign in to JioHotstar.
  5. Watch IPL 2026 on JioHotstar live stream.

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Key Details

  • Dates: March 28 – May 31, 2026 (84 matches, 10 teams)
  • Prize Money: Winners ₹20 crore; runners-up ₹12.5-13 crore; total pool ₹46.5 crore
  • Broadcasters: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar, Willow TV

Why Do You Need a VPN to Watch IPL 2026

You need a VPN to watch the Indian Premier League 2026 because many official streaming platforms, including JioHotstar, are geo-restricted and only accessible within India. If you try to access these services from outside the country, you’ll likely face content restrictions that prevents you from streaming live matches.

A VPN solves this issue by masking your real location and routing your connection through a server in India. For example, using PureVPN allows you to appear as if you’re browsing from within India, allowing full access to live IPL 2026 streams, highlights, and match replays without interruptions.

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Preview

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, its 19th edition, is a thrilling T20 cricket extravaganza running from March 28 to May 31, featuring 10 powerhouse teams: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Mumbai Indians (MI), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Gujarat Titans (GT), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Delhi Capitals (DC).

With 84 high-stakes matches across iconic venues like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, Mullanpur, and Lucknow, the tournament showcases explosive batting, cunning spin attacks, and nail-biting finishes that define modern cricket.

The season kicked off on March 28 with RCB hosting SRH in Bengaluru at 7:30 PM IST. Day two brought MI versus KKR in Mumbai on March 29, while today’s marquee fixture RR against CSK in Guwahati at 7:30 PM IST spotlights MS Dhoni’s return for the five-time champions. The opening week continues with PBKS facing GT on March 31 in Mullanpur and LSG taking on DC on April 1 in Lucknow, building momentum toward playoffs.

A massive prize pool elevates the stakes: ₹20 crore for the winners, ₹12.5-13 crore for runners-up, ₹7 crore for third place, and ₹6.5 crore for fourth, shared among top playoff teams. Strategic trades, like Ravindra Jadeja bolstering RR, add layers of intrigue. CSK holds a slim historical edge over RR (16-15 in 31 meetings, highs of 246/5 vs 223/5), but RR’s dominance in 8 of the last 9 clashes since 2020 signals shifting tides.

Matches at 3:30 PM or 7:30 PM IST promise non-stop action, blending star power, rivalries, and innovation for global fans

IPL 2026 Groups

IPL 2026 will see 10 teams compete across 74 matches. So far, in every season involving 10 teams, the sides have been split into two virtual groups.

Group A

  • Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
  • Rajasthan Royals (RR)
  • Punjab Kings (PBKS)
  • Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Group B:

  • Mumbai Indians (MI)
  • Gujarat Titans (GT)
  • Delhi Capitals (DC)
  • Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
  • Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

IPL 2026 Format

Until last year, teams played each other twice within their group and once against teams from the opposite group. This season, that format has been flipped. Teams now face opponents in their own group once, and play sides from the opposite group twice.

The revised format also ensures that the two five-time champions CSK and MI will meet twice this season.

Following the league stage, the top two teams will face off in Qualifier 1, with the winner progressing to the final.

The IPL teams finishing third and fourth in the league stage will then play in Eliminator 1, with the winner of the match facing the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 to decide the second team in the final.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the reigning champions, while Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are the joint-most successful teams in IPL history with five titles each. 

Watch IPL Live Stream Online

There are several ways to watch the IPL on devices, depending on your location and the options available to you. Here are a few popular options:

  • JioHotstar: JioHotstar is a popular streaming app in India that offers live streaming of several TV channels, including Star Sports. If you are a Jio user, you can watch the IPL matches on JioTV.
  • YuppTV: YuppTV is a popular streaming service that offers live streaming of several TV channels, including Star Sports, which is the official broadcaster of the IPL. You can watch the matches on YuppTV by subscribing to their cricket package.
  • Willow TV: Willow TV is a popular streaming service that offers live streaming of cricket matches in the United States. You can watch the IPL matches on Willow TV by subscribing to their cricket package.
  • ESPN+: ESPN+ is a popular streaming service that offers live streaming of several sports, including cricket. You can watch the IPL matches on ESPN+ by subscribing to their sports package.

Which teams have won previous IPL titles?

  • Chennai Super Kings: 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023
  • Mumbai Indians: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020
  • Kolkata Knight Riders: 2012, 2014
  • Rajasthan Royals: 2008
  • Sunrisers Hyderabad: 2016
  • Gujarat Titans: 2022
  • Deccan Chargers: 2009

Watch Indian Premier League in Your Country

You can enjoy lie streaming on IPL matches anywhere in the world on JioHotstar. All you need is PureVPN. Go through our below mentioned guides to learn how you can watch IPL live matches in your country.

Indian Premier League 2026 schedule: Date, match timings

Match No.DateMatchVenueTime (IST)Time (ET)
1Mar 28RCB vs SRHBengaluru7:30 p.m.9:00 a.m.
2Mar 29MI vs KKRMumbai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
3Mar 30RR vs CSKGuwahati7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
4Mar 31PBKS vs GTNew Chandigarh7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
5Apr 1LSG vs DCLucknow7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
6Apr 2KKR vs SRHKolkata7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
7Apr 3CSK vs PBKSChennai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
8Apr 4DC vs MIDelhi3:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
9Apr 4GT vs RRAhmedabad7:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
10Apr 5SRH vs LSGHyderabad3:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
11Apr 5RCB vs CSKBengaluru7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
12Apr 6KKR vs PBKSKolkata7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
13Apr 7RR vs MIGuwahati7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
14Apr 8DC vs GTDelhi7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
15Apr 9KKR vs LSGKolkata7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
16Apr 10RR vs RCBGuwahati7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
17Apr 11PBKS vs SRHNew Chandigarh3:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
18Apr 11CSK vs DCChennai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
19Apr 12LSG vs GTLucknow3:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
20Apr 12MI vs RCBMumbai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
21Apr 13SRH vs RRHyderabad7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
22Apr 14CSK vs KKRChennai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
23Apr 15RCB vs LSGBengaluru7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
24Apr 16MI vs PBKSMumbai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
25Apr 17GT vs KKRAhmedabad7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
26Apr 18RCB vs DCBengaluru3:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
27Apr 18SRH vs CSKHyderabad7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
28Apr 19KKR vs RRKolkata3:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
29Apr 19PBKS vs LSGNew Chandigarh7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
30Apr 20GT vs MIAhmedabad7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
31Apr 21SRH vs DCHyderabad7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
32Apr 22LSG vs RRLucknow7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
33Apr 23MI vs CSKMumbai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
34Apr 24RCB vs GTBengaluru7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
35Apr 25DC vs PBKSDelhi3:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
36Apr 25RR vs SRHJaipur7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
37Apr 26GT vs CSKAhmedabad3:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
38Apr 26LSG vs KKRLucknow7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
39Apr 27DC vs RCBDelhi7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
40Apr 28PBKS vs RRNew Chandigarh7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
41Apr 29MI vs SRHMumbai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
42Apr 30GT vs RCBAhmedabad7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
43May 1RR vs DCJaipur7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
44May 2CSK vs MIChennai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
45May 3SRH vs KKRHyderabad3:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
46May 3GT vs PBKSAhmedabad7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
47May 4MI vs LSGMumbai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
48May 5DC vs CSKDelhi7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
49May 6SRH vs PBKSHyderabad7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
50May 7LSG vs RCBLucknow7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
51May 8DC vs KKRDelhi7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
52May 9RR vs GTJaipur7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
53May 10CSK vs LSGChennai3:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
54May 10RCB vs MIRaipur7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
55May 11PBKS vs DCDharamshala7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
56May 12GT vs SRHAhmedabad7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
57May 13RCB vs KKRRaipur7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
58May 14PBKS vs MIDharamshala7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
59May 15LSG vs CSKLucknow7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
60May 16KKR vs GTKolkata7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
61May 17PBKS vs RCBDharamshala3:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
62May 17DC vs RRDelhi7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
63May 18CSK vs SRHChennai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
64May 19RR vs LSGJaipur7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
65May 20KKR vs MIKolkata7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
66May 21CSK vs GTChennai7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
67May 22SRH vs RCBHyderabad7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
68May 23LSG vs PBKSLucknow7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.
69May 24MI vs RRMumbai3:30 p.m.6:00 a.m.
70May 24KKR vs DCKolkata7:30 p.m.10:00 a.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I live stream IPL 2026: Indian Premier League cricket online?

You can watch IPL 2026 live online using official streaming platforms like JioHotstar in India.

Can I watch IPL 2026: Indian Premier League live on mobile devices?

Yes, JioHotstar has apps for Android and iOS that let you stream IPL 2026 live from anywhere in India.

How many teams are participating in IPL 2026: Indian Premier League?

IPL 2026 features 10 franchise teams competing across over 70 matches.

Can I watch IPL 2026: Indian Premier League highlights for free?

Yes, highlights are often available on JioHotstar and YouTube after matches conclude.

Can I share my JioHotstar account to watch IPL 2026: Indian Premier League with friends?

JioHotstar allows streaming on multiple devices, but sharing outside your household may violate terms of service.

Access 100s of Sports Streaming Platforms

Stream Kayo, ESPN+, BBC iPlayer and other sites with PureVPN hassle-free!

Have Your Say!!