IPL 2026 Schedule Finalized; Teams Announce Squads and New Player Rules

The IPL 2026 season is set to begin on March 28, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting the opener and final at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The tournament schedule will be split into two phases to accommodate upcoming state elections. Teams have finalized their squads, with wicket-keeper roles largely stable and Impact Player selections becoming more strategic. RCB, the defending champions, retained key players and added depth. New rules cap overseas player salaries and impose bans for unjustified withdrawals.