Sky Sports will broadcast all 84 matches of the 2026 Indian Premier League from March 28 to May 31. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru open against Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28. The full calendar was delayed due to state elections, with only the first 20 games confirmed. 13 England players were involved in the auction, with Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans securing three each. Mustafizur Rahman's absence from Kolkata due to political tensions between India and Bangladesh triggered wider ICC repercussions, including Bangladesh's withdrawal from the T20 World Cup. Sanju Samson, Player of the Tournament in the 2022 World Cup, moved from Rajasthan to Chennai.