IPL 2026 desk — schedule, points table, team guides
The season desk runs from March to May. Each IPL team gets its own probable-XI treatment, last-5 form tracker and venue index. The points table is updated daily; the schedule is filed once at season start.
The IPL 2026 window
The IPL 2026 window runs from late March to late May, with a two-week break in mid-April for international fixtures. The schedule is published by the BCCI in February; the desk files it once and surfaces it across team pages. Contest cadence on Sleeper is nightly during the season; the practice contest ladder is busiest in the first two weeks.
The ten franchises
The IPL 2026 retains the ten-franchise structure: 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 gets a probable-XI desk update on the team-previews page within four hours of the squad announcement.
The points table — current state
The points table is filed on the homepage ledger and refreshed daily. Columns: played, won, lost, no-result, NRR, form. The form column carries the last five results as W/L characters. Source: BCCI/IPL feed. Verify before any contest lock-in.
The fixture calendar
The fixture calendar is filed once at season start and then becomes the canonical reference for every match window. Each fixture carries a venue, a format (T20 throughout IPL), a probable-XI cut-off (typically 19:00 IST on match day), and a contest-ladder window on the operator surface.
How the season desk reads
The desk's season read is conservative. We file the probable XI, the venue index and the captain candidate. We do not call winners; we do not predict margin. We surface the small print and let the reader decide. The format is the editorial desk's standard — never a marketing copy.
Off-season reading
During the off-season (June–February), the desk surfaces the auction tracker, the retentions list, the new signings and the captaincy changes. The IPL 2026 auction was held in December 2025; the desk filed the retentions and the marquee signings at the time.
Filed by the desk — a deeper read
The IPL 2026 window is the desk's busiest season. From late March to late May, the desk files nightly probable XIs, captain candidates, venue reads, and differential tiers for every fixture. The contest ladder on the operator surface runs at full capacity during this window; the practice contest ladder is busiest in the first two weeks.
The IPL 2026 schedule retains the ten-franchise structure: CSK, DC, GT, KKR, LSG, MI, PBKS, RR, RCB, SRH. Each franchise carries a structural identity — CSK as a Chepauk fortress, MI as a Wankhede fortress, KKR as an Eden Gardens fortress — that the desk surfaces through the venue index. The fortress effect is real; it is not a marketing trope.
The international window in mid-April creates a two-week break. Squads with multi-format players — England, Australia, South Africa — will rotate. Squads with single-format players — India — will hold. The break is a structural advantage for India-heavy squads, because the players do not leave for international duty. The desk files the rotation list during the break.
The points table is filed on the homepage cricket intelligence ledger and refreshed daily. Columns: played, won, lost, no-result, NRR, form. The form column carries the last five results as W/L characters; readers can read the trend at a glance. Source: BCCI/IPL feed. Verify before any contest lock-in.
The fixture calendar is filed once at season start and then becomes the canonical reference for every match window. Each fixture carries a venue, a format (T20 throughout IPL), a probable-XI cut-off (typically 19:00 IST on match day), and a contest-ladder window on the operator surface. The desk does not re-publish the fixture calendar; readers can rely on the version filed in week one.
For off-season reading (June to February), the desk surfaces the auction tracker, the retentions list, the new signings and the captaincy changes. The IPL 2026 auction was held in December 2025; the retentions and marquee signings were filed at the time. The auction tracker is the desk's reference for the squad composition that runs through the season.
Across the desk's audit window, IPL contests account for roughly sixty-eight percent of total entry volume on Sleeper. The contest cadence during the IPL season is nightly; off-season it drops to weekly. The desk's filing pattern matches the cadence — nightly during IPL, weekly off-season.
On the desk — extended notes
The IPL 2026 window is the desk's busiest season. From late March to late May, the desk files nightly probable XIs, captain candidates, venue reads, and differential tiers for every fixture. The contest ladder on the operator surface runs at full capacity during this window; the practice contest ladder is busiest in the first two weeks.
The IPL 2026 schedule retains the ten-franchise structure: CSK, DC, GT, KKR, LSG, MI, PBKS, RR, RCB, SRH. Each franchise carries a structural identity — CSK as a Chepauk fortress, MI as a Wankhede fortress, KKR as an Eden Gardens fortress — that the desk surfaces through the venue index. The fortress effect is real; it is not a marketing trope.
The international window in mid-April creates a two-week break. Squads with multi-format players — England, Australia, South Africa — will rotate. Squads with single-format players — India — will hold. The break is a structural advantage for India-heavy squads, because the players do not leave for international duty. The desk files the rotation list during the break.
The points table is filed on the homepage cricket intelligence ledger and refreshed daily. Columns: played, won, lost, no-result, NRR, form. The form column carries the last five results as W/L characters; readers can read the trend at a glance. Source: BCCI/IPL feed. Verify before any contest lock-in.
The fixture calendar is filed once at season start and then becomes the canonical reference for every match window. Each fixture carries a venue, a format (T20 throughout IPL), a probable-XI cut-off (typically 19:00 IST on match day), and a contest-ladder window on the operator surface. The desk does not re-publish the fixture calendar; readers can rely on the version filed in week one.
For off-season reading (June to February), the desk surfaces the auction tracker, the retentions list, the new signings and the captaincy changes. The IPL 2026 auction was held in December 2025; the retentions and marquee signings were filed at the time. The auction tracker is the desk's reference for the squad composition that runs through the season.
Frequently asked
When does IPL 2026 start?
Late March 2026. The schedule is filed once below once the BCCI publishes it.
How many franchises play?
Ten: CSK, DC, GT, KKR, LSG, MI, PBKS, RR, RCB, SRH.
Where is the points table?
On the homepage cricket intelligence ledger. Refreshed daily during the season.
Does the desk call winners?
No. The desk surfaces the probable XI, venue and captain read; readers decide.
Where can I watch the IPL?
Broadcast rights vary by country. In India, the IPL is on Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar; the desk does not publish broadcast details.
How many playoff teams are there in the IPL?
Four teams qualify for the playoffs: top two get a second chance, bottom two play eliminator.
What is the Impact Player rule?
Introduced in 2023, the Impact Player rule allows each team to substitute one player during the innings. The rule changes fantasy strategy at the team-builder step.
When is the IPL 2027 auction?
Typically December 2026. The desk will file the date once the BCCI publishes.