Keep this post updated: the official IPL 2027 schedule isn't out yet. Update the dates and auction details when the BCCI announces them, and change the "Last updated" date. Fresh updates help this post rank.
Last updated: October 6, 2026
The Indian Premier League is coming back, and IPL 2027 will be a special one: it's the league's 20th season. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will defend back-to-back titles, and the BCCI is already planning a big change to the calendar.
The official IPL 2027 schedule hasn't been released yet, but a lot is already known. In this guide you'll find the expected IPL 2027 start date, all 10 teams, the venues, the auction timeline and where to watch every match live. We'll keep this post updated as soon as the BCCI confirms new details.
IPL 2027 at a Glance
Detail | What we know (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
Season | 20th edition of the IPL |
Expected start date | Around March 10, 2027 (proposed) |
Expected final | Around May 15, 2027 (proposed) |
Number of teams | 10 |
Matches | 74 in recent seasons; 2027 count not yet confirmed |
Defending champions | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (won 2025 and 2026) |
TV broadcaster (India) | Star Sports Network |
Live streaming (India) | JioHotstar |
Official schedule | Not yet announced |
IPL 2027 Schedule: Expected Start Date and Final
IPL 2027 could start two weeks earlier
In June 2026, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board wants IPL 2027 to start around March 10 and finish by May 15. That's roughly two weeks earlier than usual. IPL 2026 ran from March 28 to May 31.
The reason is the weather. Late May brings extreme heat in much of India and, in some regions, early pre-monsoon rain, which can wash out crucial playoff matches. Finishing by mid-May protects players, fans and the business end of the tournament.
There's a catch. India's home Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia is expected to end in early March 2027, so Indian and Australian Test players would get only a short break before joining their IPL teams.
Note: These dates are proposed, not final. Back in 2024 the BCCI had shared a provisional IPL 2027 window of March 14 to May 30, so the final dates could still shift. The official match-by-match fixture list usually comes out a few weeks before the season.
IPL 2027 key dates (expected)
Event | Expected timing |
|---|---|
Player retention deadline | November 2026 (expected) |
Player auction | December 2026 (expected) |
Official schedule release | January to February 2027 (expected) |
Opening match | Around March 10, 2027 |
League stage | March to early May 2027 |
Playoffs (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2) | Early to mid-May 2027 |
Final | Around May 15, 2027 |
How the IPL format works
Each team plays 14 league matches: 7 at home and 7 away.
The top 4 teams on the points table reach the playoffs.
Teams 1 and 2 play Qualifier 1; the winner goes straight to the final.
Teams 3 and 4 play the Eliminator; the loser is knocked out.
The loser of Qualifier 1 meets the Eliminator winner in Qualifier 2 for the other place in the final.
By tradition, the defending champions play in the opening match, so expect RCB at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on day one, as in 2026.
IPL 2027 venues
Each team plays its home matches at its own ground. Some teams also play a few "second home" matches at other venues, such as Guwahati, Dharamshala or Raipur, which hosted games in 2026. Playoff venues are announced with the schedule.
IPL 2027 Teams: All 10 Franchises
The same 10 teams that played in 2026 will compete in IPL 2027. Captains for 2027 haven't been confirmed yet, so the table shows who led each side in IPL 2026.
Team | Short name | Home ground | IPL 2026 captain | IPL titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal Challengers Bengaluru | RCB | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | Rajat Patidar | 2 (2025, 2026) |
Chennai Super Kings | CSK | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Ruturaj Gaikwad | 5 |
Mumbai Indians | MI | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Hardik Pandya | 5 |
Kolkata Knight Riders | KKR | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Ajinkya Rahane | 3 |
Gujarat Titans | GT | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | Shubman Gill | 1 (2022) |
Rajasthan Royals | RR | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | Riyan Parag | 1 (2008) |
Sunrisers Hyderabad | SRH | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | Pat Cummins | 1 (2016) |
Punjab Kings | PBKS | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, Mullanpur | Shreyas Iyer | 0 |
Delhi Capitals | DC | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | Axar Patel | 0 |
Lucknow Super Giants | LSG | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | Rishabh Pant | 0 |
Looking back: how IPL 2026 ended
Champions: Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the final at Ahmedabad on May 31, 2026, making it back-to-back titles.
Player of the Match (final): Virat Kohli, with an unbeaten half-century in the chase.
Orange Cap: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR), 776 runs. He was also named MVP and Emerging Player of the Season.
Purple Cap: Kagiso Rabada (GT), 29 wickets.
Teams to watch in IPL 2027
RCB will chase a historic hat-trick of titles. No team has ever won three IPL titles in a row.
Gujarat Titans will want revenge after losing the 2026 final on their home ground.
Rajasthan Royals have the most exciting young batter in the league in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants were knocked out early in 2026 and could make big changes at the auction.
Where to Watch IPL 2027 Live
IPL 2027 is the final season of the current 2023–2027 media rights deal, so the broadcasters are expected to stay the same as in 2026.
Watch IPL 2027 on TV in India
The Star Sports Network is the official TV broadcaster. In 2026, matches aired on:
Star Sports 1 (English) and Star Sports 1 Hindi, in SD and HD
Regional feeds: Star Sports 1 Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, among others
Star Sports 2 and, on some DTH platforms, a 4K channel
Check that your cable or DTH pack (Tata Play, Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV, Sun Direct and others) includes the Star Sports channels.
IPL 2027 live streaming in India
JioHotstar, the merged JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar platform, has the exclusive streaming rights. You can watch on:
The JioHotstar app on Android and iPhone
The JioHotstar website on a laptop or PC
Smart TVs and streaming devices such as Fire TV Stick, Android TV and Apple TV
Can you watch IPL for free? Free streaming ended after the JioCinema and Hotstar merger, so you need a JioHotstar plan. However, many Jio, Airtel and Vi recharge and broadband plans include JioHotstar at no extra cost, so check your telecom app before you pay.
Where to watch IPL 2027 outside India
Based on the 2026 broadcasters (international deals can change, so check closer to the season):
Country | TV | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | Sky Sports Cricket | Sky Go, NOW |
USA and Canada | Willow TV | Willow app (also via Fubo and Sling TV) |
Australia | Fox Cricket | Kayo Sports, Foxtel |
New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ | Sky Go NZ |
South Africa | SuperSport | DStv app |
Middle East | beIN Sports / CricLife | beIN Connect |
Sri Lanka | — | ThePapare.com |
Avoid illegal streaming sites. Free "IPL live" links are often full of malware, phishing pages and fake betting ads. Stick to official platforms.
IPL 2027 Auction and Retentions
IPL 2027 is expected to have a mini auction, not a mega auction, so teams will keep most of their squads and fill gaps.
Retention deadline: in the last two mini-auction years, teams had to submit their retained and released players by mid-November. A similar deadline is expected in November 2026.
Trade window: teams can swap players or make cash deals until about a week before the auction.
Auction: the last two IPL auctions were held overseas in mid-December (the 2026 auction took place in Abu Dhabi). The IPL 2027 auction date and venue haven't been officially confirmed yet.
We'll update this section with the full retained and released lists and the auction results as soon as they're announced.
Final Thoughts
IPL 2027 is shaping up to be a landmark season: the 20th edition, an earlier March start, and RCB going for a historic hat-trick. While we wait for the official IPL 2027 schedule, keep an eye on the November retentions and the December auction, which will shape every team's chances.
Bookmark this page. We'll update the IPL 2027 schedule, venues and squads as soon as the BCCI makes them official.
Which team do you think will win IPL 2027? Tell us in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions
When will IPL 2027 start? The BCCI has proposed a start around March 10, 2027, about two weeks earlier than usual. The official date hasn't been announced yet.
When is the IPL 2027 final? The proposed date for the final is around May 15, 2027. It will be confirmed when the schedule is released.
Has the IPL 2027 schedule been released? Not yet. The full match-by-match schedule is usually published a few weeks before the season starts.
How many teams will play in IPL 2027? Ten: RCB, CSK, MI, KKR, GT, RR, SRH, PBKS, DC and LSG.
Who won IPL 2026? Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the final on May 31, 2026, winning their second title in a row.
Where can I watch IPL 2027 live in India? On TV on the Star Sports Network, and online on the JioHotstar app and website.
Can I watch IPL 2027 for free? There's no free official stream, but many Jio, Airtel and Vi plans include a JioHotstar subscription at no extra cost.
Is there a mega auction before IPL 2027? No. A mini auction is expected in December 2026. The next mega auction is expected ahead of IPL 2028.
Information correct as of October 6, 2026. Dates marked "expected" or "proposed" are based on BCCI statements and media reports and may change.
