IPL 2026: Record Auction, ₹1.635 Billion Franchise Sale - 🔴Live

IPL 2026: Record Auction, ₹1.635 Billion Franchise Sale, and the Season That Begins Tomorrow

The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League kicks off tomorrow — March 28, 2026 — with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at a freshly reopened M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. But even before the first ball is bowled, IPL 2026 has already made history: record-shattering auction bids, a billion-dollar franchise sale, blockbuster trades, and a full 84-match schedule confirmed just yesterday by the BCCI.

84Total Matches

₹25.2 CrCameron Green (KKR)

$1.635BRajasthan Royals Sale

13Venues Across India

The Opener: RCB vs SRH at Chinnaswamy — March 28

Tomorrow’s curtain-raiser is one of the most anticipated opening matches in recent IPL history. ESPNCricinfo confirms that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium — which had been shut for renovations — has been cleared to host IPL matches, making RCB’s homecoming especially emotional for their fanbase. After their maiden title win in 2025, Virat Kohli and company will open their title defence against a dangerous Sunrisers Hyderabad side that still carries one of the most explosive batting line-ups in the tournament.

The following day, March 29, brings another blockbuster as five-time champions Mumbai Indians host three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede. And on March 30, Chennai Super Kings travel to the ACA Stadium in Guwahati to face a revamped Rajasthan Royals — a match already generating enormous buzz because of a stunning pre-season trade.

The Jadeja-Samson Mega Trade That Stunned Cricket

The biggest off-field story before the season is the blockbuster swap between CSK and Rajasthan Royals. According to Olympics.com, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has moved to Rajasthan Royals from Chennai Super Kings — while T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Tournament Sanju Samson has gone in the other direction. Jadeja will now face his former team in RR’s very first match, while Samson — fresh off a tournament-winning display — brings star power and experience to a CSK dressing room that has been rebuilding around youth.

“This isn’t just another season — it’s the IPL 2026, where legends rise, records fall, and cricket once again becomes a celebration for every fan.” — ipl2026.net

The Auction: Cameron Green Makes History, CSK Bets on Gen Z

The IPL 2026 mini-auction, held on December 16, 2025 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, produced the most expensive overseas signing in IPL history. ESPNCricinfo reports that Kolkata Knight Riders secured Australian all-rounder Cameron Green for a staggering ₹25.20 crore — surpassing Mitchell Starc’s previous record and making Green the third most expensive IPL player of all time, behind only Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore) and Shreyas Iyer (₹26.75 crore). KKR didn’t stop there — they also picked up Sri Lankan death-bowling specialist Matheesha Pathirana for ₹18 crore, assembling a formidable pace attack.

But Business Standard notes the real drama was scripted by uncapped Indian players. Chennai Super Kings — clearly pivoting away from their “Dad’s Army” reputation — signed 20-year-old left-arm spin all-rounder Prashant Veer and 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma for ₹14.20 crore each. Both players entered the auction at a base price of just ₹30 lakh, meaning they were sold at nearly 47 times their starting price — a joint record for the most expensive uncapped players in IPL auction history.

Other notable buys included Delhi Capitals securing Jammu & Kashmir pace sensation Auqib Nabi for ₹8.4 crore, Sunrisers Hyderabad landing Liam Livingstone for ₹13 crore, and Rajasthan Royals winning a bidding war for leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi at ₹7.20 crore. Notable absentees from the sold list include Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jonny Bairstow, Gus Atkinson, and Devon Conway — all going unsold.

Rajasthan Royals Sold for $1.635 Billion to US Investors

ESPNCricinfo confirms that Rajasthan Royals have been sold to a consortium of US-based investors for $1.635 billion — a valuation that underscores just how dramatically the IPL’s global commercial footprint has expanded. The deal includes ownership of all Royals-branded teams, including the Paarl Royals in South Africa’s SA20 and the Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League.

Full Schedule Announced: 84 Matches, 13 Venues

The BCCI officially announced on March 26 that the second phase of IPL 2026 will run from April 13 to May 24 across 12 venues, following the first phase’s 20 matches which begin tomorrow. The complete league stage spans 13 stadiums — including the return of Dharamsala to the calendar and Raipur as RCB’s second home ground. The playoffs venues are yet to be confirmed, with the grand finale scheduled for May 31, 2026. This year the BCCI has reversed the group fixture structure — teams now play opponents in the same group once and cross-group opponents twice, enabling marquee clashes like CSK vs MI on April 23 and May 2.

With defending champions RCB raring to go, a billion-dollar franchise sale, history-making auction bids, and blockbuster trades reshaping every squad — IPL 2026 is already setting itself up to be one of the most unforgettable seasons in the league’s 19-year history. The cricket starts tomorrow. The drama has already begun.

Primary Sources

All reporting sourced from BCCI, ESPNCricinfo, Business Standard, Olympics.com, Sky Sports & Official IPL · Verified March 27, 2026. Follow worldwire for updates.

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