Indian Premier League 2027

Tour Overview

The Indian Premier League 2027 marks the 20th season of the world's most watched T20 franchise competition. Ten city-based teams, many of the best players in the game and two months of nightly cricket turn India's biggest stadiums into some of the loudest venues in world sport. For a travelling fan, it is a chance to see the stars of every major cricket nation share a dressing room, and then watch them go head to head in front of crowds that rarely drop below full voice.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has indicated that the 2027 season is being planned for a window of roughly mid-March to mid-May, with 74 matches in total. The official fixture list and venue allocation are expected to be published by the organisers closer to the tournament. Royal Challengers Bengaluru arrive as back-to-back champions, chasing a third straight title.

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About the Tournament

The IPL is played in the Twenty20 format, with each side batting for a maximum of 20 overs. The 2027 edition is set to feature ten teams and 74 matches: 70 league fixtures followed by four playoff games. During the league stage each franchise plays 14 matches, split between its home ground and away venues, with points awarded for wins and net run rate used to separate sides level on points.

The top four teams on the table move into the playoffs. The first- and second-placed sides meet in Qualifier 1, with the winner going straight to the final. The third- and fourth-placed teams play the Eliminator, and its winner faces the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 for the second place in the final. That structure rewards consistency across the league stage, because finishing in the top two gives a team two chances to reach the final. The BCCI has said the match count stays at 74 for 2027, with any expansion considered only from 2028 onwards.

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Tournament History

The IPL launched in 2008, and the first title went to Rajasthan Royals, an unfancied squad led by Shane Warne. Since then the league has grown from eight teams to ten and become the reference point for franchise cricket worldwide, shaping how the short format is played, coached and broadcast.

Two franchises dominate the honours board. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have five titles each, and their meetings remain the league's marquee fixture. Kolkata Knight Riders have three titles, the most recent in 2024. Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans, who won on debut in 2022, have one each alongside Rajasthan Royals.

The most recent chapter belongs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. After 17 seasons without a title, they finally won in 2025 and then defended the trophy in 2026, beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 31 May. The 2026 season also produced a new teenage star, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals topping the run charts with 776 runs.

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Host Nation

India

Few countries treat cricket the way India does. The game reaches every street, office and family dinner, and during the IPL that passion runs through the whole country for two months. Matches are spread across cities from the Himalayan foothills to the southern coast, so a single trip can take in very different parts of the country, from the colonial architecture of Kolkata and the seafront of Mumbai to the tech-city buzz of Bengaluru and the old forts and palaces of Jaipur.

The season falls in India's spring and early summer, when the weather turns warm to hot in most host cities. Evening matches offer the most comfortable conditions. The currency is the Indian rupee, English is widely spoken in all the major cities, and many nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa online before travel.

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Schedule & Key Dates

The BCCI has said it is considering a window from around 10 March to 15 May 2027 for the 20th season, with the final pencilled in for mid-May. These dates are not yet official, and the full fixture list is expected to be released by the organisers nearer the start of the tournament. The season traditionally opens with the defending champions playing in the first match, which in 2027 would mean Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The league stage normally covers most of the window, with matches almost every day and double-headers on many weekends. In recent seasons afternoon games have started at 3:30 PM local time and evening games at 7:30 PM. The four playoff matches usually take place over the final week, with the final itself the last fixture of the season.

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Venues & Host Cities

Venues for 2027 have not yet been confirmed. The grounds below are the 13 venues used in the 2026 season, which gives a strong guide to where the IPL is likely to be played.

Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

The largest cricket stadium in the world and home of Gujarat Titans. It has hosted the IPL final in 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026, and a full house here is an experience on its own scale. Ahmedabad's old city, a UNESCO World Heritage city, and the Sabarmati riverfront are worth a day either side of a match.

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Home of the champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. A compact ground with a quick outfield and short boundaries, it is known for high scores and a crowd that sits close to the action. Bengaluru adds parks, a lively food scene and a pleasant climate.

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Known locally as Chepauk, this is the fortress of Chennai Super Kings, where the stands turn yellow on match nights. The pitch traditionally helps spinners. Chennai's Marina Beach and temple architecture are close by.

Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

One of India's oldest international grounds and home of Delhi Capitals. The capital offers Mughal monuments, markets and easy connections to the Taj Mahal at Agra.

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

The historic home of Kolkata Knight Riders and one of the most famous grounds in the sport, with a crowd known for its noise and knowledge. Kolkata itself is rich in colonial architecture, literature and street food.

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Home of Mumbai Indians, set a short walk from the Arabian Sea at Marine Drive. The ground hosted the 2011 ODI World Cup final, and its stands hold one of the league's most passionate fan bases.

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

Home of Sunrisers Hyderabad and a ground that has produced some of the highest totals in IPL history. Hyderabad is famous for its biryani, the Charminar and Golconda Fort.

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Home of Rajasthan Royals in the Pink City, where match trips pair naturally with Amber Fort, the City Palace and Rajasthan's royal heritage.

Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

A modern ground and home of Lucknow Super Giants, in a city known for its Nawabi architecture and celebrated cuisine.

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, Mullanpur

The new home of Punjab Kings near Chandigarh, which hosted the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 in 2026. Chandigarh's planned city layout and the Rock Garden are close by.

HPCA Cricket Stadium, Dharamshala

Set against the snow-capped Dhauladhar range, this is one of the most scenic grounds anywhere. It served as a second home for Punjab Kings in 2026 and hosted Qualifier 1. McLeod Ganj and mountain walks are on the doorstep.

Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati

Rajasthan Royals' secondary venue in the north-east, a gateway to Assam's tea country, the Brahmaputra river and Kaziranga National Park.

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, Raipur

One of the larger grounds in India, it hosted two Royal Challengers Bengaluru home matches in 2026, bringing top-level cricket to central India.

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The Teams

The same ten franchises that contested the 2026 season are expected to return. Squads for 2027 will be shaped by retentions and the player auction, so the names below may change before the first ball.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Champions in 2025 and 2026, built around Virat Kohli, whose performances carried them through the 2026 final. Their fan base is among the biggest in the league.

Mumbai Indians

Five-time champions with a long record of strong finishes to the season and a squad built on depth.

Chennai Super Kings

Also five-time champions, famed for their loyal "yellow army" and a style built on experience and spin at Chepauk.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Three-time champions, most recently in 2024, playing at the atmospheric Eden Gardens.

Gujarat Titans

Champions in their debut season in 2022 and runners-up in 2026, with Kagiso Rabada the leading wicket-taker last season.

Rajasthan Royals

The first IPL champions in 2008, now home to the young run-machine Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Champions in 2016 and known in recent seasons for aggressive, record-breaking batting.

Delhi Capitals

Still chasing a first title, with a passionate home crowd in the capital.

Punjab Kings

Another side searching for a first trophy, now settled at their new ground in Mullanpur with Dharamshala as a scenic second home.

Lucknow Super Giants

One of the two newest franchises, having joined in 2022, and based at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.

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Why Attend

Watching the IPL on screen gives you the sixes. Being in the stadium gives you everything around them: the roar when a home batter walks out, the drums and chants that start before the toss, the light show between innings and the tension of a last-over finish with tens of thousands of people on their feet. Rivalries like Mumbai against Chennai or Bengaluru against Kolkata carry years of history, and in 2027 every opponent will be trying to stop Royal Challengers Bengaluru from completing a hat-trick of titles.

Because matches run almost every day, it is easy to build a trip around several games in different cities, mixing big-ground nights with sightseeing in between. A playoff or the final adds the occasion of a season decider, when the whole country is watching.

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Planning Your Trip

The expected travel window runs from March to mid-May 2027. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad all have major international airports, and domestic flights connect the host cities quickly, making it practical to follow a team or see several venues in one trip. Choose evening matches for cooler conditions, carry light clothing and sun protection, and check visa requirements well ahead of travel.

CrickBuster builds IPL trips around the matches you want to see. Packages can include guaranteed official match tickets in general and hospitality seating, accommodation close to the stadium, airport and stadium transfers, flights, and local excursions and sightseeing, from Jaipur's forts to Mumbai's seafront. Where available, meet-and-greet and fan experiences can be added. Once the official fixture list is released, CrickBuster can help you choose your matches and plan the rest of the journey around them.