The Indian Premier League increased to 10 teams in 2022, but the number of games remained the same: 70 matches. Each team will play 14 matches. But if IPL follows its older format, then every team plays two games against each other in a home-and-away format, and with 10 teams, the number of games should increase to 84, but it remains the same. If every team plays two times against each other, then a team will play 16 matches, but it does not happen because of IPL's rule and format.
Why not 84 matches?
This year, IPL will have 70 league matches and 4 playoffs. A few sources were saying that IPL 2026 is going to expand the number of matches, but it did not happen as the election season is ahead, and the ongoing broadcasting rights have a few terms and conditions. Since the Indian Premier League 2022, the league has followed a two-group format. Ten teams are divided into two groups of five. Each team plays the other four teams in its group twice, making eight matches.
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They face four teams from the opposite group once. Additionally, each team plays one specific team from the opposite group twice, based on seeding or rivalry structure. In total, every team plays 14 league matches before the playoff stage.
What is the rule for 2026?
In the last three seasons of the Indian Premier League, teams played twice against sides in their own group and once against teams from the opposite group. However, this season, the format has been flipped; teams now face their own group opponents once, while playing teams from the opposite group twice, bringing a fresh competitive dynamic to the tournament structure.
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This year, Teams have been divided into two groups based on the number of championships they have won, as has been done previously. CSK (5), Kolkata Knight Riders (3), Rajasthan Royals (1), RCB (1), and Punjab Kings are the teams in Group A, while MI (5), Sunrisers Hyderabad (1), Gujarat Titans (1), Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants compete in Group B.
