The cricket craze is rising steadily as India continues to deliver fiery performances, match after match. Now that India has defended the T20 World Cup by winning back-to-back in 2026 and 2024, you must be eyeing the upcoming IPL matches. So, if you have been wondering how to watch IPL 2026 for free or which platforms are best, you are in the right place!
With budding new players in the battleground, this 19th edition of IPL is going to be exciting. So, let’s check out all the sources to find out how to watch IPL for free legitimately and which platforms will host it.
Also read: How To Watch Any Cricket Match Series For Free On Your Phone
How To Watch IPL 2026?
Let’s face it, Free Live Cricket streaming is no longer common. JioHotstar for Digital and Star Sports for TV are the exclusive streaming platforms for IPL 2026. However, it now has a subscription model, so you have to pay to watch the full matches. New users can get a few free minutes at first, which might be the last few matches. Because I watched a few matches of the T20 World Cup without a subscription, but a subscription is needed for complete access.
JioHotstar Subscription Plans 2026
The cheapest plan costs Rs. 79 for one month, then Rs. 149 for three months, and Rs. 499 for one year. But keep in mind these are mobile plans, with ads, HD streaming on one device. Let’s see all plans details in bullet points:
Mobile Plan
Pricing:
- 1 Month: Rs 79
- 3 Months: Rs 149
- 1 Year: Rs 499
Device Support:
- 1 mobile device at a time
Ad Experience:
- Ad-supported
- Upgrade to Premium for an ad-free experience
Content Access:
- All content is included except Hollywood
- Hollywood content available as an add-on
Hollywood Add-on Price:
- 1 Month: Rs 49
- 3 Months: Rs 129
- 1 Year: Rs 399
Super Plan
Pricing:
- 1 Month: Rs 149
- 3 Months: Rs 349
- 1 Year: Rs 1099
Device Support:
- Up to 2 devices at a time
Ad Experience:
- Ad-supported
- Upgrade to Premium for an ad-free experience
Content Access:
- All content available
- Works across mobile, web, and supported living room devices
Hollywood Add-on:
- Included in base pack
Premium Plan
Pricing:
- 1 Month: Rs 299
- 3 Months: Rs 699
- 1 Year: Rs 2199
Device Support:
- Up to 4 devices at a time
Ad Experience:
- Ad-free entertainment
- Ads may appear during live sports and live shows
Content Access:
- All content available
- Works across mobile, web, and supported living room devices
Hollywood Add-on:
- Included in base pack
On TV, Star Sports remains the main option. You can also choose from 83 subscription packs offering 134 channels, including Star Plus, Colors, and Star Sports. Affordable pricing starts at ₹151. This includes regional channels such as Star Sports 2 (in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada) and Star Sports Khel, available on DTH and cable. Make sure your TV subscription includes these channels for live IPL coverage.
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How To Watch IPL Free: Recharge Plans With Free JioHotstar Access
Gladly, our telecom service providers offer various plans, some of which may include the JioHotstar subscription. This way, you can know how to watch IPL 2026 free. So when you are about to recharge for your next cycle, you might want to take one of these plans.
| Telecom Provider | Plan Name (Rs.) | Data | Validity | JioHotstar Subscription |
| Jio Prepaid | ₹100 Plan | 5GB (4G/5G) | 30 days | Mobile or TV, HD/Full HD |
| ₹195 Cricket Pack | 15GB (4G/5G) | 90 days | Mobile or TV, HD/Full HD | |
| ₹949 Plan | 2GB/day (4G) + Unlimited 5G | 84 days | Mobile, HD | |
| Airtel Prepaid | ₹399 Plan | Unlimited 4G + 5G | 28 days | Mobile, HD |
| ₹1,029 Plan | 2GB/day (4G) + Unlimited 5G | 84 days | 3 months (Mobile, HD) | |
| ₹3,999 Plan | 2.5GB/day (4G) + Unlimited 5G | 365 days | Mobile, HD | |
| Vi Prepaid | ₹101 Plan | 5GB (4G/5G) | 30 days | 28 days (Mobile, HD) |
| ₹175 Plan | 10GB (4G/5G) | 30 days | 28 months (Mobile, HD) | |
| ₹399 Plan | Unlimited 4G + 5G | 28 days | 28 months (Mobile, HD) | |
| ₹3,699 Plan | 2GB/day (4G) | 365 days | 12 months (Mobile, HD) |
Also Read: 8 Secret Methods To Get Free JioHotstar Subscription!
IPL 2026 Schedule
Now that you know how to watch IPL 2026, let’s check out the schedule so that we don’t miss the live matches.
As far as news goes, the IPL 2026 season is scheduled to take place from March 28 to May 31, 2026. Moreover, the league starts with the first match between the former champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Karnataka on March 28. The playoffs happen in May.
In total, there will be 74 matches across multiple venues in India. Also, match timings will mostly be 3:30 PM IST for afternoon games and 7:30 PM IST for evening games, with 12 double-header days scheduled.
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So, check below to learn more about the match schedule and structure we have for IPL 2026.
Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Match Schedule:
Here’s a simple table for the IPL 2026 schedule based on the matches you provided:
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
| 28-Mar-26 | RCB vs SRH | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 29-Mar-26 | MI vs KKR | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 30-Mar-26 | RR vs CSK | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 31-Mar-26 | PBKS vs GT | New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| 01-Apr-26 | LSG vs DC | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 02-Apr-26 | KKR vs SRH | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 03-Apr-26 | CSK vs PBKS | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 04-Apr-26 | DC vs MI | Delhi | 3:30 PM |
| 04-Apr-26 | GT vs RR | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 05-Apr-26 | SRH vs LSG | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| 05-Apr-26 | RCB vs CSK | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 06-Apr-26 | KKR vs PBKS | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 07-Apr-26 | RR vs MI | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 08-Apr-26 | DC vs GT | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 09-Apr-26 | KKR vs LSG | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 10-Apr-26 | RR vs RCB | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 11-Apr-26 | PBKS vs SRH | New Chandigarh | 3:30 PM |
| 11-Apr-26 | CSK vs DC | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 12-Apr-26 | LSG vs GT | Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
| 12-Apr-26 | MI vs RCB | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 13-Apr-26 | SRH vs RR | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| 14-Apr-26 | CSK vs KKR | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 15-Apr-26 | RCB vs LSG | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 16-Apr-26 | MI vs PBKS | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 17-Apr-26 | GT vs KKR | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 18-Apr-26 | RCB vs DC | Bengaluru | 3:30 PM |
| 18-Apr-26 | SRH vs CSK | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| 19-Apr-26 | KKR vs RR | Kolkata | 3:30 PM |
| 19-Apr-26 | PBKS vs LSG | New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| 20-Apr-26 | GT vs MI | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 21-Apr-26 | SRH vs DC | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| 22-Apr-26 | LSG vs RR | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 23-Apr-26 | MI vs CSK | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 24-Apr-26 | RCB vs GT | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 25-Apr-26 | DC vs PBKS | Delhi | 3:30 PM |
| 25-Apr-26 | RR vs SRH | Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| 26-Apr-26 | GT vs CSK | Ahmedabad | 3:30 PM |
| 26-Apr-26 | LSG vs KKR | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 27-Apr-26 | DC vs RCB | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 28-Apr-26 | PBKS vs RR | New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| 29-Apr-26 | MI vs SRH | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 30-Apr-26 | GT vs RCB | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 01-May-26 | RR vs DC | Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| 02-May-26 | CSK vs MI | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 03-May-26 | SRH vs KKR | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| 03-May-26 | GT vs PBKS | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 04-May-26 | MI vs LSG | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 05-May-26 | DC vs CSK | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 06-May-26 | SRH vs PBKS | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| 07-May-26 | LSG vs RCB | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 08-May-26 | DC vs KKR | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 09-May-26 | RR vs GT | Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| 10-May-26 | CSK vs LSG | Chennai | 3:30 PM |
| 10-May-26 | RCB vs MI | Raipur | 7:30 PM |
| 11-May-26 | PBKS vs DC | Dharamshala | 7:30 PM |
| 12-May-26 | GT vs SRH | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 13-May-26 | RCB vs KKR | Raipur | 7:30 PM |
| 14-May-26 | PBKS vs MI | Dharamshala | 7:30 PM |
| 15-May-26 | LSG vs CSK | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 16-May-26 | KKR vs GT | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 17-May-26 | PBKS vs RCB | Dharamshala | 3:30 PM |
| 17-May-26 | DC vs RR | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 18-May-26 | CSK vs SRH | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 19-May-26 | RR vs LSG | Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| 20-May-26 | KKR vs MI | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 21-May-26 | CSK vs GT | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 22-May-26 | SRH vs RCB | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| 23-May-26 | LSG vs PBKS | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 24-May-26 | MI vs RR | Mumbai | 3:30 PM |
| 24-May-26 | KKR vs DC | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
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IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
| 26-May-26 | Qualifier 1 | Yet to be confirmed | 7:30 PM |
| 27-May-26 | Eliminator | Yet to be confirmed | 7:30 PM |
| 29-May-26 | Qualifier 2 | Yet to be confirmed | 7:30 PM |
| 31-May-26 | Final | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
For now, this is all that is known about the Indian Premier League 2026.
Also Read: Best Free Android Cricket Games
In The End
Don’t let the cricket fever go down. So, choose the minimum recharge plan or the most budget-friendly plan that covers the IPL season, and you are good to go! Keep following this space for more information on IPL 2026 matches.
Which teams are you supporting this time? Share them in the comments below!
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