Tag: Indian Premier League

Sports

IPL 2026 to Begin on March 26, Final Scheduled for May 31

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The Indian Premier League 2026 season is set to begin on Thursday, March 26, with the final scheduled for Sunday, May 31. The dates for the upcoming edition were revealed by IPL CEO Hemang Amin during a briefing with all ten franchises ahead of the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi, according to Cricbuzz. While the complete match schedule is yet to be announced, it is expected to be made public in the coming days.

It has been confirmed that defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will feature in the opening fixture of the tournament. However, uncertainty remains over whether the match will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Traditionally, the IPL season opener is hosted at the home venue of the defending champions, but the availability of the stadium is yet to be finalised.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association has received conditional clearance from the state government to host IPL matches, with final approval pending the fulfilment of safety and security requirements. The venue has not hosted matches since a tragic stampede outside the stadium during victory celebrations last year resulted in the loss of 11 lives, following which even Women’s World Cup matches were relocated.

Ahead of the auction, the Board of Control for Cricket in India held a meeting with representatives of all ten franchises, during which teams were informed about the tentative window for the tournament. Attention will now shift to the IPL 2026 auction, where franchises will compete for 77 available slots, including 31 overseas player positions. The highest reserve price has been set at ₹2 crore, with 40 players registering in this bracket.

Several prominent international and domestic players, including Cameron Green, David Miller, Devon Conway, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Gus Atkinson, Wanindu Hasaranga, Venkatesh Iyer and Liam Livingstone, have entered the auction at the top base price. Meanwhile, notable absentees from the auction list include Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis. As teams prepare to finalise their squads, anticipation continues to build for the return of one of cricket’s most-watched tournaments.

Sports

United Spirits Denies RCB Stake Sale Talks Amid Market Buzz; Shares Jump Over 3%

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Bengaluru, India – June 11, 2025
Amid widespread speculation around Diageo’s potential stake sale in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), United Spirits Ltd. — a subsidiary of global beverage giant Diageo — has firmly denied any ongoing discussions related to a divestment.

In a formal statement released to the stock exchanges, United Spirits clarified, “We would like to confirm that there are no discussions or decisions at this time regarding the sale of our stake in Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL), which owns the RCB franchise.”

Despite the rumors, investor sentiment remained bullish. Following the company’s clarification and a strong set of quarterly financial results, shares of United Spirits surged by over 3% in intraday trading on Wednesday. The rally highlights market confidence not only in the company’s core business performance but also in the continued brand value of the RCB franchise.

The company reported better-than-expected earnings for the quarter ended March 2025. Strong volume growth in its premium segment, improved operational efficiency, and favorable input costs contributed to the positive performance. The management also reiterated its focus on portfolio premiumization and digital transformation.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru remains one of the most valuable and popular franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite not having clinched a title yet, RCB boasts a massive fanbase and significant brand equity, further fueled by high-profile players and celebrity ownership associations.

The speculation surrounding a potential stake sale began after unconfirmed reports suggested that Diageo might be considering a strategic reshuffle of its Indian sports and entertainment assets. However, today’s statement puts those rumors to rest — at least for now.

Sports

RCB Appoints Rajat Patidar as Captain for IPL 2025

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In a significant development, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has announced Rajat Patidar as their new captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Patidar, a talented right-handed batter, will lead the team in their quest for their maiden IPL title.


Patidar’s appointment as captain is a testament to his impressive performance for RCB over the past three seasons. Since joining the franchise in 2021, he has scored 799 runs in 28 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 158.85. His leadership skills were also on display when he captained Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.


Former RCB captain Virat Kohli congratulated Patidar on his appointment, praising his growth and performance within the franchise. Kohli expressed his confidence in Patidar’s ability to lead the team, saying, “You have earned the right to be in this position, and I’m sure you will grow from strength to strength.”


With Patidar at the helm, RCB will look to start a new chapter in their quest for IPL glory. Despite reaching the final three times, the team is yet to win the title. However, with a talented squad and a new captain, RCB fans will be hoping for a successful season.


The IPL 2025 season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with several teams undergoing changes in leadership. Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals are yet to announce their captains, while Shreyas Iyer will lead Punjab Kings and Rishabh Pant will captain Lucknow Super Giants.


RCB’s journey to success in IPL 2025 will begin on March 21. With Rajat Patidar as their captain, the team will look to make a strong start to the season. Can Patidar lead RCB to their maiden IPL title? Only time will tell.