The IPL 2026 Final
Sunday, May 31 ยท Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad ยท The world's largest cricket stadium hosts the championship match for the 4th time in 5 seasons.
The IPL 2026 Final will be played on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 7:30 PM IST at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad โ the world's largest cricket stadium (capacity 132,000). The match was originally scheduled for Bengaluru but was shifted by BCCI on May 6. As of May 9, Sunrisers Hyderabad are the title favourites at 35%, followed by Punjab Kings (22%) and Rajasthan Royals (14%). Defending champions RCB face an uphill battle at 8% after their loss to LSG in Match 50.
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League reaches its climax on Sunday, May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After 70 league matches and three knockout stages, two teams will fight it out for cricket's biggest T20 trophy in front of 132,000 fans โ the largest crowd to ever watch a cricket match.
This guide covers everything you need to know โ exact date and time in your timezone, how to watch live in USA, UK, Australia, Canada and India, the path to the final, ticket information, and our latest predictions. Bookmark this page โ we update it after every playoff match as the finalists are revealed.
๐ IPL 2026 Final: Date, Time & Venue
The IPL 2026 Final takes place on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Toss is scheduled for 7:00 PM IST, with the first ball at 7:30 PM IST. Expected match end is around 11:00 PM IST.
โฐ Final Time in Your Timezone
| Country / Region | City | Local Time (May 31) |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ฎ๐ณ India | Mumbai / Delhi | 7:30 PM IST (Sun) |
| ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom | London | 2:00 PM GMT (Sun) |
| ๐บ๐ธ USA East | New York | 10:00 AM EDT (Sun) |
| ๐บ๐ธ USA West | Los Angeles | 7:00 AM PDT (Sun) |
| ๐จ๐ฆ Canada East | Toronto | 10:00 AM EDT (Sun) |
| ๐ฆ๐บ Australia East | Sydney | 12:00 AM AEST (Mon) |
| ๐ฆ๐บ Australia West | Perth | 10:00 PM AWST (Sun) |
| ๐ฟ๐ฆ South Africa | Johannesburg | 4:00 PM SAST (Sun) |
| ๐ฆ๐ช UAE | Dubai | 6:00 PM GST (Sun) |
| ๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore | Singapore | 10:00 PM SGT (Sun) |
Times above are for the start of play (first ball). Toss happens 30 minutes earlier. Anthem and pre-match ceremony begin 45 minutes before toss.
๐ The Path to the Final
The IPL playoffs follow a four-team knockout format spread across three venues over six days. Only the top 4 league teams qualify. Here's how the bracket works:
Team 1 vs Team 2
๐๏ธ HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
Winner gets a direct ticket to the final. Loser gets a second chance via Qualifier 2.
Team 3 vs Team 4
๐ New International Stadium, New Chandigarh
Loser is knocked out. Winner advances to Qualifier 2.
Q1 loser vs Eliminator winner
๐ New International Stadium, New Chandigarh
Winner becomes the second finalist.
Q1 winner vs Q2 winner
๐๏ธ Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Champions crowned. Eligible to host the 2027 IPL Final.
๐ก Format insight: The top 2 teams have a huge advantage โ they get TWO shots at making the final (Qualifier 1 first, Qualifier 2 if they lose). Teams 3 and 4 must win 3 knockouts in a row to lift the trophy.
๐ SEE FULL PLAYOFFS GUIDE โ
๐บ How to Watch the IPL 2026 Final Live
The IPL 2026 Final is broadcast in over 120 countries. Here's where to watch in the major English-speaking markets:
USA
UK
Australia
Canada
Without Cable
India
๐ก Watching the Final Without Cable
If you're cord-cutting in 2026, you have several options. JioCinema is free in India and streams the IPL in 4K. International fans can use a VPN like NordVPN (with an India server) to access JioCinema from anywhere โ though check your local terms of service. Streaming sticks like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max or Roku Streaming Stick 4K let you cast any of these services to your TV.
๐ซ IPL 2026 Final Tickets & Prices
Tickets for the IPL 2026 Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium typically go on sale through the BCCI's official ticketing partner after the finalists are confirmed (post-Qualifier 2 on May 29). Demand is enormous โ the 132,000-capacity stadium usually sells out within hours.
๐ฐ Expected Ticket Price Range
| Stand | Approx. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Stand (Upper Tier) | โน2,500 โ โน4,500 | Most affordable; far from pitch |
| Lower Tier | โน5,000 โ โน9,000 | Better view; popular family choice |
| Pavilion / Premium | โน12,000 โ โน25,000 | Best regular seating |
| Corporate Box | โน40,000 โ โน70,000+ | Hospitality, food, AC lounge |
โ ๏ธ Prices are estimates based on previous Ahmedabad finals. Official 2026 prices announced after Qualifier 2. Beware of resellers โ only buy from BCCI's official ticketing platform to avoid fakes.
๐๏ธ Narendra Modi Stadium Guide
The World's Largest Cricket Stadium
Located in Motera, Ahmedabad, the Narendra Modi Stadium is officially the largest cricket stadium in the world. Renovated and reopened in 2020, it has become BCCI's go-to venue for marquee occasions. The stadium will host its 4th IPL Final in 5 years on May 31.
Pitch behaviour: Generally batting-friendly with true bounce. Average first innings score in IPL: 175-185. Dew can come into play in the second innings, slightly favouring the chasing team.
๐ Getting to the Stadium
The stadium is in Motera, about 12 km from central Ahmedabad. Sabarmati Junction is the closest railway station (3 km). The Ahmedabad Metro now has a Motera Stadium station that opens directly into the venue. Auto-rickshaws and Uber/Ola are widely available. Plan to arrive at least 90 minutes before play given the security checks.
๐ฏ Title Predictions: Who Wins IPL 2026?
Based on form, NRR, and remaining fixtures (as of May 9), here's how we see the title race:
Why favourites: Most prolific batting unit (Abhishek 440+ runs, Klaasen, Travis Head). Cummins captaincy. Best NRR among playoff hopefuls. Title chances rising as RCB falters.
Dark horses: Cooper Connolly's emergence, Shashank Singh's finishing, Yuzvendra Chahal's wickets. Iyer's captaincy has been steady. Looking dangerous.
Wild card: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been a sensation. Sanju Samson back to his best. Dangerous batting, questions remain about death bowling.
Home advantage potential: Sai Sudharsan in great form. Rashid Khan back to wicket-taking form. If they reach the final, they get to play it at their home ground in Ahmedabad.
Now in trouble: Just lost to LSG (Match 50). Kohli on a first-ball duck. Fell to 5th on tiebreakers. Defending champions need 2-3 wins from remaining games to recover their playoff spot.
๐ฒ Total: 90% (top 5 contenders). Remaining 10% spread across CSK, MI, DC, LSG, KKR. Probabilities based on current points, NRR, remaining fixtures, head-to-head form, and squad strength.
๐ Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Defending Champions
Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their first-ever IPL trophy in 2025 โ a 2-run thriller against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium. After 18 years of heartbreak, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Krunal Pandya finally ended the wait.
But IPL 2026 has been brutal. RCB suffered a 9-run loss to LSG in Match 50, Kohli fell first-ball to a 22-year-old Prince Yadav (his first IPL duck since 2023), and the defending champions slipped to 5th on tiebreakers. With 12 points in 12 games, they need to win their remaining matches to secure even a top-4 finish.
Adding to the drama: the 2026 final was originally scheduled at RCB's home ground, M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. BCCI shifted it to Ahmedabad on May 6, citing requirements from the local association. RCB now have to win the title on the road โ a daunting task even for the best teams.
๐ Past IPL Finals at the Narendra Modi Stadium
This will be the 4th IPL Final hosted at the Narendra Modi Stadium, making Ahmedabad the most-used IPL Final venue in modern history.
| Year | Final | Result | Champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TBD vs TBD | May 31, 2026 | ? |
| 2025 | RCB vs PBKS | RCB won by 2 runs | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| 2023 | CSK vs GT | CSK won by 5 wickets (DLS) | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2022 | GT vs RR | GT won by 7 wickets | Gujarat Titans |
๐ Trivia: Both Gujarat Titans (2022) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2025) lifted their maiden trophies at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The venue has been a launching pad for first-time champions.
โฑ๏ธ IPL 2026 Final Day Schedule (May 31)
Here's how the day plays out at the Narendra Modi Stadium (all times IST):
| Time (IST) | Event |
|---|---|
| 4:00 PM | Stadium gates open for fans |
| 5:30 PM | Pre-match entertainment / closing ceremony rehearsal |
| 6:15 PM | National anthem & team line-ups announced |
| 6:45 PM | Pitch report & toss preparation |
| 7:00 PM | ๐ช TOSS |
| 7:30 PM | ๐ FIRST BALL |
| ~9:15 PM | End of innings break (15 min) |
| ~9:30 PM | Second innings starts |
| ~11:00 PM | Match end ยท Trophy presentation |
| ~11:30 PM | Awards ceremony ยท Confetti ยท Official photos |
๐บ Watch the Final in Style
Get your TV setup ready for the final. These streaming devices support all the major IPL broadcasters worldwide.