IPL 2026 Captains: Full schedule, photoshoot and key meeting details
Complete list of Indian Premier League 2026 captains, followed by the full Captains Day schedule, photoshoot, and key meeting details.

The excitement for the Indian Premier League 2026 season is growing fast, and the much-awaited Captains Day will mark the start of the new season. All team captains will come together for this pre-season event. It will include media work, fan activities, and important discussions before the tournament begins.
The day will start with the captains’ photoshoot, which is one of the most popular moments before every IPL season. All captains will stand together with the trophy, giving fans the first official look at the team leaders for IPL 2026. With possible captain changes in some teams, this part always creates a lot of excitement.
This year, the IPL will also focus on digital content. Captains will work with influencers and content creators to connect with fans. This will help reach younger audiences. Fans can expect fun videos, behind-the-scenes clips, and viral moments on social media.
In this article, we will share complete details of the full schedule, photoshoot, and key meeting highlights in a simple and clear way.
Also read - BCCI announces fan parks in 15 cities for Phase 1 of IPL 2026
Full schedule of Captains Day activities ahead of IPL 2026
The Indian Premier League 2026 Captains Day will begin with the traditional captains’ photoshoot, one of the most important moments before every season. All team captains will gather with the trophy, giving fans their first official look at the leaders. With possible captain changes across teams, this moment creates strong excitement among fans. The event will also include discussions about the new season, where captains will share their plans, strategies, and expectations. These sessions will give fans and experts useful insights into team combinations, leadership styles, and goals for the tournament ahead.
Captains to collaborate with influencers and take part in special challenges
In line with the growing digital reach of the Indian Premier League, IPL 2026 will include special collaborations between team captains and influencers. This step is taken to increase fan engagement, especially among young audiences who follow the game on social media. Fans can expect fun and creative content, including short videos, behind-the-scenes moments, and clips that can quickly go viral online. These activities will help bring players closer to fans in a new and exciting way.
To make the day more fun, the Captains Challenge will also be held. In this segment, captains will take part in light and entertaining games. While it does not affect the tournament, it shows the fun side of players and builds excitement among fans before the season begins.
The IPL 2026 season opener will be played on March 28, 2026, with Rajat Patidar leading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Here is the complete list of captains and coaches of IPL 2026 (Phase 1)
| Team | Captain | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Stephen Fleming |
| Delhi Capitals | Axar Patel | Hemang Badani |
| Gujarat Titans | Shubman Gill | Ashish Nehra |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Ajinkya Rahane | Abhishek Nayar |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Rishabh Pant | Justin Langer |
| Mumbai Indians | Hardik Pandya | Mahela Jayawardene |
| Punjab Kings | Shreyas Iyer | Ricky Ponting |
| Rajasthan Royals | Riyan Parag | Kumar Sangakkara |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajat Patidar | Andy Flower |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Ishan Kishan | Daniel Vettori |
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