IPL set to clash with PSL for second-consecutive year | Report

The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is slated to be played between March 26 and May 31.

The cash-rich tournament will be organised after the conclusion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, scheduled to run from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka.

As per a report by ESPNCricinfo, India's premier T20 spectacle will collide with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for a second consecutive year. The PSL will be played between March 26 and May 3.

The direct clash between the two leagues has put players in a spot. While most T20 globetrotters have either been retained by their respective IPL franchises or have registered for the 2026 mini auction, players like Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali, among others, have chosen to ply their trade in the PSL.

Du Plessis represented Delhi Capitals in the previous season, scoring 202 runs in nine games at an average of 22.44 and a strike rate of 123.92, including two fifties. His underwhelming returns with the bat forced DC to release him.

On the other hand, Moeen played six games for Kolkata Knight Riders, claiming as many wickets and scoring five runs.

All the eyeballs at the moment are on the IPL auction, as the major stakeholders and strategists of all 10 franchises have arrived in Abu Dhabi. A total of 369 players have been handpicked for the bidding. Only 77 slots are to be filled, with 31 reserved for the overseas players.

KKR have the biggest purse (INR 64.30 crore) among all 10 franchises and 13 slots remaining, with six spots left for overseas picks. Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have the second-largest purse (INR 43.40 crore) and have a total of nine vacancies with four spots left for foreigners.

The reigning IPL champions RCB have a purse of INR 16.40 crore and have a total of eight slots left, with two reserved for overseas picks.