The IPL 2026 season will begin on March 26, and teams have already started planning their preparations. Two former champions, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, will kick off their pre-season camps from March 1.
SRH will train in Hyderabad as they look to fine-tune their plans before the big tournament. The focus will be strongly on bowling skills, especially handling pressure in the death overs.
The coaching group, including former India pacer Varun Aaron, will work closely with the bowlers. The team wants to improve control at the end of the innings, which often decides close matches.
SRH’s uncapped Indian players will report early for the camp. Overseas stars are expected to join later once their international duties are done.
The Indian players in the early batch include Aniket Varma, Salil Arora, Harshal Patel, Harsh Dubey, Praful Hinge, Shivang Kumar, Krains Fuletra, Sakib Hussain, Onkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar and Shivam Mavi.
The idea is simple. Give young players enough time to settle in and understand their roles before the full squad comes together.
Dhoni Set to Lead CSK Camp
Meanwhile, CSK will begin their camp in Chennai, likely at the CSK High Performance Center in Navalur. The franchise is known for its detailed preparation and calm build-up before every season.
One big name will once again draw attention. MS Dhoni has been retained and is expected to be a major presence at the camp.
Even if he does not speak much, Dhoni’s presence means a lot to the squad. His guidance and experience often help young players settle quickly.
CSK’s uncapped Indian players such as Ramakrishna Ghosh, Aman Khan and Mukesh Choudhary will look to impress the coaches from day one.
Young UP players Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer are also likely to start training with the squad immediately. For them, this is a big chance to fight for a spot in the playing eleven.
Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson are currently on national duty at the T20 World Cup and will join the camp later. Until then, the focus will remain on fitness, match simulations and role clarity.
With less than a month left for IPL 2026, the early start could make a big difference. Teams that prepare well now often carry that rhythm into the tournament.