The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to return with its 19th edition in 2026, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the schedule for the first phase of the tournament. The opening match will feature defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The announcement has already created excitement among fans, as the IPL once again promises weeks of thrilling cricket and high-voltage clashes between the league’s biggest teams.
IPL 2026 Schedule: Opening weekend set to deliver big matches
The tournament will begin with RCB starting their title defense at home against SRH on Saturday, March 28, at 7:30 pm IST. The iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host the curtain-raiser, continuing the tradition of the defending champions playing the opening match of the season.
The excitement will continue the very next day. On March 29, five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the legendary Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The opening week also features another major clash on March 30, when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) begin their campaign against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati. With multiple marquee matchups scheduled right from the start, fans can expect a thrilling start to the season.
This year, the BCCI has chosen to release the IPL schedule in two phases. For now, only the first 20 matches have been announced.
The decision comes in view of upcoming State Assembly elections scheduled between March and May in several regions, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry. Releasing the schedule in parts allows authorities to coordinate security arrangements more efficiently.
According to BCCI officials, the remaining fixtures will be announced once the Election Commission finalizes the polling dates. The complete tournament will feature 84 matches, an increase from previous editions, with the final scheduled to take place in Bengaluru on May 31.
IPL 2026 Schedule: Key matches in the first phase
The first phase of the IPL 2026 season includes several high-profile contests that are expected to draw massive viewership.
One of the biggest days will be April 4, which features a double-header. Delhi Capitals (DC) will take on Mumbai Indians in Delhi during the afternoon match, while Gujarat Titans (GT) will face Rajasthan Royals in the evening game in Ahmedabad.
Another exciting day is April 5, when Sunrisers Hyderabad meet Lucknow Super Giants in the afternoon clash before the much-awaited southern derby between RCB and CSK at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The first phase will conclude on April 12 with two matches – LSG against GT in the afternoon and MI hosting RCB at Wankhede Stadium in the evening.
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IPL 2026 First-Phase Schedule
| Match | Date | Day | Fixture | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 Mar | Sat | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 2 | 29 Mar | Sun | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 3 | 30 Mar | Mon | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 4 | 31 Mar | Tue | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | Mullanpur | 7:30 PM |
| 5 | 1 Apr | Wed | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 6 | 2 Apr | Thu | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 7 | 3 Apr | Fri | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 8 | 4 Apr | Sat | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Delhi | 3:30 PM |
| 9 | 4 Apr | Sat | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 10 | 5 Apr | Sun | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| 11 | 5 Apr | Sun | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 12 | 6 Apr | Mon | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | 7 Apr | Tue | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | 8 Apr | Wed | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | 9 Apr | Thu | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 16 | 10 Apr | Fri | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 17 | 11 Apr | Sat | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Mullanpur | 3:30 PM |
| 18 | 11 Apr | Sat | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 19 | 12 Apr | Sun | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
| 20 | 12 Apr | Sun | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Where to watch IPL 2026?
The IPL 2026 schedule announcement was broadcasted live on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network on Wednesday evening. Throughout the season, all matches will be telecast on Star Sports channels and streamed live on JioHotstar for fans across India and around the world.
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