Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to return with its 19th edition in 2026, and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the schedule of the first leg of the tournament. defending champion in the opening match Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) 28 March at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
The announcement has already created excitement among fans, as the IPL once again promises exciting cricket and high-tension encounters between the league’s biggest teams.
IPL 2026 schedule: Opening weekend promises big matches
The tournament begins with RCB defending their title against SRH at home on Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 PM IST. The iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host the opening match, continuing the tradition of the defending champions playing their inaugural matches.
The excitement will continue the next day also. On March 29, five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the famous Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The opening week will see another key encounter on March 30, when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will begin their journey against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati. With several key matches right from the start, fans can expect an exciting start to the season.
This year, BCCI has decided to release the IPL schedule in two phases. As of now, only the first 20 matches have been announced.
The decision has been taken keeping in mind the upcoming state assembly elections to be held between March and May in several regions, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry. Releasing the program in parts allows authorities to coordinate security arrangements more efficiently.
According to BCCI officials, the remaining fixtures will be announced after the finalization of the voting dates by the Election Commission. The entire tournament will feature 84 matches, more than previous editions, and the final is planned to be held in Bengaluru on May 31.
IPL 2026 schedule: Key matches in the first phase
The first phase of IPL 2026 includes several high-profile encounters, which are expected to attract huge audiences.
One of the biggest days will be April 4, with a double-header. Delhi Capitals (DC) will face Mumbai Indians in Delhi in the afternoon game, while Gujarat Titans (GT) will face Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad in the evening game.
Another exciting day is April 5, when Sunrisers Hyderabad meet Lucknow Super Giants in an afternoon clash, followed by 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 against RCB in the evening at the Wankhede Stadium.
IPL 2026 first phase schedule
| match | date | the day | fixtures | place | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 March | Saturday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru बनाम Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 2 | 29 March | sunday | Mumbai Indians बनाम Kolkata Knight Riders | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 3 | 30 March | monday | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 4 | 31st March | Tuesday | Punjab Kings बनाम Gujarat Titans | Mullanpur | 7:30 PM |
| 5 | 1 April | Wednesday | Lucknow Super Giants बनाम Delhi Capitals | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 6 | 2 April | Thursday | Kolkata Knight Riders बनाम Sunrisers Hyderabad | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 7 | 3 April | Friday | Chennai Super Kings बनाम Punjab Kings | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 8 | 4th April | Saturday | Delhi Capitals बनाम Mumbai Indians | Delhi | 3:30 PM |
| 9 | 4th April | Saturday | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 10 | 5th April | sunday | Sunrisers Hyderabad बनाम Lucknow Super Giants | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| 11 | 5th April | sunday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 12 | 6 April | monday | Kolkata Knight Riders बनाम Punjab Kings | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | 7 April | Tuesday | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | 8 April | Wednesday | Delhi Capitals बनाम Gujarat Titans | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | 9 April | Thursday | Kolkata Knight Riders बनाम Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 16 | 10th April | Friday | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 17 | 11 April | Saturday | Punjab Kings बनाम Sunrisers Hyderabad | Mullanpur | 3:30 PM |
| 18 | 11 April | Saturday | Chennai Super Kings बनाम Delhi Capitals | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 19 | 12 April | sunday | Lucknow Super Giants बनाम Gujarat Titans | Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
| 20 | 12 April | sunday | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Where to watch IPL 2026?
The IPL 2026 schedule was announced live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network on Wednesday evening. Throughout the season, all matches will be broadcast on Star Sports channels and live streamed on JioHotstar to fans in India and around the world.
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