New Delhi, March 12, 2026 – The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially released the schedule for the first phase of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated cricket seasons. The 19th edition of the IPL will kick off on March 28, 2026, and run until May 31, 2026, featuring 10 teams in a total of 84 matches across iconic venues in India.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the tournament opener at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28, at 7:30 PM IST. This blockbuster clash marks RCB’s homecoming as title holders and promises high-voltage entertainment right from the start.
The first phase, covering March 28 to April 12, includes 20 league matches played across 10 venues — Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, Chandigarh (New PCA Stadium), Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. Four double-headers have been scheduled, with afternoon games at 3:30 PM IST and evening fixtures at 7:30 PM IST. The first double-header falls on April 4: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians (3:30 PM, Arun Jaitley Stadium) followed by Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals (7:30 PM, Narendra Modi Stadium).
Key Highlights of the First Phase Schedule:
- March 28 (Sat): RCB vs SRH – 7:30 PM, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- March 29 (Sun): MI vs KKR – 7:30 PM, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- March 30 (Mon): RR vs CSK – 7:30 PM, ACA Stadium, Guwahati
- March 31 (Tue): PBKS vs GT – 7:30 PM, New PCA Stadium, Chandigarh
- April 1 (Wed): LSG vs DC – 7:30 PM, Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- April 2 (Thu): KKR vs SRH – 7:30 PM, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- April 3 (Fri): CSK vs PBKS – 7:30 PM, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- April 4 (Sat): DC vs MI (3:30 PM, Delhi) | GT vs RR (7:30 PM, Ahmedabad)
- April 5 (Sun): SRH vs LSG (3:30 PM, Hyderabad) | RCB vs CSK (7:30 PM, Bengaluru)
- April 6 (Mon): KKR vs PBKS – 7:30 PM, Kolkata
- April 7 (Tue): RR vs MI – 7:30 PM, Guwahati
- April 8 (Wed): DC vs GT – 7:30 PM, Delhi
- April 9 (Thu): KKR vs LSG – 7:30 PM, Kolkata
- April 10 (Fri): RR vs RCB – 7:30 PM, Guwahati
- April 11 (Sat): PBKS vs SRH (3:30 PM, Chandigarh) | CSK vs DC (7:30 PM, Chennai)
- April 12 (Sun): LSG vs GT (3:30 PM, Lucknow) | MI vs RCB (7:30 PM, Mumbai)
(Note: Bengaluru matches are subject to final clearance from the Karnataka government’s Expert Committee, with an inspection scheduled for March 13.)
The remaining fixtures for the season will be announced later, once the poll dates for assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Assam, and West Bengal are finalized. This phased approach ensures smooth scheduling around national commitments.
