Hyderabad/New Delhi, March 24, 2026 — The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the first phase schedule of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The 19th edition of the world’s biggest T20 cricket league will kick off on Saturday, March 28, 2026, and run until May 31, 2026, featuring 10 teams and a total of 84 matches.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will host Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the high-voltage opening match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. All matches in the first phase will start at 7:30 PM IST (with a few afternoon double-headers at 3:30 PM IST).
The BCCI released only the first 20 matches (March 28 to April 12) due to upcoming state assembly elections in several regions. The remaining fixtures, including the second half, playoffs, and final, will be announced later once election dates are finalized.
IPL 2026 Key Highlights
- Tournament Duration: March 28 – May 31, 2026
- Total Matches: 84 (70 league + 4 playoffs + final)
- Teams: Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Opening Match: RCB vs SRH, March 28, Bengaluru
- Final: Scheduled for May 31, 2026 (venue to be confirmed)
Complete First Phase Schedule (March 28 – April 12, 2026)
Here is the full list of announced fixtures with dates, teams, venues, and timings:
- March 28, Saturday – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- March 29, Sunday – Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- March 30, Monday – Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium (ACA Stadium), Guwahati | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- March 31, Tuesday – Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 1, Wednesday – Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals Venue: BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 2, Thursday – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 3, Friday – Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 4, Saturday – Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians (Afternoon) Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | Time: 3:30 PM IST
- April 4, Saturday – Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals (Evening) Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 5, Sunday – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 5, Sunday – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | Time: 7:30 PM IST? (Double-header details confirmed in phase-1)
- April 6, Monday – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 7, Tuesday – Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 8, Wednesday – Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 9, Thursday – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 10, Friday – Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 11, Saturday – Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, Mullanpur | Time: 7:30 PM IST? (Phase details)
- April 11, Saturday – Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Time: 3:30 PM / 7:30 PM (Double-header)
- April 12, Sunday – Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans Venue: BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | Time: 7:30 PM IST
- April 12, Sunday – Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Time: 7:30 PM IST
Note: Exact timings for double-header days and minor adjustments may be confirmed closer to the matches. The BCCI may tweak the schedule based on ground conditions or other factors.
Venues for IPL 2026 First Phase
- Bengaluru: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
- Mumbai: Wankhede Stadium
- Guwahati: Barsapara Cricket Stadium
- Mullanpur: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium
- Lucknow: BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium
- Kolkata: Eden Gardens
- Chennai: MA Chidambaram Stadium
- Delhi: Arun Jaitley Stadium
- Ahmedabad: Narendra Modi Stadium
- Hyderabad: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium
How to Watch IPL 2026
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network (India)
- Live Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar (official digital partner)
- International Broadcast: Available on various platforms depending on the country
Team-Wise Key Early Fixtures (Highlights)
- RCB: Opens vs SRH (Mar 28), faces CSK (Apr 5), RR (Apr 10)
- MI: Hosts KKR (Mar 29), plays DC (Apr 4), RCB (Apr 12)
- CSK: Plays at Guwahati vs RR (Mar 30), hosts PBKS (Apr 3)
- Full team-wise schedules are available on the official IPL website.
The IPL 2026 promises high-octane action with star players, new strategies, and massive global viewership. With Rajasthan Royals recently acquired by a US-based consortium led by Kal Somani for $1.63 billion, the league’s commercial value continues to soar.
Stay tuned for the second phase schedule announcement. For live scores, updates, and match centres, visit the official IPL website or reliable sports portals.
Official Sources: BCCI, IPLT20.com, ESPNcricinfo (as of March 2026). Schedule subject to minor changes.
Fans can download the official IPL 2026 schedule PDF from iplt20 for easy reference. Enjoy the cricket season!
