BENGALURU – The wait for cricket’s biggest extravaganza is finally over. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially announced the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule on Wednesday, March 11. The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League is set to begin on Saturday, March 28, 2026, with a high-octane clash between the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and last year’s finalists Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
IPL 2026 Phase 1
Due to the upcoming State Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam, the BCCI has released the schedule in a phased manner. The current announcement covers the first 20 matches of the tournament, running from March 28 to April 12, 2026.
- Opening Match: RCB vs SRH (March 28, Bengaluru)
- Venues: 10 cities across India, including New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) and Guwahati.
- Double Headers: Four double-headers are scheduled in the first 16 days.
- Match Timings: Afternoon games start at 3:30 PM IST, and evening games at 7:30 PM IST.
Full Match List: IPL 2026 Schedule (Phase 1)
The following table provides the complete breakdown of the first 20 fixtures, including dates and venues:
| Match No. | Date | Day | Fixture | Venue | Time (IST) |
| 1 | Mar 28 | Sat | RCB vs SRH | Bengaluru* | 7:30 PM |
| 2 | Mar 29 | Sun | MI vs KKR | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 3 | Mar 30 | Mon | RR vs CSK | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 4 | Mar 31 | Tue | PBKS vs GT | Mullanpur | 7:30 PM |
| 5 | Apr 1 | Wed | LSG vs DC | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 6 | Apr 2 | Thu | KKR vs SRH | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 7 | Apr 3 | Fri | CSK vs PBKS | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 8 | Apr 4 | Sat | DC vs MI | Delhi | 3:30 PM |
| 9 | Apr 4 | Sat | GT vs RR | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 10 | Apr 5 | Sun | SRH vs LSG | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| 11 | Apr 5 | Sun | RCB vs CSK | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 12 | Apr 6 | Mon | KKR vs PBKS | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | Apr 7 | Tue | RR vs MI | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | Apr 8 | Wed | DC vs GT | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | Apr 9 | Thu | KKR vs LSG | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 16 | Apr 10 | Fri | RR vs RCB | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 17 | Apr 11 | Sat | PBKS vs SRH | Mullanpur | 3:30 PM |
| 18 | Apr 11 | Sat | CSK vs DC | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 19 | Apr 12 | Sun | LSG vs GT | Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
| 20 | Apr 12 | Sun | MI vs RCB | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Crucial Update on Bengaluru Matches: The BCCI has noted that matches scheduled at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium are subject to a final safety clearance from an Expert Committee appointed by the Government of Karnataka. An inspection is slated for March 13.
Strategic Venue Choices and Home Ground Split
To accommodate logistical challenges, several franchises will utilize secondary home grounds this season:
- Rajasthan Royals (RR): Will play their early home games at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati.
- Punjab Kings (PBKS): Will continue to use the New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) stadium as their primary home.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): While they play 5 games in Bengaluru, they are expected to play 2 home games in Raipur later in the season.
What to Expect: New Rivalries and Captaincy Debuts
IPL 2026 is already buzzing with narrative shifts. Following a high-profile pre-season trade, Sanju Samson will lead Chennai Super Kings, while Ravindra Jadeja returns to Rajasthan Royals. Additionally, this season is rumored to expand to 84 matches, making it the longest edition in the tournament’s history. Fans are particularly looking forward to the April 5 clash between RCB and CSK, a rivalry that remains the biggest “Southern Derby” in the world of T20 cricket.
How to Watch IPL 2026 Live
The tournament will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network for television viewers in India. For digital streaming, fans can catch every ball for free (ad-supported) on the JioCinema app and website.
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