IPL 2026 First Match: RCB vs SRH to kick off season in Bengaluru on March 28

Fresh from India’s successful defence of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title, the country’s cricket calendar is set to shift quickly to its biggest domestic spectacle - the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The 19th edition of the IPL will begin on March 28 in Bengaluru, where defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match.

The excitement continues immediately as Mumbai Indians take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede on March 29.

Also Read | Indian Premier League 2026 Schedule: RCB vs SRH to open season as BCCI unveils first phase; check full match list


The initial high-stakes week also features Rajasthan Royals hosting Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on March 30, followed by Punjab Kings meeting Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur on March 31.

The momentum stays high into April as Lucknow Super Giants welcome Delhi Capitals on the 1st, before the action shifts back to the historic Eden Gardens for KKR vs SRH on April 2.

The full schedule will be released later after the Election Commission announces polling dates for Assembly elections scheduled in several states during the IPL window.

Also Read | RCB IPL 2026 Schedule: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru to face SRH in season opener; check full fixtures

The national team’s victory over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has kept the buzz around Indian cricket at a high. Riding that momentum, the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday announced the schedule for the upcoming IPL season, confirming the opening fixture and the expanded match list for the tournament.

Moreover, this year’s tournament will also be the largest in IPL history, featuring a total of 84 matches instead of the usual 74.

The league will run for just over two months, with the final scheduled for May 31. The playoffs will begin on May 26.

IPL 2026 format and venues

A total of 20 matches will be played during this period across 10 venues — Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.

The opening phase will feature four double-headers, with afternoon matches beginning at 3:30 PM IST and evening games starting at 7:30 PM IST. The first double-header of the season is scheduled for April 4, when Delhi Capitals will face Mumbai Indians in the afternoon game in Delhi, followed by Gujarat Titans taking on Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad.

Rajasthan Royals will begin their home campaign in Guwahati, where they are scheduled to host Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Punjab Kings, meanwhile, will play their early home fixtures at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to play five home matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and two additional home games in Raipur during the season. Punjab Kings will host four matches in New Chandigarh and three in Dharamshala, while Rajasthan Royals will split their home fixtures between Guwahati and Jaipur.

However, the matches scheduled in Bengaluru remain subject to clearance from an expert committee constituted by the Karnataka government, which is expected to review match-day preparedness at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium later this month.