New Delhi, March 12, 2026 – The wait is finally over! The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially dropped the much-awaited IPL 2026 schedule today, giving cricket fans across the globe the complete roadmap for one of the biggest T20 cricket festivals.
The 19th edition of the Tata Indian Premier League will run from March 28 to May 31, 2026, spanning 74 high-octane league matches plus playoffs. Ten franchises will battle it out across 12 stunning venues, promising non-stop entertainment, massive sixes, and nail-biting finishes. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will host Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a blockbuster opening clash – and yes, the schedule is packed with double-headers, prime-time thrillers, and some exciting new twists.
When Does IPL 2026 Start? Key Dates & Format at a Glance
- Tournament Start: March 28, 2026 (Saturday)
- Final: May 31, 2026 (Sunday)
- Total League Matches: 74
- Playoff Matches: 4 (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, Final)
- Match Timings: Afternoon games at 3:30 PM IST | Evening games at 7:30 PM IST
This year’s format keeps the popular home-and-away model, with each team playing 14 league games (7 home, 7 away). The top four teams will advance to the playoffs, whose exact dates will be confirmed after the league stage.
IPL 2026 Opening Match: RCB vs SRH – A Title-Defending Blockbuster!
Get ready for fireworks on Day 1! Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on March 28, 2026 at 7:30 PM IST.
RCB fans are already calling it “Virat Kohli’s revenge season” after last year’s dramatic title win. SRH, led by their explosive batting lineup, will be looking to spoil the party right from the start. This opener is already trending as the most anticipated IPL 2026 match!
Complete IPL 2026 Schedule – First Phase (March 28 to April 12)
Here’s the full list of the first 20 league matches released today. All timings are in IST. Bookmark this page because the BCCI will update the second phase once state election dates are finalized.
March 2026 Matches
- March 28 (Sat): RCB vs SRH – 7:30 PM, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- March 29 (Sun): Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders – 7:30 PM, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- March 30 (Mon): Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings – 7:30 PM, ACA Stadium, Guwahati
- March 31 (Tue): Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans – 7:30 PM, New PCA Stadium, Chandigarh
April 2026 Matches
- April 1 (Wed): Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals – 7:30 PM, Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- April 2 (Thu): Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – 7:30 PM, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- April 3 (Fri): Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings – 7:30 PM, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- April 4 (Sat): Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians (3:30 PM, Arun Jaitley Stadium) & Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals (7:30 PM, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad) – First double-header!
- April 5 (Sun): Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants (3:30 PM, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad) & RCB vs Chennai Super Kings (7:30 PM, Bengaluru)
- April 6 (Mon): Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings – 7:30 PM, Eden Gardens
- April 7 (Tue): Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians – 7:30 PM, Guwahati
- April 8 (Wed): Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans – 7:30 PM, Delhi
- April 9 (Thu): Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants – 7:30 PM, Kolkata
- April 10 (Fri): Rajasthan Royals vs RCB – 7:30 PM, Guwahati
- April 11 (Sat): Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (3:30 PM, Chandigarh) & Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals (7:30 PM, Chennai)
- April 12 (Sun): Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans (3:30 PM, Lucknow) & Mumbai Indians vs RCB (7:30 PM, Wankhede Stadium)
Important Note: All Bengaluru matches are subject to final clearance from the Karnataka government’s Expert Committee. An inspection is scheduled for March 13.
Exciting Features of IPL 2026 Schedule
- Four double-headers in the first phase alone – perfect for weekend binge-watching!
- New venues added: Guwahati and Chandigarh get multiple games, giving fans in the Northeast and North more live action.
- Evening slots dominated by big rivalries (MI vs KKR, CSK vs RCB, GT vs RR).
- Remaining 54 league matches + playoffs will be announced soon after assembly election dates in Tamil Nadu, Assam, and West Bengal are confirmed.
How to Watch IPL 2026 Live – TV, Streaming & More
Star Sports will broadcast all matches in India, while Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema will stream every game live for free (JioCinema confirmed free streaming again this year). International fans can catch the action on their local broadcasters.
What Fans Are Saying
Social media is already on fire:
- “RCB opener at home – this is the season we’ve been waiting for!”
- “Four double-headers in April? My weekends are booked!”
- “Finally, Guwahati gets big matches – Northeast cricket is rising!”
