Update: IPL 2026 Phase 1 Schedule Announced (March 12, 2026)
The BCCI has officially released the fixtures for the first phase of IPL 2026, covering the opening 20 matches from March 28 to April 12, 2026. This includes the tournament opener featuring defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on March 28 at 7:30 PM IST.
The full season runs from March 28 to the final on May 31, 2026, but the remaining league matches (post-April 12), playoffs, and any adjustments will be announced later—likely after finalizing dates for assembly elections in states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam to avoid venue conflicts.
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League kicks off on March 28, 2026, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) set to host the opener at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After finally breaking their 18-year title drought in 2025, RCB are chasing history with a repeat win.
This season promises fireworks: 10 teams, a record 84 matches (double round-robin league + playoffs), high-stakes rivalries, and explosive T20 action across India. The final is locked in for May 31, 2026, also at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium.
IPL 2026 First 20 Matches – Official Schedule
| Match No | Date | Day | Teams (Home vs Away) | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 28, 2026 | Sat | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 2 | March 29, 2026 | Sun | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 3 | March 30, 2026 | Mon | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Guwahati (Venue TBC/ACA-VDCA?) | 7:30 PM |
| 4 | March 31, 2026 | Tue | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | New PCA Stadium, Mullanpur | 7:30 PM |
| 5 | April 1, 2026 | Wed | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 6 | April 2, 2026 | Thu | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 7 | April 3, 2026 | Fri | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 8 | April 4, 2026 | Sat | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Delhi (Double-header afternoon) | 3:30 PM |
| 9 | April 4, 2026 | Sat | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 10 | April 5, 2026 | Sun | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| 11 | April 5, 2026 | Sun | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 12 | April 6, 2026 | Mon | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | April 7, 2026 | Tue | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Guwahati? | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | April 8, 2026 | Wed | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | April 9, 2026 | Thu | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 16 | April 10, 2026 | Fri | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Jaipur/Guwahati? | 7:30 PM |
| 17 | April 11, 2026 | Sat | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Mullanpur | 3:30 PM |
| 18 | April 11, 2026 | Sat | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 19 | April 12, 2026 | Sun | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
| 20 | April 12, 2026 | Sun | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Notes:
- All evening matches start at 7:30 PM IST unless noted (double-headers on weekends: afternoon at 3:30 PM).
- Venues for some matches (e.g., RR home games in Guwahati) are as per announcements; confirm via official sources if needed.
- Download the official PDF from iplt20.com for the latest version.
This phase features exciting early clashes, including MI vs KKR (March 29), RR vs CSK (March 30), and multiple double-headers starting April 4–5 and 11–12.
IPL 2026 Key Dates & Overview
- Start Date: March 28, 2026
- Opening Match: March 28, 2026 – RCB vs (likely Punjab Kings or another strong side) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (evening start expected, 7:30 PM IST)
- League Stage Ends: Around May 24, 2026
- Playoffs Begin: May 26, 2026
- Final: May 31, 2026 – Qualifier 1 winner vs Qualifier 2/Eliminator winner at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Total Matches: 84 (74 league + playoffs)
- Format: Double round-robin (each team plays 14 league games), top 4 advance to playoffs
- Venues: Spread across 10+ cities including Bengaluru (opener & final), Mumbai (Wankhede), Chennai (Chepauk), Kolkata (Eden Gardens), Ahmedabad, Delhi, etc. RCB hosts 5 home games at Chinnaswamy + 2 in Raipur.
Where to Watch IPL 2026 in India
Catch every match live without missing a ball—here’s the official broadcast setup for IPL 2026:
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network (official TV partner)
- Channels: Star Sports 1 (HD/SD), Star Sports 1 Hindi (HD/SD), Star Sports 2, plus regional feeds like Star Sports Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, etc.
- Expect multi-language commentary and highlights coverage across Star Sports channels.
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar (the merged JioCinema + Disney+ Hotstar platform)
- Available on: JioHotstar app (mobile/tablet), website, smart TVs, and connected devices.
- Features: Live matches, highlights, replays, multiple camera angles, and regional language options (Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, etc.).
- Note: Streaming requires a JioHotstar subscription (plans vary; check for IPL-specific packs). No free streaming for all matches this season.
- Other Options: Official IPL website/app for live scores, commentary, and updates. For international viewers, check local broadcasters (rights vary by country).
IPL 2026 Teams & Captains
All 10 franchises return with fresh energy post-auction. Here’s the lineup:
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Delhi Capitals (DC) – Captain: Axar Patel
- Gujarat Titans (GT) – Captain: Shubman Gill
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – Captain: Ajinkya Rahane
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Captain: Rishabh Pant
- Mumbai Indians (MI) – Captain: Hardik Pandya
- Punjab Kings (PBKS) – Captain: Shreyas Iyer
- Rajasthan Royals (RR) – Captain: Riyan Parag
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) – Captain: Rajat Patidar (defending champions!)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – Captain: Pat Cummins
RCB enters as favorites with momentum—will their core hold up for back-to-back glory?
What’s Next? Remaining IPL 2026 Schedule
The BCCI will release the second phase of fixtures (remaining league matches and playoffs) in due course, once election dates in poll-bound states are finalized to avoid any disruptions. The tournament concludes with Qualifier 1 and the final in Bengaluru on May 31, 2026.
Our predictions for winners, top performers, and must-watch games remain unchanged for now—but the early fixtures give us more to analyze (e.g., RCB’s strong home start in the opener). Bookmark this page for updates!
IPL 2026 Predictions: Who Wins? Orange Cap, Purple Cap & Playoffs
Early betting odds and form analysis make this season wide open. Here’s my breakdown:
Current Winner Odds (from top bookies):
- Mumbai Indians: ~9/2 to 5.50
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: ~6/1 to 5.50
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: ~5.50
- Gujarat Titans / Punjab Kings: ~7/1 to 8/1
Our Bold Predictions:
- Winner: Mumbai Indians – They edge it in the final vs RCB. MI’s knockout experience, Jasprit Bumrah’s death bowling, and Hardik Pandya’s all-round leadership make them the safest bet.
- Playoff Teams: MI, RCB, SRH, GT (or PBKS sneaking in).
- Orange Cap (Most Runs): Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) or Shubman Gill (GT).
- Purple Cap (Most Wickets): Jasprit Bumrah (MI).
- Dark Horse: SRH – Multiple 300+ totals possible.
Must-Watch Matches & Early Season Buzz
- RCB’s opener and home games—electric Chinnaswamy crowd.
- High-scoring thrillers from SRH and GT.
- Classic clashes: MI-CSK, RCB-PBKS.
With T20 evolving fast, expect records to tumble.
Final Thoughts: Get Ready for IPL 2026 Action!
IPL 2026 is shaping up to be epic—defending champs RCB vs the MI juggernaut, with fireworks from every team. Who’s your pick to lift the trophy? Drop your predictions in the comments below—RCB repeat or MI dominance?
Bookmark this page for fixture updates, live streaming info, and more analysis. Share with fellow fans!
(Last updated: March 12, 2026 – Fixtures and broadcast details subject to official BCCI/JioHotstar/Star Sports announcements.)
