The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the schedule for the first phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, with the tournament set to begin on March 28 at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The opening match will feature defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Only the fixtures from March 28 to April 12 have been announced so far. The remaining schedule will be released later, once election dates in several Indian states are finalized, as these could affect venue availability.
During the first phase, RCB will play four matches. After the opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad, they will host Chennai Super Kings on April 5, then face Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on April 10, and travel to Mumbai to play Mumbai Indians on April 12.
Other notable early fixtures include Mumbai Indians starting their campaign at home against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29, while Chennai Super Kings will face Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30.
Matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium are pending approval from a Karnataka government-appointed expert committee. The panel will inspect the venue and conduct a full mock match-day simulation to ensure safety and readiness for IPL games.
The IPL 2026 will feature ten teams competing across multiple cities in India, with the season expected to run until May 31, culminating in the final. Cricket fans are already gearing up for a high-octane season of T20 action, with RCB’s home opener drawing significant attention.
