The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the schedule for the first phase of IPL 2026 on Wednesday, March 11. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match of the 19th season at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28.
The IPL Governing Council has announced the schedule for the first phase of the IPL only, which will run from March 28 to April 12. A total of 20 matches will be played during this phase, including four double-match days. Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam will dictate the rest of the cash-rich T20 tournament schedule.
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However, the tournament will stick to its format and keep the same number of matches, with a total of 74 matches scheduled for the season.
The opening weekend promises sensational action as Mumbai Indians take on Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, March 29, while Rajasthan Royals host Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on Monday, March 30.
IPL 2026 SCHEDULE: MARCH 28 TO APRIL 12
Saturday March 28 – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Bengaluru
Sunday March 29 – Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Mumbai
Monday March 30 – Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings – Guwahati
Tuesday March 31 – Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans – Mullanpur
Wednesday April 1 – Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals – Lucknow
Thursday April 2 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Kolkata
Friday 3rd April – Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings – Chennai
Saturday April 4 – Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians – Delhi
Saturday 4th April – Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals – Ahmedabad
Sunday 5th April – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants – Hyderabad
Sunday 5th April – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings – Bengaluru
Monday, April 6 – Kolkata Knight Riders Vs. Punjab Kings – Kolkata
Tuesday, April 7 – Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians – Guwahati
Wednesday April 8 – Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans – Delhi
Thursday April 9 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants – Kolkata
Friday April 10 – Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Guwahati
Saturday 11th April – Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Mullanpur
Saturday 11th April – Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals – Chennai
Sunday 12th April – Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans – Lucknow
Sunday, April 12 – Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Mumbai
HOW MANY DOUBLE ENROLLMENTS IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS?
A total of 20 matches will be spread over the first 16 days. There are a total of 12 single-header days and four double-header days in the first phase of IPL 2026.
This is not the first time that the IPL board has released the schedule of the T20 tournament in phases. Even in 2024, when India was heading for general elections, the plan was being released in phases.
WILL M CHINNASWAMY STADIUM HOST MATCHES?
Yes. According to the defending champions, the iconic stadium in Bengaluru will host five of their home matches, while the Shaheed Veer Narayan Stadium in Raipur will host the remaining two matches.
However, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium is also said to host the play-off and final match.
The return of the stadium follows a suspension of almost a year following the tragic stampede at last year’s title celebrations, which had previously pushed the venue away from major events such as the Women’s World Cup and the T20 World Cup.
While the Karnataka Cabinet has given conditional approval for the return of matches to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the final green light depends on an expert review committee headed by Greater Bengaluru Authority Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao.
The decision came after the submission of a report by Justice Cunha, which outlined a number of immediate, medium and long-term recommendations aimed at ensuring the safety of spectators at the venue.
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium was earlier expected to host the Ranji Trophy final between Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir in February, but it was shifted to Hubballi due to security work at the venue. With a strict capacity limit of 35,000 and multi-departmental supervision now in place, cricket will return to the Chinnaswamy Stadium under heightened scrutiny and enhanced security protocols.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
11 March 2026 19:14 IST
