The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the schedule for the first phase of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The opening phase of the tournament will take place from March 28 to April 12, 2026.
The complete schedule for the remaining matches will be released later, as several states in India will be conducting State Assembly elections during this period.
IPL 2026 Opening Match
The 19th edition of the world’s most popular T20 cricket league will begin with the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The opening match will be played at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, promising an exciting start to the tournament.
Total Matches and Venues
During the first phase of IPL 2026, a total of 20 matches will be played across 10 major cricket venues in India.
The host cities for these matches include:
- Bengaluru
- Mumbai
- Guwahati
- New Chandigarh
- Lucknow
- Kolkata
- Chennai
- Delhi
- Ahmedabad
- Hyderabad
Double-Headers and Match Timings
The first phase will feature four double-header match days, where fans can enjoy two matches in a single day.
- Afternoon matches: 03:30 PM IST
- Evening matches: 07:30 PM IST
The first double-header of the season will take place on April 4, 2026. In the afternoon game, Delhi Capitals will face Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Later in the evening, Gujarat Titans will take on Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Key Fixtures and Home Venues
The second match of the tournament will feature Mumbai Indians playing against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Some teams will use multiple home venues during the IPL 2026 season:
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five home matches in Bengaluru and two matches in Raipur.
- Punjab Kings will host four matches in New Chandigarh and three matches in Dharamshala.
- Rajasthan Royals will play three home games in Guwahati and four matches in Jaipur.
IPL 2026 First Phase Overview
The first phase of IPL 2026 promises thrilling action with top teams battling across India’s biggest cricket stadiums. Fans can expect intense rivalries, electrifying performances, and packed stadiums as the tournament begins its journey toward another memorable season.
