Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will open the Indian Premier League 2026 season against Sunrisers Hyderabad at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28, marking RCB’s seventh IPL opener appearance.

Schedule Released in Two Phases

The BCCI unveiled the schedule for Phase 1 of IPL 2026 on Wednesday, comprising 20 matches through April 12. The remainder will be finalized after election dates are announced for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam.

Since 2008, IPL schedules have been announced in phases during general or state assembly elections to coordinate with democratic processes.

Opening Weekend Fixtures

Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders clash at Wankhede Stadium on March 29. Rajasthan Royals host Chennai Super Kings on March 30 in Guwahati, where Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja face their former franchises following the off-season trade involving Sam Curran.

The following weekends feature double-headers on Saturday and Sunday. RCB face Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru on April 5, while Mumbai Indians host RCB on April 12.

Stadium Safety Clearance

Matches at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium require clearance from a Karnataka government expert committee following a June 2025 stampede during RCB’s victory celebrations that claimed 11 lives.

The committee will inspect the stadium on March 13, 2026, conducting a full-scale mock demonstration of match-day arrangements to assess preparedness. The venue has been cleared but awaits final approval.

Historical Context

This is the second RCB-SRH opener; they previously met in 2017 when SRH were defending champions. For SRH, this is their second IPL opener appearance; for RCB, their seventh. All ten teams play four games in Phase 1.

Multiple Home Grounds

Rajasthan Royals will play three Phase 1 home matches in Guwahati before moving to Jaipur for their remaining four fixtures. Punjab Kings will play four home games in Mullanpur and three in Dharamsala. RCB will play two home games in Raipur, while Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will play two home matches each at their primary venues during Phase 1.

Tournament Structure

Every IPL season with ten teams features two virtual groups, with each team meeting teams in their own group twice and opposite group teams once during the league stage.

Election Coordination

The phased schedule reflects coordination with election authorities in states hosting IPL teams. Security deployment must be split between election duties and match-day requirements. The complete schedule will be announced once election dates are finalized.

Complete Phase 1 Schedule

Match	Date	Day	Home Team	Away Team	City
1	28/03/26	Sat	Royal Challengers Bengaluru	Sunrisers Hyderabad	Bengaluru
2	29/03/26	Sun	Mumbai Indians	Kolkata Knight Riders	Mumbai
3	30/03/26	Mon	Rajasthan Royals	Chennai Super Kings	Guwahati
4	31/03/26	Tue	Punjab Kings	Gujarat Titans	Mullanpur
5	01/04/26	Wed	Lucknow Super Giants	Delhi Capitals	Lucknow
6	02/04/26	Thu	Kolkata Knight Riders	Sunrisers Hyderabad	Kolkata
7	03/04/26	Fri	Chennai Super Kings	Punjab Kings	Chennai
8	04/04/26	Sat	Delhi Capitals	Mumbai Indians	Delhi
9	04/04/26	Sat	Gujarat Titans	Rajasthan Royals	Ahmedabad
10	05/04/26	Sun	Sunrisers Hyderabad	Lucknow Super Giants	Hyderabad
11	05/04/26	Sun	Royal Challengers Bengaluru	Chennai Super Kings	Bengaluru
12	06/04/26	Mon	Kolkata Knight Riders	Punjab Kings	Kolkata
13	07/04/26	Tue	Rajasthan Royals	Mumbai Indians	Guwahati
14	08/04/26	Wed	Delhi Capitals	Gujarat Titans	Delhi
15	09/04/26	Thu	Kolkata Knight Riders	Lucknow Super Giants	Kolkata
16	10/04/26	Fri	Rajasthan Royals	Royal Challengers Bengaluru	Guwahati
17	11/04/26	Sat	Punjab Kings	Sunrisers Hyderabad	Mullanpur
18	11/04/26	Sat	Chennai Super Kings	Delhi Capitals	Chennai
19	12/04/26	Sun	Lucknow Super Giants	Gujarat Titans	Lucknow
20	12/04/26	Sun	Mumbai Indians	Royal Challengers Bengaluru	Mumbai

Looking Ahead

RCB will look to become the first team to successfully defend their title since Chennai Super Kings. The complete schedule will be announced following election date declarations. With RCB opening against SRH and marquee weekend matchups, IPL 2026 promises to captivate cricket fans worldwide.

FAQs

When does IPL 2026 start?

IPL 2026 begins on March 28, 2026, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Why is the IPL 2026 schedule released in two phases?

Due to upcoming elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam, requiring coordination with election authorities before finalizing the complete schedule.

How many matches are in IPL 2026 Phase 1?

Phase 1 comprises 20 matches from March 28 through April 12, with all ten teams playing four games each.

Where will Rajasthan Royals play their home matches?

Rajasthan Royals will play three home matches in Guwahati during Phase 1, then move to Jaipur for their remaining four home fixtures.

Is the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium cleared to host IPL matches?

The Karnataka government has cleared the venue, but matches remain subject to final approval from an expert committee conducting a safety inspection on March 13, 2026.