The IPL 2026 Carnival is Finally Here!
The excitement around the Indian Premier League 2026 has officially begun. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the much-anticipated IPL 2026 schedule, marking the start of the 19th edition of the world’s most popular T20 cricket league.
This season promises to be bigger and more thrilling than ever before, with a total of 84 matches scheduled across multiple iconic venues in India. The tournament will begin on March 28, 2026, where the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Fans can expect packed stadiums, electrifying rivalries, and outstanding performances from some of the biggest stars in international cricket.
Because of upcoming state assembly elections in several regions, the tournament schedule will be announced in multiple phases. The first phase features the opening 20 exciting matches, including weekend double-headers, classic rivalries, and several high-profile clashes between top teams.
IPL 2026 Phase 1: Complete Match Schedule (March 28 – April 12)
Below is the official fixture list for the first phase of IPL 2026. Evening matches will start at 7:30 PM IST, while afternoon matches during double-header days will begin at 3:30 PM IST.
| Match No. | Date | Match (Home vs Away) | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 28 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 2 | March 29 | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 3 | March 30 | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 4 | March 31 | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | Mullanpur | 7:30 PM |
| 5 | April 1 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 6 | April 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 7 | April 3 | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 8 | April 4 | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Delhi | 3:30 PM |
| 9 | April 4 | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 10 | April 5 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| 11 | April 5 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 12 | April 6 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | April 7 | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | April 8 | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | April 9 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 16 | April 10 | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 17 | April 11 | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Mullanpur | 3:30 PM |
| 18 | April 11 | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 19 | April 12 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
| 20 | April 12 | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Important Highlights for IPL Fans
The first phase of IPL 2026 includes matches at several major cricket venues across India. Notably, Guwahati will serve as the secondary home ground for Rajasthan Royals, while Mullanpur will host home games for Punjab Kings.
Cricket fans should also mark their calendars for the grand finale of the tournament. The IPL 2026 Final is scheduled to take place on May 31, 2026 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Additional fixtures for the remaining phases of the tournament will be announced soon.
Stay tuned for more updates, match previews, team analysis, and breaking IPL news as the biggest T20 cricket tournament in the world unfolds.
