The BCCI has announced the IPL 2026 schedule, starting March 28 with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing Sunrisers Hyderabad at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This 19th edition features 10 teams battling in 84 matches across India, expanding from last year’s 74, in a double round-robin format leading to playoffs.
Key Dates
League stage runs from March 28 to May 24, with playoffs kicking off May 26—Qualifier 1 in Bengaluru, Eliminator in Mullanpur, Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad, and the grand final on May 31 back in Bengaluru. Matches mostly start at 7:30 PM IST, with weekend double-headers at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
Opening Fixtures
- March 28: RCB vs SRH, Bengaluru (7:30 PM)
- March 29: MI vs KKR, Mumbai (7:30 PM)
- March 30: RR vs CSK, Guwahati (7:30 PM)
- March 31: PBKS vs GT, Mullanpur (7:30 PM)
The first phase covers initial days amid state elections, with full details to follow.
Teams and Venues
Ten franchises compete: RCB, MI, CSK, KKR, RR, PBKS, GT, DC, SRH, LSG. Iconic venues include Wankhede (Mumbai), Eden Gardens (Kolkata), Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), and Chinnaswamy (Bengaluru).
| Team | Home Venue | Captain (Notable) |
|---|
Fans gear up for high-stakes action, auctions, and rivalries in this marathon TATA IPL season.
