The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revealed the dates for the initial phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, set to run from March 28 to April 12, 2026. Due to upcoming State Assembly elections in three states, the complete tournament schedule will be disclosed after the election dates are confirmed.
The 19th season of the IPL will kick off with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. A total of 20 matches will be spread across 10 venues, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, and others.
During this phase, the IPL will feature four double-header matches, with afternoon games starting at 03:30 PM IST and evening matches at 07:30 PM IST. Following the opening match, Mumbai Indians will clash with Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
On April 4, 2026, the first double-header of the season will see Delhi Capitals against Mumbai Indians in Delhi, followed by Gujarat Titans facing Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad. Teams like Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will have multiple home matches in different cities.
BCCI has also mentioned that the matches planned in Bengaluru are contingent on approval from the Expert Committee appointed by the Government of Karnataka. An inspection and mock demonstration of match-day arrangements at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium are scheduled for March 13, 2026.
