The upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is set to begin with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The opening game will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28.
This fixture will mark the beginning of RCB’s title defence in front of their home crowd.
Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians are scheduled to start their season on March 29. They will take on the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
At the same time, Chennai Super Kings will begin their campaign against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati, setting up an early clash between two prominent teams in the league.
Organisers have released the fixtures for the first twenty matches of the tournament. The schedule for the remaining games is expected to be announced later.
The opening phase will feature several exciting encounters as teams attempt to gain early momentum in their journey towards the playoffs.
Last season’s runners-up, Punjab Kings, are set to begin their campaign against the Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur. In another fixture, Lucknow Super Giants will host Delhi Capitals in Lucknow on April 1.
These matches will form part of the early schedule of the tournament.
High-Profile Games in Early Phase
One of the major clashes in the first phase will see Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru on April 5.
Another highly anticipated match will feature the Mumbai Indians hosting the RCB at the Wankhede Stadium on April 12.
Both fixtures are expected to attract significant attention from cricket fans.
The schedule also includes several double-header days, with two matches scheduled on April 4, April 5, April 11 and April 12. These dates will offer fans multiple matches on the same day.
During the opening phase, teams will play matches across several cities in India. These venues include Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mullanpur.
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