IPL 2026: First 20 Matches Schedule Announced By BCCI. The 2026 Indian Premier League will begin on March 28, 2026, in Bengaluru. Ten teams will compete for the prestigious IPL trophy this season. The opening match will feature Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The match will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The tournament will continue until May 31, 2026, with a total of 74 matches scheduled. Matches will be played across major cricket venues in India.
The second match will see Mumbai Indians face Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai. Rajasthan Royals will meet Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on March 30. Punjab Kings will start their campaign against Gujarat Titans in Mullapur. Lucknow Super Giants will host Delhi Capitals in Lucknow on April 1. Several exciting double-headers appear in the early schedule. April 4 features the Delhi Capitals against the Mumbai Indians in Delhi. Later that day, the Gujarat Titans play the Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad.
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Another double-header is scheduled on April 5. Sunrisers Hyderabad will face Lucknow Super Giants in Hyderabad. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will host Chennai Super Kings later that evening. Kolkata Knight Riders will play multiple home matches at Eden Gardens. They will face Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants there.
Rajasthan Royals will play their early home matches in Guwahati. They will meet Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The first phase ends on April 12 with two matches. Lucknow Super Giants will face Gujarat Titans in Lucknow. Mumbai Indians will host Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Mumbai.
IPL 2026 First 20 Matches Schedule
| Match No. | Date | Day | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 Mar 2026 | Sat | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru |
| 2 | 29 Mar 2026 | Sun | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Mumbai |
| 3 | 30 Mar 2026 | Mon | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Guwahati |
| 4 | 31 Mar 2026 | Tue | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | Mullapur |
| 5 | 01 Apr 2026 | Wed | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Lucknow |
| 6 | 02 Apr 2026 | Thu | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Kolkata |
| 7 | 03 Apr 2026 | Fri | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | Chennai |
| 8 | 04 Apr 2026 | Sat | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Delhi |
| 9 | 04 Apr 2026 | Sat | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Ahmedabad |
| 10 | 05 Apr 2026 | Sun | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Hyderabad |
| 11 | 05 Apr 2026 | Sun | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru |
| 12 | 06 Apr 2026 | Mon | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Kolkata |
| 13 | 07 Apr 2026 | Tue | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Guwahati |
| 14 | 08 Apr 2026 | Wed | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | Delhi |
| 15 | 09 Apr 2026 | Thu | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata |
| 16 | 10 Apr 2026 | Fri | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Guwahati |
| 17 | 11 Apr 2026 | Sat | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Mullapur |
| 18 | 11 Apr 2026 | Sat | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | Chennai |
| 19 | 12 Apr 2026 | Sun | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | Lucknow |
| 20 | 12 Apr 2026 | Sun | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai |
Also Read: BCCI Announces ₹131 Crore Reward For Team India After T20 World Cup 2026 Triumph
The early fixtures promise thrilling contests and strong rivalries. Fans are excited as IPL returns with packed stadiums and high-quality cricket.