The wait is finally over for cricket fans! The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the schedule for the first phase of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
In what has become a tradition, the tournament will be headlined by the defending champions in the season opener. Lotus365 Blue Following their historic maiden title win in 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will host Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28 to ignite the 19th edition of the world's premier T20 league.
The "Two-Phase" Strategy
Due to upcoming State Assembly elections in several regions—including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam—the BCCI has released a partial schedule consisting of the first 20 matches. This initial phase runs from March 28 to April 12, 2026. The remainder of the 84-match season will be announced once the Election Commission of India confirms the polling dates.
Key Highlights of Phase 1
The Opener: RCB vs SRH in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28.
Heavyweight Clash: Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, March 29.
Double Headers: The first phase features four double-header days. Afternoon matches will start at 3:30 PM IST, and evening matches at 7:30 PM IST.
Secondary Venues: Rajasthan Royals will begin their home campaign in Guwahati, while Punjab Kings will play their early fixtures at the new PCA Stadium in Mullanpur (New Chandigarh).
TATA IPL 2026 Phase 1 Schedule (First 20 Matches)
Match | Date | Fixture | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mar 28 | RCB vs SRH | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
2 | Mar 29 | MI vs KKR | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
3 | Mar 30 | RR vs CSK | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
4 | Mar 31 | PBKS vs GT | Mullanpur | 7:30 PM |
5 | Apr 1 | LSG vs DC | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
6 | Apr 2 | KKR vs SRH | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
7 | Apr 3 | CSK vs PBKS | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
8 | Apr 4 | DC vs MI | Delhi | 3:30 PM |
9 | Apr 4 | GT vs RR | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
10 | Apr 5 | SRH vs LSG | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
11 | Apr 5 | RCB vs CSK | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
12 | Apr 6 | KKR vs PBKS | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
13 | Apr 7 | RR vs MI | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
14 | Apr 8 | DC vs GT | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
15 | Apr 9 | KKR vs LSG | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
16 | Apr 10 | RR vs RCB | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
17 | Apr 11 | PBKS vs SRH | Mullanpur | 3:30 PM |
18 | Apr 11 | CSK vs DC | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
19 | Apr 12 | LSG vs GT | Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
20 | Apr 12 | MI vs RCB | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Venue Watch
The BCCI has confirmed 10 venues for the first phase: Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. Interestingly, RCB's home matches at the Chinnaswamy are subject to final clearance from an Expert Committee following last year’s victory celebrations. Additionally, some teams will move to secondary homes later in the season, such as RCB playing in Raipur and PBKS in Dharamshala.
What’s Next?
Fans can expect the second phase of the schedule to be announced by late March or early April. With a record 84 matches planned for this season, the stakes are higher than ever.
Stay tuned for more updates on squad news, injury reports, and the full schedule reveal!
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