The Indian Premier League (IPL) has announced the tournament's schedule for the 19th edition of the tournament, where defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the opening clash of the cash-rich league.
CSK, MI, PBKS opener clashes
Chennai Super Kings will open their IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati, giving fans an exciting early clash between two of the league’s most popular teams.
The fixtures for the first 20 matches have already been released, with the rest of the schedule expected to follow soon. The opening phase promises some thrilling encounters as teams aim to gain early momentum on their path to the playoffs.
Punjab Kings, who finished as runners-up last season, will start their season against Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur. Lucknow Super Giants will host Delhi Capitals in Lucknow on April 1. Other key early matchups include Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru on April 5, and Mumbai Indians facing RCB in Mumbai on April 12.
IPL 2026 schedule
| Match No. | Date | Weekday | Kick-Off | Home Team | Away Team | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28/03/26 | Sat | Evening | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru |
| 2 | 29/03/26 | Sun | Evening | Mumbai Indians | Kolkata Knight Riders | Mumbai |
| 3 | 30/03/26 | Mon | Evening | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | Guwahati |
| 4 | 31/03/26 | Tue | Evening | Punjab Kings | Gujarat Titans | Mullanpur |
| 5 | 01/04/26 | Wed | Evening | Lucknow Super Giants | Delhi Capitals | Lucknow |
| 6 | 02/04/26 | Thu | Evening | Kolkata Knight Riders | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Kolkata |
| 7 | 03/04/26 | Fri | Evening | Chennai Super Kings | Punjab Kings | Chennai |
| 8 | 04/04/26 | Sat | Afternoon | Delhi Capitals | Mumbai Indians | Delhi |
| 9 | 04/04/26 | Sat | Evening | Gujarat Titans | Rajasthan Royals | Ahmedabad |
| 10 | 05/04/26 | Sun | Afternoon | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Lucknow Super Giants | Hyderabad |
| 11 | 05/04/26 | Sun | Evening | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru |
| 12 | 06/04/26 | Mon | Evening | Kolkata Knight Riders | Punjab Kings | Kolkata |
| 13 | 07/04/26 | Tue | Evening | Rajasthan Royals | Mumbai Indians | Guwahati |
| 14 | 08/04/26 | Wed | Evening | Delhi Capitals | Gujarat Titans | Delhi |
| 15 | 09/04/26 | Thu | Evening | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata |
| 16 | 10/04/26 | Fri | Evening | Rajasthan Royals | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Guwahati |
| 17 | 11/04/26 | Sat | Afternoon | Punjab Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Mullanpur |
| 18 | 11/04/26 | Sat | Evening | Chennai Super Kings | Delhi Capitals | Chennai |
| 19 | 12/04/26 | Sun | Afternoon | Lucknow Super Giants | Gujarat Titans | Lucknow |
| 20 | 12/04/26 | Sun | Evening | Mumbai Indians | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai |
IPL 2026 will also feature double-header days on April 4, 5, 11, and 12, giving fans the chance to enjoy two matches in a single day. During the opening phase, teams will travel to cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mullanpur.