The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to start with an exciting opening week. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the season opener at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28.
MI will face KKR in their opener clash
The next day, five-time champions Mumbai Indians will start their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings will take on Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati, giving fans an early blockbuster clash between two of the league’s most popular teams.
According to The Indian Express, the fixtures for the first 20 matches of the season have been released, with the rest of the schedule expected later. The opening phase promises some thrilling matches as teams look to build early momentum on their way to the playoffs.
Who will PBKS face?
Last season’s runners-up, Punjab Kings, will begin their season against Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur, while Lucknow Super Giants will host Delhi Capitals in Lucknow on April 1. Other key early games include Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru on April 5 and Mumbai Indians facing Bengaluru in Mumbai on April 12.
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IPL 2026 double headers
There will also be double-header days on April 4, April 5, April 11, and April 12, giving fans two matches to enjoy on those dates. Teams will travel to cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mullanpur during the opening phase.
The full first-phase schedule of IPL 2026 will be officially unveiled on Wednesday at 7:00 PM IST on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar.