IPL 2026 Full Schedule, Match Dates & Key Fixtures

A detailed guide for FANS | Teams, Dates, Venues & Highlights

News4Bharat 26 March 2026 at 10:18 AM

IPL 2026 Full Schedule, Match Dates & Key Fixtures

The much-awaited TATA IPL 2026 is set to return with high-octane cricket action, featuring 10 teams battling across India in what promises to be one of the most competitive seasons yet.

The tournament will run from March 28 to May 31, 2026, with a total of 84 matches, including league games and playoffs.

Opening Match and Early Fixtures

The opening match of IPL 2026 will be a clash between:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

The first week will also witness key encounters such as:

Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans
Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants

These early matches are expected to set the tone for the rest of the season.

IPL 2026 Teams List

A total of 10 franchises will compete this season:

Mumbai Indians (MI)
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

IPL 2026 Venues

Matches will be played across major cricket venues in India, including:

Mumbai
Delhi
Chennai
Bengaluru
Ahmedabad
Lucknow
Hyderabad
Kolkata

These venues will host both league-stage matches and key knockout fixtures.

Tournament Format

IPL 2026 will follow a double round-robin format, where each team plays multiple matches before the top four qualify for playoffs.

The playoff structure includes:

Qualifier 1
Eliminator
Qualifier 2
Final

What Makes IPL 2026 Special?

Expanded season with 84 matches
More double-header weekends for fans
Increased competition among evenly matched teams
High fan engagement with nationwide venue

MATCH LIST (PHASE 1: March 28 – April 12, 2026)

Match 1

Date: 28 Mar (Sat)
Match: RCB vs SRH
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Bengaluru

Match 2

Date: 29 Mar (Sun)
Match: MI vs KKR
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Mumbai

Match 3

Date: 30 Mar (Mon)
Match: RR vs CSK
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Guwahati

Match 4

Date: 31 Mar (Tue)
Match: PBKS vs GT
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Mullanpur

Match 5

Date: 1 Apr (Wed)
Match: LSG vs DC
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Lucknow

Match 6

Date: 2 Apr (Thu)
Match: KKR vs SRH
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Kolkata

Match 7

Date: 3 Apr (Fri)
Match: CSK vs PBKS
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Chennai

Double Header – 4 April

Match 8

DC vs MI
3:30 PM – Delhi

Match 9

GT vs RR
7:30 PM – Ahmedabad

Double Header – 5 April

Match 10

SRH vs LSG
3:30 PM – Hyderabad

Match 11

RCB vs CSK
7:30 PM – Bengaluru

Match 12

Date: 6 Apr
Match: KKR vs PBKS
Venue: Kolkata

Match 13

Date: 7 Apr
Match: RR vs MI
Venue: Guwahati

Match 14

Date: 8 Apr
Match: DC vs GT
Venue: Delhi

Match 15

Date: 9 Apr
Match: KKR vs LSG
Venue: Kolkata

Match 16

Date: 10 Apr
Match: RR vs RCB
Venue: Guwahati

Double Header – 11 April

Match 17

PBKS vs SRH
3:30 PM – Mullanpur

Match 18

CSK vs DC
7:30 PM – Chennai

Double Header – 12 April

Match 19

LSG vs GT
3:30 PM – Lucknow

Match 20

MI vs RCB
7:30 PM – Mumbai

With the IPL 2026 schedule now announced, excitement among cricket fans has reached a new high. From the opening match to the grand finale, the tournament promises edge-of-the-seat action, star performances, and unforgettable moments.

Fans are advised to keep track of match dates, team fixtures, and venue details to stay updated throughout the season.

Stay tuned to News4Bharat for live updates, match results, player performances, and exclusive IPL 2026 coverage.