IPL 2026 Schedule Announced: Start Date, First Match, Venues and Full Details of the Biggest Indian Premier League Season
IPL 2026 Schedule Released: Confirmed Start Date and Phase 1 Match Details
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is officially set to begin on March 28, 2026. This season is already making history as the biggest edition yet, featuring a total of 84 matches. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now confirmed the fixtures for the first phase of the tournament.
Official Opening Match: RCB vs SRH
In a thrilling start to the season, the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the opening game. The match will take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28, 2026. This settles earlier speculations and confirms that fans will see a repeat of high-intensity southern rivalry to kick off the league.
Why the Schedule is in Two Phases
The BCCI has released the schedule in two parts due to the Assembly Elections scheduled in five Indian states, including Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. To ensure smooth logistics and security, the board has initially announced 20 matches to be played over 16 days. This first phase includes four exciting double-header weekends.
The remaining schedule will be finalized once the Election Commission of India announces the official polling dates. This traditional approach ensures that the "cricket festival" continues without any security concerns.
Major Highlights: Sanju Samson in CSK Yellow
One of the most significant updates for this season is the arrival of T20 World Cup hero Sanju Samson at Chennai Super Kings (CSK). CSK will begin their 2026 campaign on March 30 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati. All eyes will be on Samson as he dons the yellow jersey for the first time in his career.
Tournament Overview and Playoff Venues
The 2026 season will follow a full double round-robin format, giving every team an equal opportunity to reach the top four. While the league matches are spread across the country, the final leg of the tournament is expected to return to Bengaluru.
- Total League Matches: 80
- Playoff Matches: 4
- Qualifier 1 & Final Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (Subject to safety clearance)
- Eliminator & Qualifier 2: Expected to be held in Ahmedabad and Raipur.
IPL 2026 Confirmed Teams and Captains
The league continues with 10 powerful franchises. Here is the updated leadership lineup for the 2026 season:
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Virat Kohli / Rajat Patidar
- Mumbai Indians (MI): Hardik Pandya
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Pat Cummins
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Ajinkya Rahane
- Gujarat Titans (GT): Shubman Gill
- Rajasthan Royals (RR): Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): Rishabh Pant
- Delhi Capitals (DC): Axar Patel
- Punjab Kings (PBKS): Shreyas Iyer
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect the official BCCI announcement made on March 11, 2026. For ball-by-ball updates and live scorecards, keep visiting rewariyasat.com.
Aaryan Puneet Dwivedi
Aaryan Puneet Dwivedi is a senior editor and an experienced journalist who has been active in the news industry since 2013. He has extensive experience covering and editing news across multiple fields, including politics, national and international affairs, sports, technology, business, and social issues. He is a state-level accredited journalist recognized by the Madhya Pradesh government. Known for his in-depth understanding of news and current affairs, he focuses on delivering accurate, reliable, and reader-friendly information across all major news categories.