IPL 2026 kicks off: first 15 days schedule announced; RCB to face SRH in opening match
IPL 2026 schedule for the first 15 days announced by BCCI. The opening match on March 28 will see Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru.
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The long wait for cricket fans has finally ended as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the schedule for the first 15 days of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The blockbuster opening match of the tournament will be played on March 28 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru.
For now, the board has released the match schedule only from March 28 to April 12.
Full schedule delayed due to state elections
One major reason behind not releasing the complete schedule at once is the upcoming assembly elections in four major states — Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam. The election dates are expected to be announced in April.
Keeping security arrangements and smooth conduct of matches in mind, the BCCI has decided to release the remaining IPL schedule only after the election dates become clear.
When your favourite teams will play
All 10 teams will feature in the first 15 days of the tournament. Five-time champions Mumbai Indians will take on Kolkata Knight Riders at their home ground on March 29. Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings will play their first match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30.
Punjab Kings will face Gujarat Titans at their home ground in Mullanpur on March 31, while Lucknow Super Giants will clash with Delhi Capitals in Lucknow on April 1.
To double the excitement for cricket fans, two “double-header” matchdays (two matches in one day) have been scheduled on April 4 and April 5.
Cricket carnival across 10 venues
In the first phase of IPL 2026, matches will be played across 10 different venues in the country. Within the first five days, all 10 teams will play their opening matches. The second round of matches will begin from April 2.
During this 15-day period, Kolkata and Guwahati will host the maximum number of matches, with three games each, while the remaining venues will host two matches each.