IPL 2026 first week schedule analysis: March 28 to April 5 fixture table and calendar read
The IPL 2026 first week schedule analysis is a schedule analysis, not a preview or results piece. The confirmed opening stretch runs from Sat Mar 28 to Sun Apr 5, 2026, with 11 matches across 9 days and two double-header days at the end of the week.
IPL 2026 first-week schedule by date, time and venue
| Date | Day | Time (IST) | Match | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2026 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru |
| Mar 29, 2026 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur |
| Mar 31, 2026 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | IS Bindra Stadium | Mohali |
| Apr 1, 2026 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow |
| Apr 2, 2026 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Eden Gardens | Kolkata |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai |
| Apr 4, 2026 | Sat | 3:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi |
| Apr 4, 2026 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad |
| Apr 5, 2026 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium | Hyderabad |
| Apr 5, 2026 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru |
How the first week is arranged
The opening stretch is laid out in a clean rhythm: one match per day from Mar 28 to Apr 3, followed by two double-header days on Apr 4 and Apr 5. That means the schedule stays simple through the first seven dates before compressing into a busier closing weekend.
The marquee fixtures are spread across the week rather than stacked. MI vs KKR arrives on the first Sunday, RR vs CSK follows on Monday, while DC vs MI and RCB vs CSK are reserved for the two double-header days, giving the final weekend the heaviest concentration of headline games.
Double-header days at a glance
| Date | Afternoon Match | Evening Match | Venue(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 2026 | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Delhi, Ahmedabad |
| Apr 5, 2026 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | Hyderabad, Bengaluru |
Quick calendar read
The first-week footprint covers Bengaluru, Mumbai, Jaipur, Mohali, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. That gives the opening phase a wide city spread, with no single venue cluster dominating the early schedule.
The key pattern is straightforward: a steady daily build, then a sharper finish with the only two double-header days of the week. For readers tracking the opening block, this is a fixture-led view of how IPL 2026 begins rather than a match-by-match preview.