IPL 2026 opening day schedule and first match guide
The first half of the IPL 2026 schedule is out, and it opens on Saturday, 28 March 2026 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at 7:30 PM IST at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The full season has 84 matches scheduled, but this guide stays focused on the opening fixture and the confirmed first block of games.
At a glance
- Season opener: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on 28 March 2026 at 7:30 PM IST in Bengaluru
- First double-header Saturday: 4 April 2026
- Second double-header Sunday: 5 April 2026
- Confirmed block ends: 12 April 2026, with Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru at 7:30 PM IST in Mumbai
Opening-day callout
| Match | Date | Time IST | Venue | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 28 Mar 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | Season opener |
IPL 2026 opening block schedule
The confirmed opening block runs from 28 March to 12 April and covers Matches 1-20.
| Match No. | Date | Day | Time IST | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 Mar 2026 | Sat | 7:30 PM IST | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 2 | 29 Mar 2026 | Sun | 7:30 PM IST | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 3 | 30 Mar 2026 | Mon | 7:30 PM IST | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| 4 | 31 Mar 2026 | Tue | 7:30 PM IST | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali |
| 5 | 1 Apr 2026 | Wed | 7:30 PM IST | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| 6 | 2 Apr 2026 | Thu | 7:30 PM IST | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 7 | 3 Apr 2026 | Fri | 7:30 PM IST | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 8 | 4 Apr 2026 | Sat | 3:30 PM IST | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Delhi |
| 9 | 4 Apr 2026 | Sat | 7:30 PM IST | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Ahmedabad |
| 10 | 5 Apr 2026 | Sun | 3:30 PM IST | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Hyderabad |
| 11 | 5 Apr 2026 | Sun | 7:30 PM IST | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru |
| 12 | 6 Apr 2026 | Mon | 7:30 PM IST | Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Mohali |
| 13 | 7 Apr 2026 | Tue | 7:30 PM IST | Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals | Delhi |
| 14 | 8 Apr 2026 | Wed | 7:30 PM IST | Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians | Chennai |
| 15 | 9 Apr 2026 | Thu | 7:30 PM IST | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans | Hyderabad |
| 16 | 10 Apr 2026 | Fri | 7:30 PM IST | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Kolkata |
| 17 | 11 Apr 2026 | Sat | 7:30 PM IST | Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants | Jaipur |
| 18 | 12 Apr 2026 | Sun | 3:30 PM IST | Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Delhi |
| 19 | 12 Apr 2026 | Sun | 7:30 PM IST | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata |
| 20 | 12 Apr 2026 | Sun | 7:30 PM IST | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
Opening block by date
28 March: The season starts with Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at 7:30 PM IST in Bengaluru. It is the opening match of IPL 2026.
29 March to 3 April: The first run of single fixtures continues with Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai, Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings in Jaipur, Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans in Mohali, Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals in Lucknow, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Kolkata, and Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings in Chennai. All six are scheduled for 7:30 PM IST.
4-5 April: The first double-header Saturday is 4 April, with Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians at 3:30 PM IST in Delhi, followed by Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals at 7:30 PM IST in Ahmedabad. The second double-header Sunday is 5 April, with Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants at 3:30 PM IST in Hyderabad, then Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings at 7:30 PM IST in Bengaluru.
Through 12 April: The confirmed opening block then continues through the rest of the first 20 matches, ending with Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 12 April 2026 at 7:30 PM IST at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.