IPL 2026 opening match time and venue: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
The IPL 2026 opening match time and venue are set for Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Match 1 is the first game of IPL 2026 and sits at the top of the officially released fixture list.
Opening IPL 2026 fixtures
| Match No. | Date | Time IST | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 2 | Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 3 | Monday, March 30, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| 4 | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali |
| 5 | Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| 6 | Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 7 | Friday, April 3, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
The opening seven fixtures run from March 28 to April 3, all at 7:30 PM IST, with venues confirmed across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Jaipur, Mohali, Lucknow, Kolkata, and Chennai.