IPL 2026 week 2 schedule analysis: eight matches, four straight night starts, then two double-header days
IPL 2026 week 2 runs from April 7 to April 12, 2026 and packs in eight scheduled matches. The shape is simple but important: the first four days are all 7:30 PM starts, then April 11 and April 12 become double-header days, and the week ends right before the April 13 phase-2 block.
Full IPL 2026 week 2 schedule table
| Date | Match No. | Fixture | Time IST | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Apr 7 | 13 | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur |
| Wed, Apr 8 | 14 | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 PM | Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi |
| Thu, Apr 9 | 15 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | 7:30 PM | Eden Gardens | Kolkata |
| Fri, Apr 10 | 16 | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur |
| Sat, Apr 11 | 17 | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 3:30 PM | IS Bindra Stadium | Mohali |
| Sat, Apr 11 | 18 | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai |
| Sun, Apr 12 | 19 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | 3:30 PM | Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow |
| Sun, Apr 12 | 20 | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai |
Week-at-a-glance
| Date | Number of matches | Start time pattern | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 7 | 1 | 7:30 PM | Single evening fixture |
| Apr 8 | 1 | 7:30 PM | Single evening fixture |
| Apr 9 | 1 | 7:30 PM | Single evening fixture |
| Apr 10 | 1 | 7:30 PM | Single evening fixture |
| Apr 11 | 2 | 3:30 PM, 7:30 PM | Double-header day |
| Apr 12 | 2 | 3:30 PM, 7:30 PM | Double-header day and bridge to Apr 13 |
What the schedule flow tells you
The first clear pattern in IPL 2026 week 2 schedule analysis is the tempo split. Four straight days sit in the same 7:30 PM slot, which keeps the early part of the week clean and easy to follow before the schedule tightens at the weekend.
The second pattern is the only afternoon window in the week. PBKS vs SRH on April 11 and LSG vs GT on April 12 are the lone 3:30 PM fixtures, so the double-header pressure is concentrated entirely on the back half of the week.
That makes the final two days the real hinge point. April 11 and April 12 combine for four matches in 48 hours, and the Sunday night game in Mumbai closes the week just before the April 13 phase-2 schedule begins.
Venue pattern across week 2
The venue map is tidy and easy to scan. Jaipur hosts two week-2 matches for Rajasthan Royals, while Delhi, Kolkata, Mohali, Chennai, Lucknow, and Mumbai each host one game.
That split matters because it shows how the week is distributed before the weekend squeeze. The first four matches are spread across four different cities, then the schedule compresses into two double-header days that finish the block and hand over to the next phase.
Quick read on the back half of the week
The back half is where the schedule becomes most compact. From Saturday afternoon in Mohali to Sunday night in Mumbai, the calendar moves through four fixtures without a break in the weekend rhythm.
For a fast scan, the key points are straightforward: eight matches, four straight evening starts to open the week, two double-header days on April 11 and April 12, and a clean handoff into April 13. That is the main shape of the week, and it is what makes the final weekend the most important stretch in the fixture flow.