IPL 2026 opening day guide: RCB vs SRH confirmed for March 28 in Bengaluru
The IPL 2026 opening day guide is now confirmed: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad opens the season on March 28, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. This is the first fixture in a confirmed opening stretch that runs through April 1.
Match 1 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Date | Sat Mar 28 |
| Time IST | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
Confirmed opening stretch
| Match | Date | Time IST | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | Sat Mar 28 | 7:30 PM IST | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Match 2 | Sun Mar 29 | 7:30 PM IST | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Match 3 | Mon Mar 30 | 7:30 PM IST | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Match 4 | Tue Mar 31 | 7:30 PM IST | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali |
| Match 5 | Wed Apr 1 | 7:30 PM IST | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
The schedule is confirmed for the first five matches, and the opening run covers March 28 to April 1. Every game in that stretch starts at 7:30 PM IST, making it a clean quick-reference thread for the season’s first five nights.
Quick confirmed facts
- The IPL 2026 season opens on March 28, 2026.
- The opener is a blockbuster opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru.
- The opening match starts at 7:30 PM IST.
- The venue for Match 1 is M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
- The first five fixtures are the only confirmed matches listed here.