IPL 2026 opening rivalries guide: the first 20 fixtures, in order
The first 20 IPL 2026 fixtures are front-loaded with repeat heavyweight clashes, and the earliest run says it all: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28, Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29, and Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings on March 30. That is the first wave of marquee games, with the schedule already leaning into rivalry-heavy matchups from the start.
The opening 20 confirmed fixtures run from March 28 to April 12, 2026, and the rhythm is packed with double-header days on April 4 and April 11. Instead of easing in, the block keeps returning to headline fixtures fast, which is why the early weeks already feel stacked.
| Match No. | Date | Time (IST) | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 28, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 2 | March 29, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 3 | March 30, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| 4 | March 31, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| 5 | April 1, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| 6 | April 2, 2026 | 3:30 PM IST | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 7 | April 2, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 8 | April 3, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali |
| 9 | April 4, 2026 | 3:30 PM IST | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| 10 | April 4, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 11 | April 5, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 12 | April 6, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 13 | April 7, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| 14 | April 8, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| 15 | April 9, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| 16 | April 10, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| 17 | April 11, 2026 | 3:30 PM IST | Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 18 | April 11, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders | IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali |
| 19 | April 12, 2026 | 3:30 PM IST | Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 20 | April 12, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
Rivalry tracker: when the big fixtures land
| Fixture | Date | Venue | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCB vs SRH | March 28, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | Match 1 sets the tone for the opening block. |
| MI vs KKR | March 29, 2026 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Match 2 lands immediately after the opener, so the heavyweight feel starts right away. |
| RR vs CSK | March 30, 2026 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | Match 3 keeps the early sequence moving with another headline clash. |
| KKR vs SRH | April 2, 2026 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | The first April 2 fixture adds another rivalry-style checkpoint in the opening run. |
| DC vs MI | April 4, 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | One half of the April 4 double-header, giving the block another big fixture day. |
| GT vs RR | April 4, 2026 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | The second April 4 match keeps the same day loaded with another high-profile meeting. |
| RCB vs CSK | April 5, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | Match 11 brings one of the league’s most watched fixtures into the first fortnight. |
| RR vs MI | April 7, 2026 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | Match 13 keeps the repeat heavyweight pattern moving through the middle of the block. |
| RR vs RCB | April 10, 2026 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | Match 16 circles back to another major fixture before the final double-header day. |
| MI vs RCB | April 12, 2026 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Match 20 closes the block with another Mumbai heavyweight clash. |
What the opening 20 say about the schedule
The pattern is clear from the first three matches: RCB vs SRH opens the season, MI vs KKR follows immediately, and RR vs CSK arrives next. That is not a slow build; it is a fast push into rivalry-led fixtures.
The tempo stays high through April 2, April 4, April 5, April 7, April 10, and April 12. With two double-header days and several repeat heavyweight matchups packed into the same stretch, the opening block keeps returning to the same high-interest fixtures instead of spreading them out.
By the time Match 20 arrives in Mumbai, the first 20 games have already moved through Bengaluru, Mumbai, Jaipur, Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and back again to the biggest meeting points. That clustering is the story of the opening fortnight: the rivalry fixtures come early, come often, and keep the schedule moving at a sharp pace.