IPL 2026 opening week by the numbers: 515 million reach, 26% growth, 11 confirmed matches
IPL 2026 opening weekend reaches 515 million across all platforms and registers 26% growth. Those are the headline numbers, and they map neatly onto the first-week fixture load: 11 confirmed matches from March 28 to April 5, 2026.
The opening week is set up like a score thread in real time. It starts with five straight evening games, then shifts into two double-header days to close the opening block.
Opening week schedule
| Match | Date | Time (IST) | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Match 2 | Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Match 3 | Monday, March 30, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Match 4 | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali |
| Match 5 | Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Match 6 | Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Match 7 | Friday, April 3, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Match 8 | Saturday, April 4, 2026 | 3:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Match 9 | Saturday, April 4, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Match 10 | Sunday, April 5, 2026 | 3:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| Match 11 | Sunday, April 5, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
Opening weekend numbers box
| Metric | Figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Opening weekend reach | 515 million | Record reach across all platforms |
| Opening weekend growth | 26% | Growth registered during the opening weekend |
By the numbers
- 11 confirmed matches are locked into the opening-week window from March 28 to April 5, 2026.
- 10 venues appear across the first week: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Wankhede Stadium, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, IS Bindra Stadium, Ekana Cricket Stadium, Eden Gardens, M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Narendra Modi Stadium, and Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
- The only afternoon starts are the 3:30 PM IST fixtures on April 4 and April 5.
- The rest of the opening week is a clean run of five straight 7:30 PM IST starts from March 28 to April 3.
- The fixture mix gives repeat appearances to RCB, CSK, SRH, LSG, DC, KKR, RR, MI, PBKS and GT.
- Bengaluru appears twice in the opening week, while Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad each host fixtures listed in the two double-header days.
Score-thread recap
The opening stretch sets the tone with five straight evening games. It begins in Bengaluru with Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 7:30 PM at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, then moves through Mumbai, Jaipur, Mohali and Lucknow on consecutive nights.
That first run continues into Kolkata and Chennai before the calendar flips to the closing spike. By the end of Friday, April 3, the week has already delivered a steady sequence of 7:30 PM starts and a clear repeat cycle across RCB, CSK, SRH, LSG, DC, KKR, RR, MI, PBKS and GT.
The final two days bring the only afternoon starts of the opening week. On Saturday, April 4, Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians begins at 3:30 PM at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, followed by Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals at 7:30 PM at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Then comes the last swing on Sunday, April 5. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants starts at 3:30 PM at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, and the opening week closes with Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings at 7:30 PM at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.