IPL 2026 opening week storylines: 20-match tracker, dates, times and venues
IPL 2026 opening week storylines start here: this is a quick-reference score-thread for the first 20 fixtures from March 28 to April 12, 2026, with the opener and every match listed for fast mobile scanning. The season begins with a blockbuster opener — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28, 2026 at 7:30 PM IST at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
The opening block also brings a spread of major venues and repeat appearances across the league’s biggest names. ESPN India’s line about “new venues, big trades, and the million dollar Thala question” sits in the background only; the focus here is the fixture flow.
| Match No. | Date | Time (IST) | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | March 28, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Match 2 | March 29, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Match 3 | March 30, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Match 4 | March 31, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali |
| Match 5 | April 1, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Match 6 | April 2, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Match 7 | April 3, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Match 8 | April 4, 2026 | 3:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Match 9 | April 4, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Match 10 | April 5, 2026 | 3:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| Match 11 | April 5, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Match 12 | April 6, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Match 13 | April 7, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Match 14 | April 8, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Match 15 | April 9, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Match 16 | April 10, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Match 17 | April 11, 2026 | 3:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali |
| Match 18 | April 11, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Match 19 | April 12, 2026 | 3:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Match 20 | April 12, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
Opening-week tracker: date by date
- March 28: The opening thread starts in Bengaluru with RCB vs SRH and the confirmed blockbuster opener.
- March 29: MI vs KKR moves the tracker to Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai for the first follow-up night game.
- March 30: RR vs CSK brings an early heavyweight fixture to Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.
- March 31: PBKS vs GT keeps the first week rolling under lights at IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali.
- April 1: LSG vs DC opens the new month in Lucknow with another evening slot.
- April 2: KKR vs SRH lands at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, adding another prime-time stop.
- April 3: CSK vs PBKS is the lone fixture of the day at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
- April 4: The first double-header begins with DC vs MI in Delhi, followed by GT vs RR in Ahmedabad.
- April 5: The second double-header pairs SRH vs LSG in Hyderabad with RCB vs CSK in Bengaluru.
- April 6: KKR vs PBKS returns the action to Eden Gardens for a standalone evening match.
- April 7: RR vs MI takes the tracker back to Jaipur for another night fixture.
- April 8: DC vs GT headlines the evening at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
- April 9: KKR vs LSG gives Eden Gardens another prime-time slot.
- April 10: RR vs RCB closes the build-up to the final double-header stretch in Jaipur.
- April 11: The third double-header features PBKS vs SRH in Mohali and CSK vs DC in Chennai.
- April 12: The opening block ends with LSG vs GT in Lucknow and MI vs RCB at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Fixtures to circle
| Fixture | Date | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|
| RCB vs SRH | March 28, 2026 | Blockbuster opener and Match 1 of the season |
| DC vs MI | April 4, 2026 | First double-header day begins with the afternoon match |
| RCB vs CSK | April 5, 2026 | First big night clash on the second double-header day |
| PBKS vs SRH | April 11, 2026 | Double-header day opener in Mohali |
| MI vs RCB | April 12, 2026 | Final match of the opening block at Wankhede |
Opening-week picture at a glance
The first 20 matches run from March 28 to April 12, 2026 and feature a strong mix of home venues and headline stadiums, including M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Wankhede Stadium, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Eden Gardens, M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Narendra Modi Stadium, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, IS Bindra Stadium and Ekana Cricket Stadium.
The opening stretch also includes four double-header dates — April 4, April 5, April 11 and April 12 — which makes the early calendar easy to track as a 20-match run. For readers following IPL 2026 opening week storylines, the key markers are clear: a blockbuster opener, repeated marquee venues, and a packed finish through April 12.