The wait is finally over for cricket fans! The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the schedule for the first phase of the TATA IPL 2026.
Due to the upcoming State Assembly elections in three Indian states, the BCCI has opted for a phased rollout of the fixtures. The initial schedule covers the first 16 days of the tournament, featuring 20 high-octane matches across 10 iconic venues.
The Grand Opener: Champions vs. Challengers
In keeping with tradition, the 19th edition of the IPL will commence with the defending champions in action. Lotus365 Blue Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), coming off their historic title win last season, will host the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Key Highlights of Phase 1
Duration: March 28 to April 12, 2026.
Total Matches: 20 games.
Double Headers: The first phase will feature four double-header days (Saturdays and Sundays), with afternoon matches starting at 3:30 PM IST and evening games at 7:30 PM IST.
New Venues & Home Bases: * Rajasthan Royals (RR) will begin their campaign with home matches at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, bringing the IPL fever to the Northeast.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) will play their early home fixtures at the brand-new PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are scheduled to play home matches in Bengaluru, though the BCCI noted these are subject to final local government clearance following an inspection on March 13.
TATA IPL 2026: Phase 1 Match List
Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
Mar 28 (Sat) | RCB vs SRH | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
Mar 29 (Sun) | MI vs KKR | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Mar 30 (Mon) | RR vs CSK | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
Mar 31 (Tue) | PBKS vs GT | Mullanpur | 7:30 PM |
Apr 1 (Wed) | LSG vs DC | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
Apr 2 (Thu) | KKR vs SRH | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
Apr 3 (Fri) | CSK vs PBKS | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
Apr 4 (Sat) | DC vs MI | Delhi | 3:30 PM |
Apr 4 (Sat) | GT vs RR | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
Apr 5 (Sun) | SRH vs LSG | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
Apr 5 (Sun) | RCB vs CSK | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
Apr 6 (Mon) | KKR vs PBKS | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
Apr 7 (Tue) | RR vs MI | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
Apr 8 (Wed) | DC vs GT | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
Apr 9 (Thu) | KKR vs LSG | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
Apr 10 (Fri) | RR vs RCB | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
Apr 11 (Sat) | PBKS vs SRH | Mullanpur | 3:30 PM |
Apr 11 (Sat) | CSK vs DC | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
Apr 12 (Sun) | LSG vs GT | Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
Apr 12 (Sun) | MI vs RCB | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Rivalries to Watch Out For
Fans won't have to wait long for the "Southern Derby" as RCB takes on CSK on April 5 in Bengaluru. Additionally, the first phase concludes with a massive clash between the two most successful franchises in IPL history—Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium on April 12.
What’s Next?
The BCCI will announce the schedule for the remaining matches (Phase 2) once the Election Commission of India finalizes the poll dates for the respective states.
Stay tuned for more updates, squad news, and expert analysis as we approach the biggest T20 carnival on the planet!
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