Daijiworld Media Network – Mumabi
Mumbai, Mar 11: The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday announced the schedule for the first phase of the Indian Premier League 2026, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru set to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match.
The curtain-raiser of the 19th season will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28. The IPL governing council has released the schedule only for the first phase of the tournament, which will run until April 12.
A total of 20 matches, including four double-header days, will be played during this phase. The remainder of the schedule will be announced after the dates for the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam are finalised.
“As three states are scheduled to undergo State Assembly elections during this period, the full schedule of the tournament will be announced once the poll dates are declared,” the IPL said in a statement. However, the tournament will retain its format with a total of 74 matches scheduled for the season.
The opening weekend promises high-voltage clashes. Mumbai Indians will face Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29, while Rajasthan Royals will host Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on March 30.
The first phase will feature matches across 10 venues — Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
A total of 20 matches will be played across 16 days, including 12 single-header days and four double-header days.
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium is also set to host five home games for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while their remaining two home matches will be held at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium.
The Bengaluru stadium is also expected to host a playoff match and the tournament final. Its return to major cricket events follows a nearly year-long suspension after the stampede during last year’s title celebrations, which had kept the venue out of tournaments such as the Women’s World Cup and the T20 World Cup.
The Karnataka Cabinet has given conditional approval for matches to resume at the stadium, subject to clearance by an expert review committee led by Greater Bengaluru Authority commissioner M Maheshwar Rao.
The decision followed the submission of the Justice John Michael Cunha report, which recommended several safety measures to ensure spectator security at the venue.
With a revised spectator cap of 35,000 and enhanced safety protocols, cricket is set to return to the stadium under stricter monitoring.
Meanwhile, three franchises will have multiple home venues this season. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur, Punjab Kings will host four games in New Chandigarh and three in Dharamshala, while Rajasthan Royals will play three matches in Guwahati and four in Jaipur.