IPL 2026 Phase 1 Schedule: All 20 Fixtures Announced

The wait is over. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially released the IPL 2026 Phase 1 schedule on March 11, 2026 — covering the first 20 matches of TATA IPL Season 19 from March 28 to April 12 across 10 venues. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the tournament opener at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on March 28.

The full schedule for the rest of the tournament will be announced separately once the Election Commission confirms voting dates for the assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam.

For team squads and player details, see our IPL 2026 Teams and Squads page. For the live standings once the tournament starts, see our IPL 2026 Points Table page.

IPL 2026 Phase 1 Schedule — All 20 Fixtures

⚠️ Last Updated: March 12, 2026. All timings are IST. All evening matches start at 7:30 PM IST. Double-header afternoon matches start at 3:30 PM IST.

Phase 1 Schedule — Key Highlights

🏟 10 venues — Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad

📅 20 matches — March 28 to April 12

📅 4 double-header days — April 4, April 5, April 10 and April 11

🔥 Biggest opener — RCB vs SRH, March 28, Bengaluru

🔥 Biggest early fixture — RCB vs CSK, April 5, Bengaluru

🔥 Most anticipated fixture — MI vs RCB, April 12, Mumbai (defending champions in Mumbai)

🏏 Sanju Samson's CSK debut — March 30, Guwahati vs RR (his old team)

🔄 Jadeja's RR debut — March 30, Guwahati vs CSK (his old team)

Match 1 Preview — RCB vs SRH, March 28, Bengaluru

The IPL 2026 season could not have a more fitting opening fixture. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru host Sunrisers Hyderabad — the team with the most explosive batting lineup in T20 cricket — at a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28.

RCB — Defending Champions with a Point to Prove

RCB enter IPL 2026 as defending champions for the first time in their 18-year history. Under captain Rajat Patidar, they have Virat Kohli — who was not part of India's T20 World Cup squad and will be absolutely hungry to perform — leading a batting lineup that also includes Phil Salt, Tim David and Jitesh Sharma.

Their bowling attack, which was the real reason they won in 2025, remains intact. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are back, alongside Rasikh Salam and Yash Dayal. On their home ground with a roaring crowd behind them, RCB will be incredibly difficult to beat.

SRH — The Most Dangerous Batting Team in the Tournament

Sunrisers Hyderabad have Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen — arguably the most destructive T20 opening partnership in the world right now. In IPL 2024, SRH set the all-time IPL record with a score of 277/3 against MI. They will not be intimidated by Chinnaswamy or the RCB crowd.

Pat Cummins as captain and strike bowler gives them genuine match-winning ability with the ball. Liam Livingstone, Abhishek Sharma (fresh from his T20 World Cup Final fifty) and Nitish Kumar Reddy add serious batting depth.

Head to Head — RCB vs SRH

📊 Total IPL matches played — 30

🔴 RCB wins — 13

🟠 SRH wins — 17

📅 Last meeting — IPL 2025 (SRH won)

🏟 At Chinnaswamy — RCB hold the advantage at home

RCB vs SRH Match Prediction

SRH's explosive batting makes them dangerous on any ground, but the Chinnaswamy crowd, Kohli's motivation after missing the World Cup, and RCB's quality bowling attack tips the balance slightly in favour of the home side. Expect a high-scoring thriller — this ground produces big totals consistently.

Prediction: RCB win by 15–20 runs in a 200+ game.

Match 3 Spotlight — The Sanju Samson Homecoming

The most emotionally charged fixture of Phase 1 is not the opener — it is Match 3 on March 30 in Guwahati. Sanju Samson, the T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Tournament, makes his CSK debut against Rajasthan Royals — the franchise he captained for five years.

Ravindra Jadeja also makes his RR debut in the same match, returning to the franchise where his IPL career began back in 2008. On the other side, Jadeja will be facing Chennai Super Kings — the team he left in the trade. Two players, two homecomings, one match. March 30 in Guwahati is going to be electric.

The 10 Venues in IPL 2026 Phase 1

🏟 M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru — RCB home, capacity 33,000, high-scoring ground

🏟 Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai — MI home, capacity 33,000, pace-friendly surface

🏟 Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati — RR second home, capacity 40,000, flat batting pitch

🏟 Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh — PBKS home, capacity 30,000, new ground favours batters

🏟 BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow — LSG home, capacity 50,000, spin-friendly conditions

🏟 Eden Gardens, Kolkata — KKR home, capacity 68,000, India's second largest stadium

🏟 MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai — CSK home, capacity 38,000, spin-friendly slow surface

🏟 Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi — DC home, capacity 35,000, pace and bounce friendly

🏟 Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad — GT home, capacity 132,000, largest cricket stadium in the world

🏟 Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad — SRH home, capacity 55,000, flat high-scoring surface

IPL 2026 Phase 1 — Top 5 Must-Watch Fixtures

1. RCB vs SRH — Match 1, March 28, Bengaluru

Season opener. Defending champions vs the most explosive batting team. Virat Kohli's first competitive match since missing the T20 World Cup. The Chinnaswamy crowd will be deafening.

2. RR vs CSK — Match 3, March 30, Guwahati

Sanju Samson's CSK debut vs his former team RR. Ravindra Jadeja's RR debut vs his former team CSK. The most story-driven match of Phase 1 by far.

3. RCB vs CSK — Match 11, April 5, Bengaluru

Two of the most popular teams in the IPL, both with title-winning pedigree, in the same stadium. Virat Kohli vs MS Dhoni. The biggest attendance of Phase 1.

4. MI vs KKR — Match 2, March 29, Mumbai

Five-time champions MI hosting three-time champions KKR. Bumrah and Cummins — wait, Cummins is SRH — but Bumrah vs Cameron Green is the matchup of the tournament. Wankhede will be rocking.

5. MI vs RCB — Match 20, April 12, Mumbai

The final match of Phase 1 and potentially the biggest. Mumbai Indians vs defending champions RCB at Wankhede. Both teams will be fighting for top-4 position by this point. Four World Cup Final heroes in the MI lineup against Virat Kohli and RCB.

RR Captain Update — Riyan Parag Leads in Phase 1

One important update from our earlier Teams article — Rajasthan Royals have named Riyan Parag as their permanent captain for IPL 2026, not Yashasvi Jaiswal as we had listed earlier. The change came after Sanju Samson's trade to CSK. Parag was selected after a detailed process led by head coach Kumar Sangakkara, who joined RR after Rahul Dravid's departure following the 2025 season.

Parag previously captained RR in 8 matches during IPL 2025 when Samson was injured, winning 2. He scored a career-best 95 against KKR at Eden Gardens during that stint. At 24 years old, he becomes one of the youngest permanent captains in IPL history.

For the complete updated RR squad and all 10 team squads, see our IPL 2026 Teams and Squads page.

IPL 2026 Phase 1 Schedule — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first match of IPL 2026?

The first match of IPL 2026 is Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28, 2026 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru at 7:30 PM IST.

When is the first double header of IPL 2026?

The first double header of IPL 2026 is on April 4, 2026 — Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians at 3:30 PM IST and Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals at 7:30 PM IST.

How many matches are in IPL 2026 Phase 1?

IPL 2026 Phase 1 covers 20 matches from March 28 to April 12, 2026 across 10 venues.

When will the full IPL 2026 schedule be announced?

The full IPL 2026 schedule — Phase 2 onwards — will be announced once the Election Commission of India confirms voting dates for the assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam.

Where does Sanju Samson play his first match for CSK?

Sanju Samson plays his first match for Chennai Super Kings on March 30, 2026 against Rajasthan Royals at Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati — his first game against his former team.

Where does Ravindra Jadeja play his first IPL 2026 match?

Ravindra Jadeja plays his first match for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 on March 30, 2026 against Chennai Super Kings at Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati.

Who is the Rajasthan Royals captain in IPL 2026?

Riyan Parag is the captain of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. He was officially appointed after Sanju Samson's trade to Chennai Super Kings.

IPL 2026 is 16 days away and the fixtures are finally here. Bookmark this page for Phase 2 fixtures as soon as they are announced. Follow live standings from March 28 on our IPL 2026 Points Table page — updated after every match throughout the season.