IPL 2026 Schedule First Phase Fixtures: All 20 Matches, Dates and Venues Confirmed
The IPL 2026 first phase schedule is confirmed with 20 matches across 10 franchises starting March 28 — and RCB face SRH, not CSK, in the season opener.
Bookmark the complete IPL 2026 match schedule for live updates, venue info, and timings as the tournament gets underway.
IPL 2026 First Phase: Full Match List
Here are all 20 confirmed fixtures for the opening phase of the tournament:
| Match | Date | Day | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 Mar | Sat | RCB vs SRH | Bengaluru |
| 2 | 29 Mar | Sun | MI vs KKR | Mumbai |
| 3 | 30 Mar | Mon | RR vs CSK | Guwahati |
| 4 | 31 Mar | Tue | PBKS vs GT | Mullanpur |
| 5 | 01 Apr | Wed | LSG vs DC | Lucknow |
| 6 | 02 Apr | Thu | KKR vs SRH | Kolkata |
| 7 | 03 Apr | Fri | CSK vs PBKS | Chennai |
| 8 | 04 Apr | Sat | DC vs MI | Delhi |
| 9 | 04 Apr | Sat | GT vs RR | Ahmedabad |
| 10 | 05 Apr | Sun | SRH vs LSG | Hyderabad |
| 11 | 05 Apr | Sun | RCB vs CSK | Bengaluru |
| 12 | 06 Apr | Mon | KKR vs PBKS | Kolkata |
| 13 | 07 Apr | Tue | RR vs MI | Guwahati |
| 14 | 08 Apr | Wed | DC vs GT | Delhi |
| 15 | 09 Apr | Thu | KKR vs LSG | Kolkata |
| 16 | 10 Apr | Fri | RR vs RCB | Guwahati |
| 17 | 11 Apr | Sat | PBKS vs SRH | Mullanpur |
| 18 | 11 Apr | Sat | CSK vs DC | Chennai |
| 19 | 12 Apr | Sun | LSG vs GT | Lucknow |
| 20 | 12 Apr | Sun | MI vs RCB | Mumbai |
Opening Match Confirmed: RCB vs SRH at Chinnaswamy on March 28
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru host Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 season opener at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, March 28. Earlier speculation pointed to RCB vs CSK as the curtain-raiser, but the official schedule has confirmed SRH as the opening day opponents.
This is actually a fascinating tactical contest. RCB defending their title against SRH, arguably the most explosive batting side in the competition. Travis Head vs Virat Kohli on a flat Bengaluru track on day one of the season — it doesn’t get better than that.
Key Opening Match Dates for Every Franchise
Every team’s first game of IPL 2026 at a glance:
| Team | Opening Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCB | vs SRH | 28 Mar | Bengaluru |
| MI | vs KKR | 29 Mar | Mumbai |
| RR | vs CSK | 30 Mar | Guwahati |
| PBKS | vs GT | 31 Mar | Mullanpur |
| LSG | vs DC | 01 Apr | Lucknow |
| KKR | vs SRH | 02 Apr | Kolkata |
| CSK | vs PBKS | 03 Apr | Chennai |
| DC | vs MI | 04 Apr | Delhi |
| GT | vs RR | 04 Apr | Ahmedabad |
| SRH | vs LSG | 05 Apr | Hyderabad |
Marquee Clashes to Watch in Phase One
Beyond the opener, the first 20 matches pack in multiple massive fixtures that could define the entire season:
RCB vs CSK on April 5 at Bengaluru is the match everyone was expecting on opening day. Defending champions vs five-time winners, Chinnaswamy full to capacity. This is going to be one of the most watched matches of the entire tournament regardless of when it falls.
MI vs RCB on April 12 at Wankhede is a blockbuster closing fixture for Phase 1. Rohit Sharma vs Virat Kohli at the Wankhede is historic IPL rivalry cricket at its absolute peak.
RR vs MI on April 7 at Guwahati will be fascinating — Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi up against the MI pace attack in a neutral venue.
Finalists Start Separately — RCB and PBKS Don’t Meet Early
One notable scheduling decision is that last season’s two finalists, RCB and Punjab Kings, do not face each other in the first phase. They open against different opponents in separate cities on different dates.
PBKS begin against Gujarat Titans on March 31 at their Mullanpur home ground. They only played for the title last season and arrive with serious hunger to go one better in IPL 2026. Check out IPL 2026 team-by-team squad details to see how both finalists have built their rosters this time.
Key Pre-Season Dates to Know
Two important events are happening before the tournament begins:
- March 15: IPL 2026 captains’ photoshoot in New Delhi
- March 25: BCCI captains and coaches meeting in Mumbai, where potential rule changes and operational updates for the new season will be discussed
The March 25 meeting is particularly important. Any Impact Player rule amendments, DRS tweaks, or structural changes will come from that session. Stay across all announcements through the latest IPL 2026 news feed.
Double-Header Days and Scheduling Highlights
The Phase 1 schedule includes three double-header Saturdays and Sundays — April 4, 5, 11, and 12 all feature two matches on the same day. That means back-to-back IPL cricket across four days in a row as the tournament reaches its first peak of intensity.
For fans planning to watch every match, the IPL 2026 live streaming guide covers all broadcast platforms, regional availability, and how to catch both matches on double-header days without missing a ball.
The second phase of the schedule covering matches 21 onwards will be announced separately by BCCI once Phase 1 gets underway.
FAQs
Q: When does IPL 2026 start? IPL 2026 begins on Saturday, March 28, 2026 with RCB vs SRH at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Q: Who plays in the IPL 2026 opening match? Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the confirmed season opener, not CSK as earlier speculated.
Q: How many matches are in IPL 2026 Phase 1? The first phase covers 20 matches from March 28 to April 12, 2026.
Q: When do CSK play their first IPL 2026 match? Chennai Super Kings open their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 in Guwahati.
Q: When is the RCB vs CSK match in IPL 2026? RCB vs CSK is scheduled for April 5, 2026 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Q: What happens at the BCCI captains meeting on March 25? The BCCI holds its annual captains and coaches meeting in Mumbai on March 25 to discuss rule changes and operational updates for IPL 2026 before the season starts.
