IPL 2026 Schedule: Full Fixture List, Start Date, Teams, and Key Matches — Official Announcement Released

The BCCI officially released the IPL 2026 schedule on Wednesday, March 11, with the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League kicking off on March 28 and the final scheduled for May 31. The announcement, delayed by several weeks due to state assembly elections, confirms an expanded 84-match tournament across a full double round-robin format.

IPL 2026 Start Date, Final Date, and Format

The 19th Indian Premier League cricket season runs from March 28 to May 31, 2026. The tournament will reportedly feature a total of 84 matches — 10 more than last season. All ten teams will face each other twice in a double round-robin format. The top four teams will move to the playoff stage featuring four matches, with the top two sides facing off in Qualifier 1 with the winner directly progressing to the final.

The BCCI announced the schedule on March 11. The announcement was delayed owing to the tournament's clash with assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu. The expanded fixture list gives every team a fairer path to the playoffs and more marquee matchups per venue.

IPL 2026 Opening Match: RCB vs SRH on March 28

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be up against two-time winners Sunrisers Hyderabad in the tournament opener on March 28. It is a blockbuster first fixture that sets the tone for what promises to be the biggest IPL season in history.

One of the reasons behind the delayed schedule announcement was the uncertainty over the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has not hosted any top-flight cricket since the tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's 2025 victory parade, which claimed 11 lives and left several injured. However, the Karnataka state government has now given the go-ahead for Chinnaswamy to host IPL and international cricket once again.

IPL 2026 Teams: All 10 Franchises Confirmed

All ten franchises return for IPL 2026. The ten teams are Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants.

A pre-season trade saw Ravindra Jadeja join Rajasthan Royals from CSK with Sanju Samson — Player of the Tournament in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026 — moving the other way to Chennai Super Kings. Riyan Parag will lead Rajasthan Royals full-time after captaining them previously in IPL 2025.

IPL 2026 Key Matches to Watch in the First Phase

Three matches stand out from the first 20 fixtures of the IPL 2026 season. The first is the tournament opener between defending champions RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The second is a high-voltage clash featuring Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders — a rivalry packed with history and star power. The third is CSK's first outing featuring Sanju Samson in yellow alongside their existing core, which fans are eagerly awaiting.

IPL 2026 Venues: Where the Matches Will Be Played

Kolkata, Chennai, and Guwahati are the home bases for KKR, CSK, and Rajasthan Royals' second venue respectively, while Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru returns to hosting duties following clearance from the Karnataka state government.

Key venues across the IPL 2026 schedule include:

Gujarat Titans New Coaching Staff for IPL 2026

Gujarat Titans have appointed a former India wicketkeeper as assistant coach ahead of IPL 2026, adding experience to the franchise's support staff. Vijay Dahiya joins the Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans coaching setup.

Where to Watch IPL 2026 Live

IPL 2026 will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network across India, with live streaming available on JioHotstar. International viewers can access the tournament through their regional sports broadcasters or through JioHotstar's international streaming service. The full detailed schedule including match timings in IST is available on the official IPL website at iplt20.com.