Cricket

IPL 2026 Schedule – Full Fixtures, Dates, Venues & Results

April 16, 2026

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The Indian Premier League 2026 begins on March 28, 2026, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru. The final will be played on May 31, 2026.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has now confirmed the full schedule, featuring 70 league matches and 4 playoffs across multiple venues in India.

Here’s the complete IPL 2026 guide covering schedule, format, teams, venues, timings, and more.

IPL 2026 Key Dates At A Glance

Before we break down the full schedule, here are the dates you should mark right away.

IPL Schedule 2026
Source: The Hindu
DetailDate / Info
Tournament StartMarch 28, 2026
Opening MatchRCB vs SRH, Bengaluru
Phase 1 EndApril 12, 2026 (20 matches)
Total Matches70 (league stage) + 4 playoffs
FinalMay 31, 2026, Bengaluru
Playoffs BeginLate May 2026
Match Timings3:30 PM IST (afternoon) / 7:30 PM IST (evening)
Defending ChampionsRoyal Challengers Bengaluru

Why was the IPL 2026 Schedule Initially Released in Phases?

At the start, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced only a partial schedule for IPL 2026 due to logistical uncertainties.

The primary reason was the upcoming state assembly elections in regions like Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Since key venues such as Kolkata, Chennai, and Guwahati fall in these states, match scheduling required coordination with security and administrative authorities.

To avoid clashes and ensure smooth operations, the BCCI initially released only the first phase of fixtures while awaiting confirmation from the Election Commission.

However, once the election dates were finalized, the BCCI officially released the complete IPL 2026 schedule, covering all league matches and venues.

This phased approach is not new. A similar strategy was followed during previous IPL seasons when elections coincided with the tournament window.

IPL 2026 Full Schedule – All Matches & Fixtures

Here’s the complete list of all the matches confirmed by the BCCI. No double-headers on the opening weekend, which is a bit unusual.

SRDateMatchVenueTime (IST)Result
1Mar 28Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers BengaluruBengaluru7:30 PMRCB won by 6 wkts
2Mar 29Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai IndiansMumbai7:30 PMMI won by 6 wkts
3Mar 30Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan RoyalsGuwahati7:30 PMRR won by 8 wkts
4Mar 31Punjab Kings vs Gujarat TitansNew Chandigarh7:30 PMPBKS won by 3 wkts
5Apr 1Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi CapitalsLucknow7:30 PMDC won by 6 wkts
6Apr 2Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers HyderabadKolkata7:30 PMSRH won by 65 runs
7Apr 3Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab KingsChennai7:30 PMPBKS won by 5 wkts
8Apr 4Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai IndiansDelhi3:30 PMDC won by 6 wkts
9Apr 4Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan RoyalsAhmedabad7:30 PMRR won by 6 runs
10Apr 5Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super GiantsHyderabad3:30 PMLSG won by 5 wkts
11Apr 5Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super KingsBengaluru7:30 PMRCB won by 43 runs
12Apr 6Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab KingsKolkata7:30 PMNo Result
13Apr 7Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai IndiansGuwahati7:30 PMRR won by 27 runs
14Apr 8Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat TitansDelhi7:30 PMGT won by 1 run
15Apr 9Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super GiantsKolkata7:30 PMLSG won by 3 wkts
16Apr 10Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers BengaluruGuwahati7:30 PMRR won by 6 wkts
17Apr 11Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers HyderabadNew Chandigarh3:30 PMPBKS won by 6 wkts
18Apr 11Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi CapitalsChennai7:30 PMCSK won by 23 runs
19Apr 12Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat TitansLucknow3:30 PMGT won by 7 wkts
20Apr 12Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers BengaluruMumbai7:30 PMRCB won by 18 runs
21Apr 13Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan RoyalsHyderabad7:30 PMSRH won by 57 runs
22Apr 14Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight RidersChennai7:30 PMCSK won by 32 runs
23Apr 15Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super GiantsBengaluru7:30 PMRCB won by 5 wkts
24Apr 16Mumbai Indians vs Punjab KingsMumbai7:30 PMPBKS won by 7 wkts
25Apr 17Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight RidersAhmedabad7:30 PMGT won by 5 wkts
26Apr 18Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi CapitalsBengaluru3:30 PMDC won by 6 wkts
27Apr 18Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super KingsHyderabad7:30 PMSRH won by 10 runs
28Apr 19Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan RoyalsKolkata3:30 PMKKR won by 4 wkts
29Apr 19Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super GiantsNew Chandigarh7:30 PMPBKS won by 54 runs
30Apr 20Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai IndiansAhmedabad7:30 PMMI won by 99 runs
31Apr 21Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi CapitalsHyderabad7:30 PMSRH won by 47 runs
32Apr 22Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan RoyalsLucknow7:30 PMRR won by 40 runs
33Apr 23Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super KingsMumbai7:30 PMCSK won by 103 runs
34Apr 24Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat TitansBengaluru7:30 PMRCB won by 5 wkts
35Apr 25Delhi Capitals vs Punjab KingsDelhi3:30 PMPBKS won by 6 wkts
36Apr 25Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers HyderabadJaipur7:30 PMSRH won by 5 wkts
37Apr 26Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super KingsAhmedabad3:30 PMGT won by 8 wkts
38Apr 26Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight RidersLucknow7:30 PMTied (KKR won Super Over)
39Apr 27Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers BengaluruDelhi7:30 PMRCB won by 9 wkts
40Apr 28Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan RoyalsNew Chandigarh7:30 PMRR won by 6 wkts
41Apr 29Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers HyderabadMumbai7:30 PMSRH won by 6 wkts
42Apr 30Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers BengaluruAhmedabad7:30 PMUpcoming
43May 1Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi CapitalsJaipur7:30 PMUpcoming
44May 2Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai IndiansChennai7:30 PMUpcoming
45May 3Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight RidersHyderabad3:30 PMUpcoming
46May 3Gujarat Titans vs Punjab KingsAhmedabad7:30 PMUpcoming
47May 4Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super GiantsMumbai7:30 PMUpcoming
48May 5Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super KingsDelhi7:30 PMUpcoming
49May 6Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab KingsHyderabad7:30 PMUpcoming
50May 7Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers BengaluruLucknow7:30 PMUpcoming
51May 8Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight RidersDelhi7:30 PMUpcoming
52May 9Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat TitansJaipur7:30 PMUpcoming
53May 10Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super GiantsChennai3:30 PMUpcoming
54May 10Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai IndiansRaipur7:30 PMUpcoming
55May 11Punjab Kings vs Delhi CapitalsDharamsala7:30 PMUpcoming
56May 12Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers HyderabadAhmedabad7:30 PMUpcoming
57May 13Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight RidersRaipur7:30 PMUpcoming
58May 14Punjab Kings vs Mumbai IndiansDharamsala7:30 PMUpcoming
59May 15Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super KingsLucknow7:30 PMUpcoming
60May 16Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat TitansKolkata7:30 PMUpcoming
61May 17Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers BengaluruDharamsala3:30 PMUpcoming
62May 17Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan RoyalsDelhi7:30 PMUpcoming
63May 18Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers HyderabadChennai7:30 PMUpcoming
64May 19Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super GiantsJaipur7:30 PMUpcoming
65May 20Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai IndiansKolkata7:30 PMUpcoming
66May 21Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat TitansChennai7:30 PMUpcoming
67May 22Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers BengaluruHyderabad7:30 PMUpcoming
68May 23Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab KingsLucknow7:30 PMUpcoming
69May 24Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan RoyalsMumbai3:30 PMUpcoming
70May 24Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi CapitalsKolkata7:30 PMUpcoming

Confirmed Double-Header Dates (Early Season)

The first phase includes four double-headers. Afternoon games kick off at 3:30 PM IST and evening games at 7:30 PM IST.

DateMatches
April 4 (Sat)DC vs MI (Delhi) / GT vs RR (Ahmedabad)
April 5 (Sun)SRH vs LSG (Hyderabad) / RCB vs CSK (Bengaluru)
April 10 (Fri)RR vs RCB (Guwahati) / PBKS vs SRH (New Chandigarh)
April 11 (Sat)CSK vs DC (Chennai) / LSG vs GT (Lucknow)

Notably, the opening weekend (March 28–30) has no double-headers, which is a departure from recent seasons.

Top 5 Marquee Matches in IPL 2026

Here are high-intensity matches to look for.

RCB vs SRH – The Season Opener (March 28, Bengaluru)

The defending champions kick things off at their fortress, the Chinnaswamy Stadium. This will be RCB’s first match as title holders, a sentence that still feels surreal after 17 years of waiting. Expect the stadium to be absolutely electric.

MI vs KKR – Heavyweights Clash (March 29, Mumbai)

Mumbai Indians face Kolkata Knight Riders in a battle of two strong squads.

This early-season clash could set the tone for both teams.

RR vs CSK – High-Voltage Encounter (March 30, Guwahati)

Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings promises a thrilling contest with both teams known for their consistency and star power.

RCB vs CSK – Southern Derby (April 5, Bengaluru)

One of IPL’s biggest rivalries, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings, always delivers high drama and massive fan engagement.

MI vs RCB – Blockbuster Clash (April 12, Mumbai)

Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru is among the most-watched fixtures, often producing high-scoring thrillers.

IPL 2026 Format: How the Tournament Works

The Indian Premier League 2026 season follows the standard format, with 70 league-stage matches rather than 84.

Playoff Structure

The playoff format stays the same as previous seasons and gives the top two teams a safety net.

StageDetails
Qualifier 11st vs 2nd (Winner goes to Final)
Eliminator3rd vs 4th (Loser is out)
Qualifier 2Loser of Q1 vs Winner of Eliminator
FinalWinner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2 (May 31, Bengaluru)

Looking ahead, the IPL may expand further in upcoming seasons. There have been discussions about increasing the number of matches (potentially 90+ games) with a full home-and-away round-robin format, but no official confirmation has been made yet.

All 10 IPL 2026 Teams and Their Captains

Here’s a quick look at who’s leading whom this season. Some names are familiar, others are refreshing changes.

TeamCaptainHome Ground(s)
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)Ruturaj GaikwadMA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Mumbai Indians (MI)Hardik PandyaWankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)Rajat PatidarM. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)Ajinkya RahaneEden Gardens, Kolkata
Gujarat Titans (GT)Shubman GillNarendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Rajasthan Royals (RR)Riyan ParagSawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur / Barsapara, Guwahati
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)Rishabh PantEkana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)Pat CumminsRajiv Gandhi Intl Stadium, Hyderabad
Delhi Capitals (DC)Axar PatelArun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Punjab Kings (PBKS)Shreyas IyerPCA Stadium, New Chandigarh / Dharamshala

The biggest pre-season talking point? Riyan Parag takes over as Rajasthan Royals’ full-time captain after Sanju Samson’s trade to CSK. At 24, he’s one of the youngest skippers in the tournament’s history.

Biggest Trades and Auction Highlights for IPL 2026

The IPL 2026 mini auction was held on December 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi. The auction purse for each franchise was set at ₹125 crore. A total of 77 players were sold (including 29 overseas) for a combined spend of approximately ₹215.45 crore.

Headline Auction Buy

Cameron Green was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player and third most expensive player in IPL history. That’s serious money, even by IPL standards.

Most Expensive Uncapped Players

Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma were both bought by Chennai Super Kings for ₹14.20 crore each, becoming the joint-most expensive uncapped players ever in the IPL. CSK is clearly betting big on domestic talent.

The Blockbuster Trade

The trade that shook the cricketing world: CSK acquired Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. Samson heads to Chennai while Jadeja returns to Rajasthan — both playing against their former teams on March 30 in Guwahati. The storylines practically write themselves.

Notable Unsold Players

Not everyone found a buyer. Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jonny Bairstow, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Alzarri Joseph, Gus Atkinson, Deepak Hooda, and Karn Sharma were among the 79 players who went unsold. Tough luck, but that’s the IPL auction for you.

IPL 2026 Venues: Complete List of Stadiums

The IPL 2026 will be played across multiple cities. For Phase 1, 10 venues are confirmed. The total number of venues for the full season is expected to be 13 or more.

StadiumCityCapacityTeams / Notes
M. Chinnaswamy StadiumBengaluru~40,000RCB (Home) + Final
Wankhede StadiumMumbai~33,000MI (Home)
MA Chidambaram StadiumChennai~50,000CSK (Home)
Eden GardensKolkata~68,000KKR (Home)
Narendra Modi StadiumAhmedabad~1,32,000GT (Home)
Rajiv Gandhi Intl StadiumHyderabad~55,000SRH (Home)
Ekana Cricket StadiumLucknow~50,000LSG (Home)
Arun Jaitley StadiumDelhi~41,000DC (Home)
Sawai Mansingh StadiumJaipur~30,000RR (Primary Home)
Barsapara Cricket StadiumGuwahati~40,000RR (Second Home)
PCA StadiumNew Chandigarh (Mullanpur)~32,000PBKS (Primary Home)
HPCA StadiumDharamshala~23,000PBKS (Second Home)
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh StadiumNaya Raipur~65,000RCB (Second Home)

Split Home Venues

RCB plays 5 home matches in Bengaluru and 2 in Raipur. PBKS splits their home fixtures between 4 in New Chandigarh and 3 in Dharamshala. Rajasthan Royals will play 3 matches in Guwahati and 4 in Jaipur.

Chinnaswamy Stadium Clearance Update

All matches scheduled at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium are subject to clearance from a Karnataka government expert committee. The stadium hasn’t hosted top-flight cricket since the tragic stampede during RCB’s 2025 victory parade, which claimed 11 lives. An inspection and mock demonstration is scheduled for March 13, 2026

IPL 2026 Match Timings

Match timings remain consistent with previous seasons.

Match TypeStart Time
Evening Matches (Single-header days)7:30 PM IST
Afternoon Matches (Double-header days)3:30 PM IST
Evening Matches (Double-header days)7:30 PM IST

Stadium gates typically open 3 hours before the match. So if you’re heading to the ground, plan accordingly, especially for Mumbai and Bengaluru games where traffic can be, well, its own kind of T20 thriller.

IPL 2026 Ticket Prices and How to Book

Getting IPL tickets is often harder than getting a ticket to a Coldplay concert in India. Here’s what you need to know.

Expected Ticket Price Ranges

CategoryEstimated Price Range
General Stand₹450 – ₹850
Mid-Range Seats₹900 – ₹3,000
Premium / Corporate Boxes₹4,000 – ₹18,000
VIP / Hospitality₹19,000 and above

Important: IPL 2026 tickets now attract a 40% GST, up from the earlier 28% slab. This means a ticket with a base price of ₹1,000 will now cost you around ₹1,400 after tax. This puts IPL match tickets in the same GST bracket as casinos and race clubs.

Where to Buy IPL 2026 Tickets

BookMyShow and Paytm Insider (District) remain the primary ticket booking platforms. Some franchises also sell through their own official websites. Mumbai Indians have already opened pre-sale registration on BookMyShow, with the actual booking window expected to open around March 26.

Pro tip: Mark yourself as “Interested” for specific teams on BookMyShow to get push notifications the moment tickets go live. For high-demand matches like MI vs CSK or RCB vs MI, tickets sell out in minutes. Not exaggerating, literally minutes.

Where to Watch IPL 2026 Live: TV and Streaming

Whether you’re watching from your couch or sneaking a stream at work (we won’t judge), here’s where to catch the action.

TV Broadcast: Star Sports network holds the satellite broadcasting rights. Matches will be available across Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, and regional language channels.

Live Streaming: JioHotstar is the official digital streaming partner. You’ll need a JioHotstar subscription to stream seamlessly. JioStar holds both the satellite and digital rights for the 2023–2027 cycle.

Team-Wise Home Matches in Phase 1

Here’s a quick breakdown of which teams play at home during the first phase.

TeamPhase 1 Home Fixtures
RCB2 home matches (Bengaluru): vs SRH (Mar 28), vs CSK (Apr 5)
MI2 home matches (Mumbai): vs KKR (Mar 29), vs RCB (Apr 12)
CSK2 home matches (Chennai): vs PBKS (Apr 3), vs DC (Apr 11)
KKR3 home matches (Kolkata): vs SRH (Apr 2), vs PBKS (Apr 6), vs LSG (Apr 9)
RR3 home matches (Guwahati): vs CSK (Mar 30), vs MI (Apr 7), vs RCB (Apr 10)
PBKS2 home matches (New Chandigarh): vs GT (Mar 31), vs SRH (Apr 10)
LSG2 home matches (Lucknow): vs DC (Apr 1), vs GT (Apr 11)
DC2 home matches (Delhi): vs MI (Apr 4), vs GT (Apr 8)
GT1 home match (Ahmedabad): vs RR (Apr 4)
SRH1 home match (Hyderabad): vs LSG (Apr 5)

KKR and RR get the most home games in Phase 1 (3 each), while GT and SRH have just one each. That imbalance will even out once the full schedule drops.

Why Does IPL 2026 Start Later Than Usual?

In previous years, the IPL typically kicked off in the second week of March. This time, the start date was pushed to March 28 for a very good reason.

The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, had its final on March 8, 2026. The BCCI wanted a three-week gap between the World Cup final and the start of the IPL to give players rest and preparation time.

Originally, the start was set for March 26, but it was postponed by 2 more days in late February 2026. This also caused a scheduling clash with the 2026 Pakistan Super League, which had to shift its window for the second consecutive year.

Pre-Season Controversies Around IPL 2026

Mustafizur Rahman’s Exclusion

Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman, bought by KKR for ₹9.2 crore at the auction, was asked by the BCCI to be released in January 2026. The decision followed growing tensions after anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh during 2025.

The move drew mixed reactions. Aakash Chopra supported the decision, while Shashi Tharoor and former Bangladeshi captains Khaled Mahmud and Mohammad Ashraful criticized it. Bangladesh eventually banned the broadcast of IPL in its country.

Chinnaswamy Stadium Safety Concerns

As mentioned, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium hasn’t hosted cricket since the 2025 victory parade stampede. The Karnataka government’s expert committee inspection on March 13 will be crucial in determining whether Bengaluru hosts IPL matches this season.

What’s New in IPL 2026 Compared to Last Season?

Let’s quickly run through the key differences between IPL 2025 and IPL 2026.

AspectIPL 2025IPL 2026
Total Matches7484
FormatPartial double round-robin with groupsFull double round-robin (no groups)
Auction TypeMega AuctionMini Auction (Abu Dhabi)
Ticket GST28%40%
Title SponsorTataTata (renewed through 2028)
Defending ChampionsKKRRCB

The biggest structural change is the move to 84 matches. Every team now plays every other team twice, which makes the league stage fairer and reduces the role of luck in determining playoff spots.

Suggested Reads:

Final Words: IPL 2026 Full Schedule Is Out Now!

The Indian Premier League 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting editions yet. With the Royal Challengers Bengaluru defending their maiden title and fresh team combinations adding intrigue, fans can expect a thrilling tournament.

The action begins on March 28 in Bengaluru and concludes with the final on May 31, 2026. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has now confirmed the complete schedule, featuring 70 league matches and playoffs across multiple venues.

Stay tuned for match predictions, team updates, and all the latest IPL 2026 coverage.

Devraj Chauhan is a sports development strategist with hands-on experience in managing tournaments, coaching programs, and infrastructure planning across India. Dedicated to promoting both indoor and outdoor games, he brings a practical perspective to grassroots sports and writes to inspire growth in community-based athletics.

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