The countdown is over. IPL 2026 is here and the cricket world is turning its eyes to Bengaluru, where defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will host Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the season opener on Saturday, March 28. After 18 years of heartache, RCB finally broke their title drought last season under debut captain Pati Pati. The challenge now is to become only the third team to defend the IPL crown.
This season comes with a new set of stories. Rajasthan Royals (RR) will enter a new era both in terms of leadership and ownership. Riyan Parag takes over as captain following the trade of Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), while the US-based consortium Kal SomaniBacked by Walmart heir Rob Walton, the franchise was bought for a record $1.63 billion.
Injuries have already thrown up early hurdles. After entering BCCI’s Center of Excellence, Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness remains a concern and overshadows Mumbai Indians’ (MI) pace attack. Sunrisers will start without captain Pat Cummins (back injury) and Ishan Kishan will lead in his absence. KKR lost Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana to injuries, while GT’s Mohammed Shami returned from a long layoff – a big boost for the Titans.
As the league celebrates its 19th edition, the search for new heroes begins. Will Patidar prove that his captaincy is not a one-season wonder? Can Hardik Pandyan’s MI reclaim the throne? Will Parag’s young leadership spark a Kings revival? And can the fans – packing stadiums from Chepauk to Eden Gardens – create the carnival atmosphere that makes the IPL unlike any other?
The answers begin to unfold tonight. Over the next two months, 74 matches will decide who joins the elite list of IPL champions. One thing is for sure: the drama, rivalry and unforgettable moments are back. IPL 2026 is on.
IPL 2026 Full Schedule
| History | Encounter | Start time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, Saturday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 19:30 | Bungalow |
| March 29, Sunday | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 19:30 | mumbai |
| Monday, March 30 | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | 19:30 | Guwahati |
| Tuesday, March 31 | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | 19:30 | Mullanpur |
| Wednesday, April 1 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | 19:30 | Good luck |
| Thursday, April 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 19:30 | Kolkata |
| Friday, April 3 | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | 19:30 | Chennai |
| April 4, Saturday | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | 15:30 | Delhi |
| April 4, Saturday | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | 19:30 | Ahmedabad |
| April 5, Sunday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | 15:30 | Hyderabad |
| April 5, Sunday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | 19:30 | Bungalow |
| Monday, April 6 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | 19:30 | Kolkata |
| Tuesday, April 7 | Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians | 19:30 | Guwahati |
| Wednesday, April 8 | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | 19:30 | Delhi |
| Thursday, April 9 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | 19:30 | Kolkata |
| Friday, April 10 | Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 19:30 | Guwahati |
| April 11, Saturday | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 15:30 | Mullanpur |
| April 11, Saturday | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | 19:30 | Chennai |
| April 12, Sunday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | 15:30 | Good luck |
| April 12, Sunday | Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 19:30 | mumbai |
| Monday, April 13 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals | 19:30 | Hyderabad |
| Tuesday, April 14 | Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 19:30 | Chennai |
| Wednesday, April 15 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants | 19:30 | Bungalow |
| Thursday, April 16 | Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings | 19:30 | mumbai |
| Friday, April 17 | Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 19:30 | Ahmedabad |
| April 18, Saturday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals | 15:30 | Bungalow |
| April 18, Saturday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings | 19:30 | Hyderabad |
| April 19, Sunday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals | 15:30 | Kolkata |
| April 19, Sunday | Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants | 19:30 | New Chandigarh |
| Monday, April 20 | Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians | 19:30 | Ahmedabad |
| Tuesday, April 21 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals | 19:30 | Hyderabad |
| Wednesday, April 22 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals | 19:30 | Good luck |
| Thursday, April 23 | Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings | 19:30 | mumbai |
| Friday, April 24 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans | 19:30 | Bungalow |
| April 25, Saturday | Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings | 15:30 | Delhi |
| April 25, Saturday | Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 19:30 | Jaipur |
| April 26, Sunday | Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings | 15:30 | Ahmedabad |
| April 26, Sunday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 19:30 | Good luck |
| Monday, April 27 | Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 19:30 | Delhi |
| Tuesday, April 28 | Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | 19:30 | New Chandigarh |
| Wednesday, April 29 | Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad | 19:30 | mumbai |
| Thursday, April 30 | Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 19:30 | Ahmedabad |
| May 1, Friday | Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals | 19:30 | Jaipur |
| May 2, Saturday | Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians | 19:30 | Chennai |
| May 3, Sunday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 15:30 | Hyderabad |
| May 3, Sunday | Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings | 19:30 | Ahmedabad |
| Monday, May 4 | Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super Giants | 19:30 | mumbai |
| Tuesday, May 5 | Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings | 19:30 | Delhi |
| Wednesday, May 6 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings | 19:30 | Hyderabad |
| May 7, Thursday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 19:30 | Good luck |
| May 8, Friday | Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 19:30 | Delhi |
| May 9, Saturday | Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans | 19:30 | Jaipur |
| May 10, Sunday | Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants | 15:30 | Chennai |
| May 10, Sunday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians | 19:30 | Raipur |
| Monday, May 11 | Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals | 19:30 | Dharamshala |
| Tuesday, May 12 | Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 19:30 | Ahmedabad |
| Wednesday, May 13 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 19:30 | Raipur |
| Thursday, May 14 | Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians | 19:30 | Dharamshala |
| Friday, May 15 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings | 19:30 | Good luck |
| May 16, Saturday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans | 19:30 | Kolkata |
| May 17, Sunday | Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 15:30 | Dharamshala |
| May 17, Sunday | Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals | 19:30 | Delhi |
| Monday, May 18 | Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 19:30 | Chennai |
| Tuesday, May 19 | Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants | 19:30 | Jaipur |
| Wednesday, May 20 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians | 19:30 | Kolkata |
| May 21, Thursday | Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans | 19:30 | Chennai |
| Friday, May 22 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 19:30 | Hyderabad |
| May 23, Saturday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings | 19:30 | Good luck |
| May 24, Sunday | Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals | 15:30 | mumbai |
| May 24, Sunday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals | 19:30 | Kolkata |
Note: IST= GMT+5:30
Also READ: Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook predict the winner of IPL 2026
IPL 2026: Broadcast and Live Streaming details
- India: Star Sports; JioHotstar app
- United Kingdom (Great Britain): Sky Sports Cricket; Sky Go, NOW TV
- United States of America (USA): Willow TV (Sign Up Here)
- Australia: Fox Sports, Channel 7; Kayo Sports
- Pakistan: A Sports, Ten Sports; Tapmad, Tamasha program
- Bangladesh: Ghazi TV (GTV); The Rabbithole App
- Nepal and Bhutan: Star Sports; JioHotstar (via India feed)
- Canada: ATN Cricket Plus; ATN Online
- New Zealand: Sky Sports New Zealand; Now on Sky Sports
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA): beIN Sports; beIN CONNECT
- Caribbean Sea: Sports Max
- South Africa: SuperSport; DStv program
- Sri Lanka: SLRC Channel Eye; Dialog TV Go
Also READ: AB de Villiers to Suresh Raina – Star Sports has announced the elite commentators list for IPL 2026
