The countdown is over. ipl 2026 Here it is, and all eyes of the cricket world are on Bengaluru, where defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will host Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the season opener on Saturday, March 28. After 18 years of heartbreak, RCB finally broke their title drought last season under the leadership of their first captain Rajat Patidar. Now the challenge is to become the third team to defend the IPL crown.
This season comes with new stories. Rajasthan Royals (RR) will step into a new era in both leadership and ownership. Riyan Parag took over as captain after Sanju Samson was traded to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), while a US-based consortium was led tomorrow somaniWalmart, backed by heir apparent Rob Walton, has purchased the franchise for a record $1.63 billion.
Injuries have already created early hurdles. Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness remains a matter of concern after being examined at the BCCI’s Center of Excellence after suffering an impact on the Mumbai Indians (MI) pace attack. Sunrisers will start without captain Pat Cummins (back injury), with Ishan Kishan leading the way in his absence. KKR have lost Harshit Rana and Mathisha Pathirana due to injuries, while GT’s Mohammed Shami has returned after a long leave – which is a big boost for the Titans.
As the league celebrates its 19th edition, the search for new heroes has begun. Will Patidar prove that his captaincy was not a one-season wonder? Can Hardik Pandya’s MI regain the throne? Will Parag’s young leadership fuel the revival of Royals? And can the fans – filling stadiums from Chepauk to Eden Gardens – create the carnival atmosphere that makes the IPL different from anything else?
Answers will start emerging from tonight. 74 matches over the next two months will decide who will join the elite list of IPL champions. One thing is for sure: the drama, rivalries and unforgettable moments are back. IPL 2026 is going on.
ipl 2026 full schedule
| date | match | start time | venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, Saturday | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 pm | Bengaluru |
| March 29, Sunday | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 pm | Mumbai |
| 30 March, Monday | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 pm | Guwahati |
| 31 March, Tuesday | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 pm | Mullanpur |
| 1 April, Wednesday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 pm | Lucknow |
| 2 April, Thursday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 pm | Kolkata |
| 3 April, Friday | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 pm | Chennai |
| 4th April, Saturday | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | 3:30 pm | Delhi |
| 4th April, Saturday | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 pm | Ahmedabad |
| 5th April, Sunday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | 3:30 pm | Hyderabad |
| 5th April, Sunday | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 pm | Bengaluru |
| 6 April, Monday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 pm | Kolkata |
| 7 April, Tuesday | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 pm | Guwahati |
| 8 April, Wednesday | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 pm | Delhi |
| 9 April, Thursday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | 7:30 pm | Kolkata |
| 10th April, Friday | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 7:30 pm | Guwahati |
| 11 April, Saturday | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 3:30 pm | Mullanpur |
| 11 April, Saturday | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 pm | Chennai |
| 12 April, Sunday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | 3:30 pm | Lucknow |
| 12 April, Sunday | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 7:30 pm | Mumbai |
| 13 April, Monday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 pm | Hyderabad |
| 14 April, Tuesday | Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 pm | Chennai |
| 15 April, Wednesday | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Lucknow Super Giants | 7:30 pm | Bengaluru |
| 16 April, Thursday | Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 pm | Mumbai |
| 17th April, Friday | Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 pm | Ahmedabad |
| 18 April, Saturday | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals | 3:30 pm | Bengaluru |
| 18 April, Saturday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 pm | Hyderabad |
| 19 April, Sunday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals | 3:30 pm | Kolkata |
| 19 April, Sunday | Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants | 7:30 pm | New Chandigarh |
| 20 April, Monday | Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 pm | Ahmedabad |
| 21 April, Tuesday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 pm | Hyderabad |
| 22 April, Wednesday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 pm | Lucknow |
| 23 April, Thursday | Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 pm | Mumbai |
| 24th April, Friday | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 pm | Bengaluru |
| 25 April, Saturday | Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings | 3:30 pm | Delhi |
| 25 April, Saturday | Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 pm | Jaipur |
| 26 April, Sunday | Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings | 3:30 pm | Ahmedabad |
| 26 April, Sunday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 pm | Lucknow |
| 27 April, Monday | Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 7:30 pm | Delhi |
| 28 April, Tuesday | Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 pm | New Chandigarh |
| 29 April, Wednesday | Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 pm | Mumbai |
| 30 April, Thursday | Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 7:30 pm | Ahmedabad |
| May 1, Friday | Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 pm | Jaipur |
| May 2, Saturday | Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 pm | Chennai |
| May 3, Sunday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 3:30 pm | Hyderabad |
| May 3, Sunday | Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 pm | Ahmedabad |
| May 4, Monday | Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super Giants | 7:30 pm | Mumbai |
| May 5, Tuesday | Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 pm | Delhi |
| 6 May, Wednesday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 pm | Hyderabad |
| 7th May, Thursday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 7:30 pm | Lucknow |
| May 8, Friday | Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 pm | Delhi |
| 9 May, Saturday | Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 pm | Jaipur |
| May 10, Sunday | Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants | 3:30 pm | Chennai |
| May 10, Sunday | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 pm | Raipur |
| May 11, Monday | punjab kings vs delhi capitals | 7:30 pm | Hospice |
| May 12, Tuesday | Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 pm | Ahmedabad |
| 13 May, Wednesday | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 pm | Raipur |
| May 14, Thursday | punjab kings vs mumbai indians | 7:30 pm | Hospice |
| May 15, Friday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 pm | Lucknow |
| 16 May, Saturday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 pm | Kolkata |
| 17 May, Sunday | Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 3:30 pm | Hospice |
| 17 May, Sunday | Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 pm | Delhi |
| 18 May, Monday | Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 pm | Chennai |
| May 19, Tuesday | Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants | 7:30 pm | Jaipur |
| May 20, Wednesday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 pm | Kolkata |
| May 21, Thursday | Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 pm | Chennai |
| May 22, Friday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 7:30 pm | Hyderabad |
| 23 May, Saturday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 pm | Lucknow |
| 24 May, Sunday | Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals | 3:30 pm | Mumbai |
| 24 May, Sunday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 pm | 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 (UK): Sky Sports Cricket; Sky Go, Now TV
- United States of America (US): willow tv [Sign up here]
- Australia: Fox Sports, Channel 7; Kayo Sports
- Pakistan: One game, ten games; tapmad, tamasha app
- Bangladesh: Ghazi TV (GTV); rabbit hole app
- Nepal and Bhutan: Star Sports; JioHotstar (via India feed)
- Canada: ATN Cricket Plus; atn online
- New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ; sky sports now
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA): be in sports; get connected
- Caribbean: sportsmax
- South Africa: Supersport; dstv app
- Sri Lanka: SLRC Channel I; dialogue tv go
