Bengaluru: The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced the first phase schedule of the Indian Premier League 2026, confirming that the tournament will begin with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad. The opening match is scheduled to be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, though the venue is currently awaiting clearance from the Karnataka government.

The 19th edition of the IPL is expected to draw huge fan interest across the country, especially after RCB’s historic title-winning campaign last season.

Venue subject to inspection

According to the BCCI, matches scheduled to take place in Bengaluru will depend on the approval of an expert committee constituted by the Government of Karnataka.

The committee is expected to conduct an inspection of the Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 13, 2026. During this visit, officials will evaluate the stadium’s readiness to host high-profile matches by conducting a full-scale mock demonstration of match-day arrangements.

This inspection has gained significance due to the tragic stampede incident that occurred in Bengaluru during RCB’s victory celebrations in 2025. Authorities are keen to ensure that all safety protocols and crowd management measures are fully in place before granting permission for matches.

Officials said the demonstration will include testing of security arrangements, crowd control mechanisms, entry and exit management and emergency response systems.

RCB to split home matches

As per the schedule released by the BCCI, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play a total of seven home matches during the IPL 2026 season.

Out of these, five matches are planned to be held in Bengaluru, while the remaining two will take place in Raipur.

The decision to host a few home games at an alternate venue is part of the league’s broader strategy to expand fan engagement and manage scheduling constraints across multiple cities.

However, the confirmation of matches in Bengaluru will depend entirely on the findings and recommendations of the government-appointed committee.

Full schedule yet to be released

The cricket board clarified that only the first phase schedule of the tournament has been announced so far.

The complete schedule of the IPL 2026 season will be released after the dates for upcoming state assembly elections are finalised. Several states are expected to hold elections during the tournament period, which could affect security arrangements and match scheduling.

Because of these logistical considerations, the BCCI has opted to release the schedule in phases.

Matches across 10 venues

During the first phase, a total of 20 matches will be played across 10 venues in India. These venues include:

  • Bengaluru
  • Mumbai
  • Guwahati
  • New Chandigarh
  • Lucknow
  • Kolkata
  • Chennai
  • Delhi
  • Ahmedabad
  • Hyderabad

These venues will host matches during the initial stage of the tournament, with additional fixtures expected once the full schedule is announced.

Double-header matches planned

The tournament will feature four double-header match days during this phase.

On double-header days, the afternoon matches will begin at 3:30 PM IST, while the evening matches will start at 7:30 PM IST, following the traditional IPL format.

The first double-header of the season is scheduled for April 4, 2026. On that day, Delhi Capitals will face Mumbai Indians in the afternoon match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Later in the evening, Gujarat Titans will take on Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Key early matches

Following the opening match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad, another highly anticipated fixture will take place the next day.

Mumbai Indians will face Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium.

These early matches are expected to generate significant excitement among fans as some of the most popular franchises compete during the opening weekend of the tournament.

Conclusion

The announcement of the first phase schedule has officially set the stage for the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League. However, the confirmation of matches in Bengaluru now depends on the safety clearance of the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

With inspections scheduled and further announcements expected soon, cricket fans across the country are eagerly awaiting the complete schedule of one of the world’s most popular T20 leagues.