This March is gonna end with the start of the most expected IPL 2026. For cricket fans who would like to follow everything about IPL under a single roof, Cricash is the platform where you need to reach out.
In this blog post, you can find the complete IPL 2026 schedule along with the fixture details, venue information, and playoff details. Continue reading the blog to get the complete idea before you tune in to the game.
IPL 2026 Full Schedule Overview
The 19th IPL season will start on March 28th and will go on till May 31st. The 10 best franchises, formed with a mix of capped and uncapped players, will be contesting in the most popular 13 IPL venues around the country. This also emphasizes the diversity and geographically rich dimension of the nation.
Two-Phase Format Explained
The BCCI has split the globally popular IPL fixtures 2026 into two parts. This is due to the assembly elections, which will be held across different states.
You can find the detailed T20 2026 calendar in the upcoming sections of the blog. Here is a short gist. Phase 1 will start from 28th March and extend till 12th April. On the other hand, the Phase 2 game will start on 13th April and will go on till 24th May.
Total Matches and Expanded Format
In total, there are 74 games, which are split into 70 and four playoff matches. Each team will have 14 league games. Since the T20 2026 calendar is completely packed, this whole month is going to be very entertaining from March till end of May.
How the Group Stage Works
The teams are divided into Group A and Group B. Group A includes CSK, KKR, RR, RCB, and PBKS, while Group B consists of MI, SRH, GT, DC, and LSG. Each team will play against teams in their own group once and face teams from the opposite group twice.
IPL 2026 Match Schedule— 28 March to 24 May 2026
Below is the entire Phase 1 IPL 2026 schedule as revealed by the BCCI. These are the initial twenty matches of the season.
| Match No | Date | Day | Start | Home | Away | Venue |
| 1 | 28-MAR-26 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru |
| 2 | 29-MAR-26 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians | Kolkata Knight Riders | Mumbai |
| 3 | 30-MAR-26 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | Guwahati |
| 4 | 31-MAR-26 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings | Gujarat Titans | New Chandigarh |
| 5 | 01-APR-26 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants | Delhi Capitals | Lucknow |
| 6 | 02-APR-26 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Kolkata |
| 7 | 03-APR-26 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings | Punjab Kings | Chennai |
| 8 | 04-APR-26 | Sat | 3:30 PM | Delhi Capitals | Mumbai Indians | Delhi |
| 9 | 04-APR-26 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans | Rajasthan Royals | Ahmedabad |
| 10 | 05-APR-26 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Lucknow Super Giants | Hyderabad |
| 11 | 05-APR-26 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru |
| 12 | 06-APR-26 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders | Punjab Kings | Kolkata |
| 13 | 07-APR-26 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals | Mumbai Indians | Guwahati |
| 14 | 08-APR-26 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Delhi Capitals | Gujarat Titans | Delhi |
| 15 | 09-APR-26 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata |
| 16 | 10-APR-26 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Guwahati |
| 17 | 11-APR-26 | Sat | 3:30 PM | Punjab Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | New Chandigarh |
| 18 | 11-APR-26 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings | Delhi Capitals | Chennai |
| 19 | 12-APR-26 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants | Gujarat Titans | Lucknow |
| 20 | 12-APR-26 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai |
| 21 | 13-APR-26 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Rajasthan Royals | Hyderabad |
| 22 | 14-APR-26 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai |
| 23 | 15-APR-26 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lucknow Super Giants | Bengaluru |
| 24 | 16-APR-26 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians | Punjab Kings | Mumbai |
| 25 | 17-APR-26 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans | Kolkata Knight Riders | Ahmedabad |
| 26 | 18-APR-26 | Sat | 3:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Delhi Capitals | Bengaluru |
| 27 | 18-APR-26 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Chennai Super Kings | Hyderabad |
| 28 | 19-APR-26 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders | Rajasthan Royals | Kolkata |
| 29 | 19-APR-26 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings | Lucknow Super Giants | New Chandigarh |
| 30 | 20-APR-26 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans | Mumbai Indians | Ahmedabad |
| 31 | 21-APR-26 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Delhi Capitals | Hyderabad |
| 32 | 22-APR-26 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants | Rajasthan Royals | Lucknow |
| 33 | 23-APR-26 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai |
| 34 | 24-APR-26 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Gujarat Titans | Bengaluru |
| 35 | 25-APR-26 | Sat | 3:30 PM | Delhi Capitals | Punjab Kings | Delhi |
| 36 | 25-APR-26 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Jaipur |
| 37 | 26-APR-26 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Gujarat Titans | Chennai Super Kings | Ahmedabad |
| 38 | 26-APR-26 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lucknow |
| 39 | 27-APR-26 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Delhi Capitals | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Delhi |
| 40 | 28-APR-26 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings | Rajasthan Royals | New Chandigarh |
| 41 | 29-APR-26 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Mumbai |
| 42 | 30-APR-26 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Ahmedabad |
| 43 | 01-MAY-26 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals | Delhi Capitals | Jaipur |
| 44 | 02-MAY-26 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians | Chennai |
| 45 | 03-MAY-26 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Kolkata Knight Riders | Hyderabad |
| 46 | 03-MAY-26 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans | Punjab Kings | Ahmedabad |
| 47 | 04-MAY-26 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians | Lucknow Super Giants | Mumbai |
| 48 | 05-MAY-26 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Delhi Capitals | Chennai Super Kings | Delhi |
| 49 | 06-MAY-26 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Punjab Kings | Hyderabad |
| 50 | 07-MAY-26 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lucknow |
| 51 | 08-MAY-26 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Delhi Capitals | Kolkata Knight Riders | Delhi |
| 52 | 09-MAY-26 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals | Gujarat Titans | Jaipur |
| 53 | 10-MAY-26 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings | Lucknow Super Giants | Chennai |
| 54 | 10-MAY-26 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai Indians | Raipur |
| 55 | 11-MAY-26 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings | Delhi Capitals | Dharamshala |
| 56 | 12-MAY-26 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Ahmedabad |
| 57 | 13-MAY-26 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Kolkata Knight Riders | Raipur |
| 58 | 14-MAY-26 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings | Mumbai Indians | Dharamshala |
| 59 | 15-MAY-26 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants | Chennai Super Kings | Lucknow |
| 60 | 16-MAY-26 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders | Gujarat Titans | Kolkata |
| 61 | 17-MAY-26 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Punjab Kings | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Dharamshala |
| 62 | 17-MAY-26 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Delhi Capitals | Rajasthan Royals | Delhi |
| 63 | 18-MAY-26 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Chennai |
| 64 | 19-MAY-26 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals | Lucknow Super Giants | Jaipur |
| 65 | 20-MAY-26 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders | Mumbai Indians | Kolkata |
| 66 | 21-MAY-26 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings | Gujarat Titans | Chennai |
| 67 | 22-MAY-26 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Hyderabad |
| 68 | 23-MAY-26 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants | Punjab Kings | Lucknow |
| 69 | 24-MAY-26 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Mumbai Indians | Rajasthan Royals | Mumbai |
| 70 | 24-MAY-26 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders | Delhi Capitals | Kolkata |
Group Stage Fixtures Worth Watching
According to the IPL match dates we can see that RCB will play with SRH in the first match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. RCB is the defending champions after winning their first IPL title in 2025, where they beat Punjab Kings by six runs.
Starting that defense at home sets the tone for the rest of the competition as they have the full Chinnaswamy behind them.
Early Clash Between Powerhouses
Match 2 the following day sees Mumbai Indians challenging Kolkata Knight Riders at Kolkata. Two of the most successful teams ever in the contest, both with huge, fervent fanbases. This one usually generates tight cricket.
High-Interest Fixture with Player Moves
Match 3 is very crucial as Jadeja has left CSK to join RR, and Sanju Samson left RR to join CSK. As we can see some shifts in players, the game will be quite hectic. Make sure you are updated with the T20 2026 calendar to catch up with heated up games like this.
Classic Rivalry to Watch
Returning to the popular IPL venue in Kolkata on April 2, Kolkata Knight Riders confronted Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 6. Both sides have strong fan bases and many titles. This sort of fixture draws neutral viewers as well.
When it shows up in Phase 2, take note of any Chennai Super Kings versus Mumbai Indians game. Over the years, that specific competition has generated a long list of tight finishes; both sides usually consider it as a top-priority fixture.
Fans following the Cricash IPL coverage will have something significant to follow nearly every evening starting late March on the T20 2026 calendar, as it will be a very busy cricket carnival month.
IPL 2026 Venues and Host Cities
This season’s IPL 2026 schedule shows that there will be cricket matches that will span across 13 cities, a footprint more than most earlier versions. Most of the cities will get to see the cricket games live, and the footfall of fans will be much higher.
RCB’s primary venue is Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. We can expect a high volume match in both audience count and player scores from small IPL venues, and this is one among them.
Mumbai Indians’ home, Wankhede Stadium. In this IPL venue the batsmen can show their expertise with the compact boundaries. This is an excellent location with a good IPL history.
Chennai’s CSK base is MA Chidambaram Stadium. Particularly as the competition goes on, the surface here helps to spin. A real challenge for traveling teams.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata; one among the best cricket stadiums in the world. With a capacity of more than 65,000, it ranks among Asia’s biggest sporting facilities. KKR play here, and a night match at Eden Gardens carries a different atmosphere entirely.
Delhi Capitals’ home is Arun Jaitley Stadium. Regular, large numbers at a central venue in the capital.
By seating, Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is the greatest cricket venue worldwide. Here, the Gujarat Titans organize tournaments. The scale by itself lends importance to any fixture at this location.
Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium is home to Sunrisers Hyderabad. This ground suits attacking batters since it has a quick outfield and genuine bounce.
Shared Venues and Secondary Locations
One of two IPL venues for the Rajasthan Royals is Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Jaipur is a dependable feature on the IPL venue calendar, given a vocal audience and a strong surface.
RCB shares home duties; some games have been relocated to Raipur. Nava Raipur Cricket Stadium, Raipur (Naya Raipur). Following a protracted absence, the ground gets back on the IPL calendar.
Dharamshala’s Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium is the second home of the Punjab Kings. Perhaps India’s most beautiful cricket pitch. High altitude influences ball movement in such a way that most other IPL sites’ scoring patterns here differ.
During Phase 1, Punjab Kings play home games here in New Chandigarh (IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali area).
Expanding Reach Across New Cities
Several early home games for the Rajasthan Royals take place in Guwahati. It gives northeastern cricket lovers the opportunity to watch high-level T20 action nearby.
The development of IPL venues across so many cities shows how much the event has matured. No more are games hosted by just a handful of big cities. Fans in Guwahati, Raipur, and Dharamshala this year will get to witness live IPL cricket.
Playoff Schedule and Format Explained
The T20 2026 calendar will work this way the knockouts comprise the first four teams from the group stage. By providing two chances to make the Final, it honors the teams finishing first and second in the table.
First place versus second place will be Qualifier 1. The victor moves straight into the Grand Final. The loser falls down to Qualifier 2 but survives.
Eliminator: 3rd place versus 4th place. This is a right knockout. The loser heads home. The victor progresses.
Qualifier 2: The loser of Qualifier 1 meets the winner of the Eliminator. One additional game. One team is done for the year; another advances to the Final.
Grand Final: Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2. Here the victor of IPL 2026 is proclaimed.
The predicted IPL match dates for the playoff window are as follows:
- Qualifier 1 — 26 May 2026
- Eliminator — 27 May 2026
- Qualifier 2 — 29 May 2026
- Grand Final — 31 May 2026, Bengaluru
The BCCI has confirmed Bengaluru as the host city for the championship match. Still to be formally published are the venues for the three preceding playoff games.
Teams in third and fourth get no margin for error in the Eliminator. Historically, the knockout phases have some of the most challenging cricket of the whole tournament, nerves, home pressure, and the weight of a season on the line all at once.
Where to Follow Every IPL Match Live
At times, it may become difficult to catch up with the games on TV, which is why you should switch to IPL live on Cricash to get cricket score updates. This is a trusted source to follow cricket from the comfort of your home. Here you can find all the information regarding players, overs, and batting provinces.
Every day, you can log in around 7.30 PM IST when every match starts, so you can keep yourself updated about the match statistics.
IPL 2026 Key Dates at a Glance
A quick reference list for fans who need the essentials without searching through the complete T20 2026 calendar:
28 March 2026 — Tournament begins. RCB vs SRH, Bengaluru, 7:30 PM IST.
28 March – 12 April 2026 — Phase 1. First 20 matches. Ten cities across India.
13 April – 24 May 2026 — Phase 2. Remaining 50 league stage fixtures.
24 May 2026 — Last day of the group stage.
Expected Qualifier and Finale Fixtures
26 May 2026 — Qualifier 1. 1st vs 2nd. The winner goes to the Final.
27 May 2026 — Eliminator. 3rd vs 4th. Loser eliminated.
29 May 2026 — Qualifier 2. The winner advances to the Final.
31 May 2026 — Grand Final. Bengaluru. IPL 2026 champion confirmed.
Conclusion
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter IPL 2026 as defending champions after their six-run win over Punjab Kings in the 2025 final. This time, every team will be chasing the same goal.
With 74 matches across 13 cities, the season is packed from start to finish. There’s action almost every day, so keeping track of results on Cricash and noting key dates will help stay updated throughout the tournament.
