The TATA IPL 2026 schedule is here, and it promises to be one for the ages. With matches spread across iconic venues from Bengaluru to Guwahati, the first 20 fixtures of the tournament are packed with marquee clashes, classic rivalries, and every reason to clear your evenings.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has officially released the opening leg of the IPL 2026 schedule, covering Matches 1 through 20. The tournament kicks off on Saturday, 28th March, with an opener at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, and runs through to Sunday, 12th April. Ten teams, ten venues, and a month of cricket that will have fans glued to their screens.

Here’s your complete breakdown of every match in the opening phase — who’s playing, where, and when.

Phase 1 · Matches 1–6
# Fixture Venue Date & Time
M1 RCB vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Bengaluru Sat, 28 Mar · 7:30 PM
M2 Mumbai Indians vs KKR Mumbai Sun, 29 Mar · 7:30 PM
M3 Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Guwahati Mon, 30 Mar · 7:30 PM
M4 Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans New Chandigarh Tue, 31 Mar · 7:30 PM
M5 Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals Lucknow Wed, 1 Apr · 7:30 PM
M6 KKR vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Kolkata Thu, 2 Apr · 7:30 PM

The Opening Week: What to Watch

The tournament doesn’t ease you in — it throws you straight into the deep end. The very first match pits RCB against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, a city that treats cricket like religion. SRH’s explosive batting lineup against RCB’s unpredictable but passionate side makes this an ideal curtain-raiser.

The following day, Mumbai Indians host Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede — a fixture that has delivered some of the most breathless finishes in IPL history. With both franchises loaded with international stars and the Wankhede crowd in full voice, expect fireworks from ball one.

The TATA IPL 2026 opening phase covers 10 unique venues across India — a testament to cricket’s reach from Guwahati to Hyderabad.

The opening week closes with KKR vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Kolkata on Thursday, 2nd April — two of the most aggressive batting sides in the competition colliding at Eden Gardens. If you watch just one match in the first week, make it this one.

Phase 2 · Matches 7–13
# Fixture Venue Date & Time
M7 Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings Chennai Fri, 3 Apr · 7:30 PM
M8 Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians Delhi Sat, 4 Apr · 3:30 PM
M9 Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals Ahmedabad Sat, 4 Apr · 7:30 PM
M10 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants Hyderabad Sun, 5 Apr · 3:30 PM
M11 RCB vs Chennai Super Kings Bengaluru Sun, 5 Apr · 7:30 PM
M12 KKR vs Punjab Kings Kolkata Mon, 6 Apr · 7:30 PM
M13 Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians Guwahati Tue, 7 Apr · 7:30 PM

The Weekend Double-Headers Are Must-Watch TV

The schedulers deserve credit for the 4th and 5th of April. On Saturday the 4th, fans get two matches in one day — Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians in the afternoon, followed by Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad in the evening. Sunday the 5th mirrors this perfectly, with SRH vs LSG (3:30 PM) and then the RCB vs CSK blockbuster (7:30 PM) at Chinnaswamy. That’s four matches in 48 hours. Get your snacks ready.

🔥 Match to Circle: M11 — RCB vs CSK, 5th April, Bengaluru

Few rivalries in T20 cricket carry the same electricity as RCB vs CSK. A full Chinnaswamy on a Sunday evening, with both teams hungry for early momentum — this has “instant classic” written all over it.

Phase 3 · Matches 14–20
# Fixture Venue Date & Time
M14 Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans Delhi Wed, 8 Apr · 7:30 PM
M15 KKR vs Lucknow Super Giants Kolkata Thu, 9 Apr · 7:30 PM
M16 Rajasthan Royals vs RCB Guwahati Fri, 10 Apr · 7:30 PM
M17 Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad New Chandigarh Sat, 11 Apr · 3:30 PM
M18 Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals Chennai Sat, 11 Apr · 7:30 PM
M19 Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans Lucknow Sun, 12 Apr · 3:30 PM
M20 Mumbai Indians vs RCB Mumbai Sun, 12 Apr · 7:30 PM

The Second Week: Stakes Rise Fast

By the time the tournament reaches its second weekend (11–12 April), every team will have played at least twice and early form lines will be emerging. The pressure cooker really turns up with CSK vs Delhi Capitals at Chepauk on the 11th — a fortress ground where CSK’s home record remains formidable. Delhi will need to come prepared.

The phase closes in style on Sunday, 12th April, with a marquee Sunday double-header: Lucknow vs Gujarat Titans in the afternoon, and then Mumbai Indians vs RCB at the Wankhede in prime time. After 20 matches, every side will have established their identity for the season.

Venues & the Geography of IPL 2026

One of the most striking features of this opening phase is how broadly the tournament is spread across the country. The schedule visits ten different venues — Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. Guwahati appears three times in the first 20 matches alone, underlining the BCCI’s continued push to bring top-tier cricket to India’s northeast.

📍 Key Venue Stats — First 20 Matches

Kolkata (3), Bengaluru (2), Guwahati (3), Mumbai (2), Delhi (2), Chennai (2), Lucknow (2), Ahmedabad (1), Hyderabad (1), New Chandigarh (2). A genuinely national tournament.

🏏

Our Early Verdict

This is as good an opening schedule as IPL fans could have hoped for. There are no soft openings here — the marquee matchups come early and often, the venues are varied, and the double-header weekends ensure there’s never a dull 48 hours. Whether you’re a fantasy cricket devotee tracking every XI or simply someone who likes cricket with dinner, IPL 2026 looks set to deliver.

Stay with BattingFirst.com for match previews, fantasy tips, player form guides, and live match analysis throughout the tournament. The season is here — let’s get into it.