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The countdown is over. IPL 2026 is here, and the cricket world turns 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 heartbreak, RCB finally broke their title drought last season under debut captain Rajat Patidar. Now, the challenge is to become only the third team to defend the IPL crown.
This season arrives with a fresh set of storylines. Rajasthan Royals (RR) will step into a new era – both in leadership and ownership. Riyan Parag takes over as captain after Sanju Samson’s trade to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), while a US‑based consortium led by Kal Somani, backed by Walmart heir Rob Walton, has bought the franchise for a record $1.63 billion.
Injuries have already thrown up early hurdles. Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness remains a concern after he checked into the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, casting a shadow over Mumbai Indians’ (MI) pace attack. Sunrisers will begin without captain Pat Cummins (back injury), with Ishan Kishan leading in his absence. KKR have lost Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana to injuries, while GT’s Mohammed Shami returns after a lengthy layoff – a major boost for the Titans.
As the league celebrates its 19th edition, the search for new heroes begins. Will Patidar prove his captaincy was no one-season wonder? Can Hardik Pandya’s MI reclaim the throne? Will Parag’s youthful leadership spark a Royals revival? And can the fans – filling stadiums from Chepauk to Eden Gardens – create the carnival atmosphere that makes the IPL unlike anything else?
The answers start unfolding tonight. Over the next two months, 74 matches will decide who joins the elite list of IPL champions. One thing is certain: the drama, the rivalries and the unforgettable moments are back. IPL 2026 is underway.
IPL 2026 Full Schedule
| Date | Match | Start Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, Saturday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 PM | Bengaluru |
| March 29, Sunday | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 PM | Mumbai |
| March 30, Monday | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 PM | Guwahati |
| March 31, Tuesday | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 PM | Mullanpur |
| April 1, Wednesday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | Lucknow |
| April 2, Thursday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| April 3, Friday | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 PM | Chennai |
| April 4, Saturday | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | 3:30 PM | Delhi |
| April 4, Saturday | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 PM | Ahmedabad |
| April 5, Sunday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | 3:30 PM | Hyderabad |
| April 5, Sunday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 PM | Bengaluru |
| April 6, Monday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| April 7, Tuesday | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM | Guwahati |
| April 8, Wednesday | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 PM | Delhi |
| April 9, Thursday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| April 10, Friday | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Guwahati |
| April 11, Saturday | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 3:30 PM | Mullanpur |
| April 11, Saturday | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | Chennai |
| April 12, Sunday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | 3:30 PM | Lucknow |
| April 12, Sunday | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Mumbai |
| April 13, Monday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 PM | Hyderabad |
| April 14, Tuesday | Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 PM | Chennai |
| April 15, Wednesday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants | 7:30 PM | Bengaluru |
| April 16, Thursday | Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 PM | Mumbai |
| April 17, Friday | Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 PM | Ahmedabad |
| April 18, Saturday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals | 3:30 PM | Bengaluru |
| April 18, Saturday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 PM | Hyderabad |
| April 19, Sunday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals | 3:30 PM | Kolkata |
| April 19, Sunday | Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants | 7:30 PM | New Chandigarh |
| April 20, Monday | Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM | Ahmedabad |
| April 21, Tuesday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | Hyderabad |
| April 22, Wednesday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 PM | Lucknow |
| April 23, Thursday | Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 PM | Mumbai |
| April 24, Friday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 PM | Bengaluru |
| April 25, Saturday | Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings | 3:30 PM | Delhi |
| April 25, Saturday | Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 PM | Jaipur |
| April 26, Sunday | Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings | 3:30 PM | Ahmedabad |
| April 26, Sunday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 PM | Lucknow |
| April 27, Monday | Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Delhi |
| April 28, Tuesday | Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 PM | New Chandigarh |
| April 29, Wednesday | Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 PM | Mumbai |
| April 30, Thursday | Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 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 |
| May 6, Wednesday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 PM | Hyderabad |
| May 7, Thursday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Lucknow |
| May 8, Friday | Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 PM | Delhi |
| May 9, 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 Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM | Raipur |
| May 11, Monday | Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | Dharamshala |
| May 12, Tuesday | Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 PM | Ahmedabad |
| May 13, Wednesday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 PM | Raipur |
| May 14, Thursday | Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM | Dharamshala |
| May 15, Friday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 PM | Lucknow |
| May 16, Saturday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| May 17, Sunday | Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 3:30 PM | Dharamshala |
| May 17, Sunday | Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 PM | Delhi |
| May 18, 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 Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Hyderabad |
| May 23, Saturday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 PM | Lucknow |
| May 24, Sunday | Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals | 3:30 PM | Mumbai |
| May 24, Sunday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
Note: IST= GMT+ 5:30 hrs
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: A Sports, Ten Sports; Tapmad, Tamasha app
- Bangladesh: Gazi TV (GTV); Rabbithole App
- Nepal and Bhutan: Star Sports; JioHotstar (via India feed)
- Canada: ATN Cricket Plus; ATN Online
- New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ; Sky Sport Now
- Middle East & North Africa (MENA): beIN Sports; beIN CONNECT
- Caribbean: SportsMax
- South Africa: SuperSport; DStv app
- Sri Lanka: SLRC Channel Eye; Dialog TV Go
Also READ: From AB de Villiers to Suresh Raina – Star Sports unveils elite list of commentators for IPL 2026
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
