BENGALURU GETS THE CROWN TWICE: IPL 2026 TO OPEN AND CLOSE AT CHINNASWAMY
BCCI announces first phase of TATA IPL 2026 schedule; RCB host SRH in March 28 opener as cricket returns to Chinnaswamy after a year of silence
The wait is over. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially announced the first phase of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 schedule on Wednesday, March 11, and Bengaluru is firmly at the heart of it — hosting both the curtain-raiser and the grand finale of cricket’s most watched franchise league.
The 19th edition of the IPL will get underway on March 28 when defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) welcome Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium at 3:30 PM IST. The tournament will conclude with the final on May 31, also at Chinnaswamy, making Bengaluru the alpha and omega of IPL 2026.
Chinnaswamy’s Emotional Return
The decision to restore Chinnaswamy to its throne carries enormous emotional weight. The stadium had been shut out of top-flight domestic cricket since the tragic stampede during RCB’s 2025 title victory parade, which claimed 11 lives and injured several more. Following months of review, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) received the green light after extensive safety discussions with RCB and government authorities. However, all Bengaluru matches remain subject to final clearance from an Expert Committee constituted by the Government of Karnataka, which will conduct a full-scale mock inspection of the stadium on March 13.
A Bigger, Bolder IPL
IPL 2026 is the biggest edition of the tournament yet. The BCCI’s IPL Governing Council has expanded the match count to 84 games — ten more than the previous season — with a double round-robin format across 10 franchises. The league stage is set to run until May 24, with playoffs beginning May 26. Qualifier 1 and the Final will both be staged in Bengaluru, while the Eliminator and Qualifier 2are expected to be held in Ahmedabad and Raipur.
The first phase of the schedule, released Wednesday, covers 20 matches across 10 venues from March 28 to April 12, spanning Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. Afternoon matches will begin at 3:30 PM IST and evening fixtures at 7:30 PM IST, with four double-headers scheduled in this opening leg.
Blockbuster Opening Week
The opening weekend is packed with high-profile matchups. A day after RCB face SRH on March 28, Mumbai Indians host Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium on March 29. The following day brings one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the entire season, as Chennai Super Kings travel to Guwahati to face Rajasthan Royals — a clash carrying extra significance as Sanju Samson, the Player of the Tournament at the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026, makes his CSK debut against his former team, as does Ravindra Jadeja in RR colours after a pre-season trade sent the two in opposite directions.
Punjab Kings open their campaign at home in New Chandigarh against Gujarat Titans, while Lucknow Super Giants host Delhi Capitals to round off the opening round.
Among the standout clashes in the first phase is the Southern Derby between RCB and CSK at the Chinnaswamy, and the first leg closes with a marquee encounter as five-time champions MI host defending champions RCB at the Wankhede.
All 10 Captains, All 10 Teams
All ten franchises return for IPL 2026, each led by confirmed captains. Rajat Patidar leads RCB in their title defence, with Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Josh Hazlewood and new addition Venkatesh Iyer forming a formidable core. Hardik Pandya captains Mumbai Indians, Ajinkya Rahane leads KKR, and Rishabh Pant takes charge of Lucknow Super Giants. Shubman Gill heads Gujarat Titans, Riyan Parag leads Rajasthan Royals, Axar Patel captains Delhi Capitals, and Ruturaj Gaikwad leads CSK. Pat Cummins continues as Sunrisers captain, while Shreyas Iyer pilots Punjab Kings.
KKR made one of the biggest splashes at the December 2025 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, signing Australian all-rounder Cameron Green for ₹25.20 crore — the most expensive overseas player in IPL history.
Why a Phased Schedule?
The BCCI chose to release fixtures in two phases due to the looming Assembly Elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, all of which are expected to overlap with the tournament window. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the complete schedule will be released once election dates for the three states are officially announced by the Election Commission of India. This phased approach mirrors the strategy used during the 2024 edition.
RCB will play five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. Punjab Kings will split their home games between New Chandigarh (four matches) and Dharamshala (three), while Rajasthan Royals play three home games in Guwahati and four in Jaipur.
Tickets & Broadcast
Fans can buy tickets through platforms including BookMyShow and District, while RCB is expected to sell tickets exclusively via their own official website, with select tickets also available at the venue on match days. TATA IPL 2026 will be broadcast live on JioHotstar, with Star Sports airing matches on television.
It is worth noting that IPL 2026 tickets now attract a 40% GST rate following the September 2025 restructuring, placing them in India’s highest tax bracket. A ticket with a base price of ₹1,000 will now cost approximately ₹1,400.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Event | Date | Venue |
| Tournament Opener (RCB vs SRH) | March 28, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| First Phase Ends | April 12, 2026 | Multiple Venues |
| League Stage Ends | May 24, 2026 | Multiple Venues |
| Playoffs Begin | May 26, 2026 | TBC |
| Qualifier 1 | May 2026 | Bengaluru |
| IPL 2026 Final | May 31, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
Source: BCCI official release, IPL governing council announcement, March 11, 2026.
