The first phase schedule for the Indian Premier League 2026 season has been announced, outlining the fixtures for the opening 20 matches of the tournament. The matches will begin on March 28 and feature several high-profile clashes among the league’s top teams.

In one of the early fixtures, Mumbai Indians will start their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 29. Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings will open their campaign against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30.

Another key opening match will see Punjab Kings face Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur on March 31. The following day, Lucknow Super Giants will host Delhi Capitals in Lucknow as part of the early fixtures of the season.

Also Read: IPL 2026 Begins March 28 With RCB vs SRH At Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium

The schedule also includes several high-profile encounters in the first phase. Delhi Capitals will take on Mumbai Indians on April 4 in Delhi, while Gujarat Titans will meet Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad the same day. Other notable fixtures include Kolkata Knight Riders playing Sunrisers Hyderabad in Kolkata on April 2 and Chennai Super Kings facing Punjab Kings in Chennai on April 3.

According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, only the first phase of the tournament schedule has been announced for now. The full schedule will be released later once the dates for upcoming state assembly elections are finalised, as the election calendar could impact venue availability and security arrangements.

During the season, teams will split their home matches across multiple venues. Punjab Kings will host games in New Chandigarh and Dharamshala, while Rajasthan Royals will stage home matches in Guwahati and Jaipur. A total of 20 matches, including two double-headers, are part of the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule.

Also Read: IPL 2026 Begins March 28 With RCB vs SRH At Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium