The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is the 19th edition of the world’s most popular T20 cricket league. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who won their maiden IPL title in 2025 by defeating Punjab Kings in a thrilling final, will look to retain the trophy this season.
The tournament will feature a total of 74 matches, including 70 league stage matches and 4 playoff matches (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final). All 10 teams will compete fiercely from March 28 to May 31, 2026. Each team will play 14 league matches (7 home and 7 away) in a double round-robin format.
The league stage will be hosted across 13 different venues (stadiums) spread across India, including iconic grounds like M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai), Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), Eden Gardens (Kolkata), and others such as Guwahati, Lucknow, Jaipur, Hyderabad, New Chandigarh, Dharamshala, and Raipur.
The action kicks off on March 28, 2026, with the opening match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The league stage concludes on May 24, 2026, followed by the playoffs, with the grand Final scheduled for May 31, 2026.
IPL 2026 Teams and Captains List
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) — Rajat Patidar
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) — Ruturaj Gaikwad
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) — Ajinkya Rahane
Mumbai Indians (MI) — Hardik Pandya
Delhi Capitals (DC) — Axar Patel
Gujarat Titans (GT) — Shubman Gill
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) — Rishabh Pant
Punjab Kings (PBKS) — Shreyas Iyer
Rajasthan Royals (RR) — Riyan Parag
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) — Ishan Kishan (interim captain).Pat Cummins
Here is the complete IPL 2026 schedule with dates, days, timings (IST), teams, and venues:
Matches 1 to 20 (28 March – 12 April 2026)
- Match 1: 28 March 2026, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Match 2: 29 March 2026, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders — Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Match 3: 30 March 2026, Monday, 7:30 PM — Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings — ACA Stadium, Guwahati
- Match 4: 31 March 2026, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans — New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh (Mullanpur)
- Match 5: 1 April 2026, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals — Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Match 6: 2 April 2026, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Match 7: 3 April 2026, Friday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings — MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Match 8: 4 April 2026, Saturday, 3:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians — Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Match 9: 4 April 2026, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Match 10: 5 April 2026, Sunday, 3:30 PM — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Match 11: 5 April 2026, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings — Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
- Match 12: 6 April 2026, Monday, 7:30 PM — Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans — Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Match 13: 7 April 2026, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants — Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Match 14: 8 April 2026, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders — Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Match 15: 9 April 2026, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
- Match 16: 10 April 2026, Friday, 7:30 PM — Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Match 17: 11 April 2026, Saturday, 3:30 PM — Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians — Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Match 18: 11 April 2026, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals — MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Match 19: 12 April 2026, Sunday, 3:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals — Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Match 20: 12 April 2026, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Matches 21 to 40 (13 April – 27 April 2026)
- Match 21: 13 April 2026, Monday, 7:30 PM — Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals — Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
- Match 22: 14 April 2026, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders — MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Match 23: 15 April 2026, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Match 24: 16 April 2026, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings — Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Match 25: 17 April 2026, Friday, 7:30 PM — Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Match 26: 18 April 2026, Saturday, 3:30 PM — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Match 27: 18 April 2026, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings — Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
- Match 28: 19 April 2026, Sunday, 3:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals — Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Match 29: 19 April 2026, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants — New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
- Match 30: 20 April 2026, Monday, 7:30 PM — Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Match 31: 21 April 2026, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals — Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
- Match 32: 22 April 2026, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings — Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Match 33: 23 April 2026, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants — MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Match 34: 24 April 2026, Friday, 7:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans — Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Match 35: 25 April 2026, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Match 36: 26 April 2026, Sunday, 3:30 PM — Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Match 37: 26 April 2026, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings — Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Match 38: 27 April 2026, Monday, 7:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Match 39: 28 April 2026, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals — Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Match 40: 29 April 2026, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans — New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
Matches 41 to 70 (30 April – 24 May 2026)
- Match 41: 30 April 2026, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings — Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Match 42: 1 May 2026, Friday, 7:30 PM — Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders — Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
- Match 43: 2 May 2026, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Match 44: 3 May 2026, Sunday, 3:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings — Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Match 45: 3 May 2026, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings — Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Match 46: 4 May 2026, Monday, 7:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans — Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Match 47: 5 May 2026, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
- Match 48: 6 May 2026, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians — Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Match 49: 7 May 2026, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals — MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Match 50: 8 May 2026, Friday, 7:30 PM — Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Match 51: 9 May 2026, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders — Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Match 52: 10 May 2026, Sunday, 3:30 PM — Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Match 53: 10 May 2026, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals — Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Match 54: 11 May 2026, Monday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans — MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Match 55: 12 May 2026, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Match 56: 13 May 2026, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants — Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Match 57: 14 May 2026, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians — Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
- Match 58: 15 May 2026, Friday, 7:30 PM — Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals — Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Match 59: 16 May 2026, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Match 60: 17 May 2026, Sunday, 3:30 PM — Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders — New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
- Match 61: 17 May 2026, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Rajasthan Royals — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Match 62: 18 May 2026, Monday, 7:30 PM — Lucknow Super Giants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Match 63: 19 May 2026, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings — Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Match 64: 20 May 2026, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders — Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Match 65: 21 May 2026, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Match 66: 22 May 2026, Friday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Match 67: 23 May 2026, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals — Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Match 68: 24 May 2026, Sunday, 3:30 PM — Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants — Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Match 69: 24 May 2026, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans — Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
- Match 70: 24 May 2026, Sunday (late evening if double header) — Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings — Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (venues for last few matches may vary slightly as per final confirmation)
Playoffs & Final (May 2026)
- Qualifier 1: 26 May 2026 (1st vs 2nd) — Venue: To be announced
- Eliminator: 27 May 2026 (3rd vs 4th) — Venue: To be announced
- Qualifier 2: 29 May 2026 — Venue: To be announced
- Final: 31 May 2026 — Venue: To be announced (likely Bengaluru or Ahmedabad)
Teams in Playoffs & Final: TBA (Top 4 teams from league stage points table). You can write “TBA” or “Top 4 Teams”.
Conclusion
The Indian Premier League 2026 promises to be one of the most exciting seasons in T20 cricket history, featuring top teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, and Chennai Super Kings competing across iconic venues. With a well-structured schedule of 74 matches, including thrilling league games and high-pressure playoffs, fans can expect nonstop action from March 28 to May 31, 2026. The opening clash and the grand final will be key highlights, while the double round-robin format ensures every team gets equal opportunities to shine. As teams battle for a place in the top four, consistency and performance under pressure will decide the champions. Whether you are a casual viewer or a dedicated cricket fan, IPL 2026 is set to deliver entertainment, intense rivalries, and unforgettable moments throughout the tournament.
Green Benn is a dedicated sports writer specializing in cricket, including IPL and international formats. Known for clear, engaging, and informative content, Green simplifies complex match analysis and player statistics for all readers. Passionate about sports storytelling, Green delivers reliable, SEO-friendly articles that keep fans updated and informed
