March 12, 2026

IPL 2026 Schedule: First 20 Matches Confirmed Across Venues

The IPL 2026 schedule for first 20 match reveals a packed start to the tournament, with games spread across India’s biggest cricket venues. Bengaluru hosts the opener where Royal Challengers Bengaluru meet Sunrisers Hyderabad under the lights. That night alone will set the tempo for what promises to be a gripping campaign.

IPL 2026 First 20 Matches Schedule (Pakistan Time)

Match	Date	Time (PKT)	Teams	Venue
Match 1	Mar 28 (Sat)	7:00 pm	Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Match 2	Mar 29 (Sun)	7:00 pm	Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Match 3	Mar 30 (Mon)	7:00 pm	Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings	ACA Stadium, Guwahati
Match 4	Mar 31 (Tue)	7:00 pm	Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans	New PCA Stadium, Chandigarh
Match 5	Apr 1 (Wed)	7:00 pm	Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals	Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Match 6	Apr 2 (Thu)	7:00 pm	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Match 7	Apr 3 (Fri)	7:00 pm	Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Match 8	Apr 4 (Sat)	3:00 pm	Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians	Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Match 9	Apr 4 (Sat)	7:00 pm	Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals	Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Match 10	Apr 5 (Sun)	3:00 pm	Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants	Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Stadium, Hyderabad
Match 11	Apr 5 (Sun)	7:00 pm	Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Match 12	Apr 6 (Mon)	7:00 pm	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Match 13	Apr 7 (Tue)	7:00 pm	Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians	ACA Stadium, Guwahati
Match 14	Apr 8 (Wed)	7:00 pm	Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans	Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Match 15	Apr 9 (Thu)	7:00 pm	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Match 16	Apr 10 (Fri)	7:00 pm	Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru	ACA Stadium, Guwahati
Match 17	Apr 11 (Sat)	3:00 pm	Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad	New PCA Stadium, Chandigarh
Match 18	Apr 11 (Sat)	7:00 pm	Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Match 19	Apr 12 (Sun)	3:00 pm	Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans	Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Match 20	Apr 12 (Sun)	7:00 pm	Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

A few fixtures already stand out. The April 5 meeting between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru is one fans circle early. When those two sides collide, the noise rarely drops below thunder.

The first 20 matches of IPL 2026 also features several double-headers. April 4 brings an afternoon clash between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians before Gujarat Titans face Rajasthan Royals later that evening in Ahmedabad.

Travel is often tough in league cricket across veneues. Teams move between cities almost every other day. These quick shifts often affect early form and the points table. A strong start can shape the rest of the season.

By April 12, every franchise will have stepped onto the field at least once. At that stage, the IPL 2026 schedule for first 20 match will already begin revealing patterns. In longer tournaments, some teams build momentum quickly, while others try to recover and stay in the race.