IPL 2026 is Here: RCB Eye Back-to-Back Titles as Action Begins March 28

The countdown is finally over. The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off tomorrow, March 28, 2026, with a blockbuster clash between defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru .

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now released the complete schedule for the tournament after a brief delay due to assembly elections in several states. A total of 74 matches will be played across 13 venues, culminating in the final on May 31 .

Full Schedule: 50 More Matches Announced for Phase 2

After initially releasing the first 20 fixtures, the BCCI has confirmed the second phase schedule, which runs from April 13 to May 24. This phase will feature 50 matches across 12 cities, including the scenic venues of Dharamsala and Raipur .

Here are some key dates to mark on your calendar:

• The Opener (March 28): RCB vs SRH in Bengaluru .

• El Clasico (April 23 & May 2): The five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI), will face off twice this season—first in Mumbai on April 23, and then in Chennai on May 2 .

• RCB in Raipur: For the first time, RCB will play two "home" games away from Bengaluru, hosting MI (May 10) and KKR (May 13) in Raipur .

• League Finale (May 24): The league stage ends with a double-header featuring MI vs RR in Mumbai and KKR vs DC in Kolkata .

Squads: Key Retentions and New Faces

All 10 franchises have finalized their squads. Here are the major talking points:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): The defending champions will rely heavily on their core of Virat Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar. However, they face a double injury blow. Josh Hazlewood, the hero of their 2025 campaign, will miss the start of the season as he recovers from hamstring and Achilles issues . Meanwhile, Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara has been ruled out entirely after being denied a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by Sri Lanka Cricket due to fitness concerns .

Chennai Super Kings (CSK): The legendary MS Dhoni returns for another season, but all eyes will be on Sanju Samson, who joins the franchise after a high-profile move. CSK boasts a formidable middle order with Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis .

Mumbai Indians (MI): With Hardik Pandya at the helm, MI looks strong with the return of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult leading the pace attack. Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav will anchor the batting .

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Ishan Kishan takes over the captaincy duties. He will have the explosive Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen alongside him in the batting lineup, while Pat Cummins leads the bowling attack .

Other Key Moves:

• Punjab Kings (PBKS): Shreyas Iyer will lead a new-look side that includes Yuzvendra Chahal and Marcus Stoinis .

• Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): Rishabh Pant takes over as captain, with Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram providing all-round depth .

Venues: 13 Cities to Host Action

The tournament will spread its wings across 13 cities. Notably, Dharamsala returns to the IPL calendar after last year's schedule was disrupted. Here is the full list of venues:

1. Bengaluru (RCB)

2. Chennai (CSK)

3. Kolkata (KKR)

4. Mumbai (MI)

5. Ahmedabad (GT)

6. Delhi (DC)

7. Hyderabad (SRH)

8. Lucknow (LSG)

9. Jaipur (RR)

10. New Chandigarh (PBKS)

11. Guwahati (RR)

12. Dharamsala (PBKS)

13. Raipur (RCB) 

How to Watch IPL 2026: Live Streaming & Broadcast

If you are in India, you can catch all the action live on the Star Sports Network (TV) or stream it on JioHotstar (app and web) .

International Broadcast:

• USA & Canada: Willow TV

• UK: Sky Sports Cricket

• Australia: Fox Sports & Kayo Sports

• Middle East: CricLife

• South Africa: SuperSport 

Key Rule Changes & News

• Impact Player Stays: Despite concerns from several captains, the Impact Player rule remains in place for this season and will continue until 2027 .

• Ball Change Rule: To counter dew, fielding captains can request a ball change after the 10th over of the second innings in night matches .

• No PSL in India: In other cricket news, the broadcast of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been banned in India this year due to geopolitical tensions .

The Road Ahead

With RCB starting as favorites on their home turf and traditional powerhouses like CSK and MI hungry to reclaim the throne, IPL 2026 promises to be a thrilling ride. The upcoming weeks will test team depth, player fitness, and strategic acumen as the race for the playoffs heats up.