Here is the full news report covering everything you need to know about the upcoming IPL 2026 season:
TATA IPL 2026: The Cricketing Extravaganza Returns
The wait is finally over for cricket fans! The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially lifted the curtain on the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, setting the stage for what promises to be a record-breaking 19th edition. With a staggering 84 matches scheduled, expanded venues, and massive player shake-ups, this season is already dominating the sports headlines.
IPL 2026 Start Date and Phase 1 Schedule
The 2026 season will officially kick off on Friday, March 28, 2026. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will host the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a blockbuster opening clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Currently, the BCCI has only released the schedule for Phase 1 (March 28 to April 12), which features the first 20 matches. The full schedule for the remainder of the tournament will be announced shortly, as the board is carefully coordinating dates to avoid clashing with the upcoming State Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.
Opening Weekend Fixtures to Watch:
тАв March 28 (Evening): Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (Bengaluru)
тАв March 29 (Evening): Mumbai Indians vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (Mumbai)
тАв March 30 (Evening): Rajasthan Royals vs. Chennai Super Kings (Guwahati)
Biggest News & Surprises for IPL 2026
This season brings an exciting new format alongside some of the most shocking roster moves in IPL history:
тАв The Mega Trade тАФ Jadeja and Samson Swap: In a jaw-dropping pre-season trade that broke the internet, long-time CSK all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was traded to the Rajasthan Royals. Moving the other way is Sanju Samson, who will be donning the iconic yellow jersey for the Chennai Super Kings for the very first time.
тАв Expanded Tournament Format: The IPL Governing Council has officially expanded the tournament schedule. Fans will be treated to a total of 84 matches this seasonтАФ10 more than last yearтАФproviding more action and a grueling test of endurance for the squads.
тАв Split Home Venues: Several franchises are taking cricket to new regions by splitting their home games across two cities:
тАв RCB: Will play 5 matches in Bengaluru and 2 matches at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur.
тАв Punjab Kings: Will play 4 home fixtures in New Chandigarh and 3 in the picturesque stadium in Dharamshala.
тАв Rajasthan Royals: Will begin their campaign with 3 home matches in Guwahati before returning to Jaipur for their remaining 4 home games.
тАв BCCI Intervenes with KKR: In a late breaking development, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had to drop pacer Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the upcoming season following an official intervention by the BCCI.
Phase 1 Host Cities
The first 20 matches of the season will be spread across 10 different venues to ensure fans nationwide can catch the live action:
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