March 11, 2026 — The wait is over! The BCCI has officially released the first phase of the TATA IPL 2026 schedule. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will kick off the 19th edition at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28.

Due to upcoming State Assembly elections in three states, only the first 20 matches (Phase 1) have been announced. The tournament will feature its classic double-header format on weekends, with 7:30 PM IST starts for evening games.

Phase 1 Marquee Fixtures

March 28 RCB vs SRH Bengaluru
March 29 MI vs KKR Mumbai
March 30 RR vs CSK Guwahati
April 4 (DH) DC vs MI Delhi
April 5 (DH) RCB vs CSK Bengaluru

Key Takeaways for 2026

Guwahati as Home: Rajasthan Royals will play their initial home games at the ACA Stadium, Barsapara, hosting heavyweights like CSK and MI.
Chinnaswamy Clearance: While RCB is scheduled for March 28, the stadium is awaiting final clearance from an expert committee on March 13 following last year’s stampede.
Defending the Crown: All eyes are on Rajat Patidar-led RCB to see if they can become the first team since MI to win back-to-back titles.

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