The opening match of the 19th season of the Indian Premier League will not include both the defending champions and the runners-up from the 2025 season.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings will start their campaigns in separate games across the first two days of the tournament.

The league usually starts its season with a major match which typically includes the current champion team. The opening game of this year will feature Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they compete against their popular rivals Chennai Super Kings. Reports from Brand Finance and Duff and Phelps identify Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders as the four most important teams in the league.

Reports suggest that runners-up Punjab Kings will open their campaign against the Gujarat Titans at their home ground in Mullanpur on March 29. As announced earlier the IPL season will begin on March 28 in Bengaluru.

The 19th edition of the IPL will take place from March 28 to May 31 according to earlier updates which changed the original schedule that ran from March 26 to May 30. The organizers have decided to distribute the match schedule in multiple parts instead of providing complete details at one time. The Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Devajit Saikia declared that tournament officials will disclose the match schedule for the first 20 days on Thursday March 12.

The BCCI has scheduled its annual meeting with team captains and coaches for March 25 in Mumbai according to information provided to all franchises. The officials will announce the meeting agenda at a later time, yet the discussions will generally focus on essential rule modifications and seasonal updates. The board has also told franchises that the captains’ photoshoot will take place in New Delhi on March 15.