The Indian Premier League 2026 season will begin on March 28, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru set to kick off the tournament against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the first phase of the schedule, which includes the opening 20 matches of the tournament from March 28 to April 12. The remaining fixtures will be announced later due to upcoming state elections in several parts of the country.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will begin their title defence with four matches during the first phase, including two home games and two away fixtures.
IPL 2026 Format and Tournament Structure
The 19th edition of the IPL will follow the traditional league stage and playoffs format. All teams will compete in the group stage, and the top four teams in the points table will advance to the playoffs.
The first phase of IPL 2026 will feature matches across multiple cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kolkata, Hyderabad and New Chandigarh.
Most matches are scheduled to start at 7:30 PM IST, which remains the standard evening slot for IPL fixtures.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 Match Schedule
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play four matches in the opening phase of the season.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| April 5, 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| April 10, 2026 | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| April 12, 2026 | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
RCB Home Matches in IPL 2026
RCB will begin the season with two home matches in Bengaluru.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 28 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| April 5 | Chennai Super Kings | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
One of the biggest highlights of this phase will be the clash between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, as Chennai Super Kings visit Bengaluru in what is often referred to as one of the IPL’s most anticipated rivalries.
RCB Away Matches in IPL 2026
Following their home games, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play two away matches.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 10 | Rajasthan Royals | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| April 12 | Mumbai Indians | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
These fixtures will test the defending champions in different playing conditions as they travel across the country.
RCB Begin Title Defence After Historic IPL 2025 Victory
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter the 2026 season as defending champions, having secured their first IPL title in 2025 after years of near misses.
The victory ended a long wait for the franchise and its supporters, and the team now aims to replicate that success and defend the championship in the new season.
Uncertainty Around Chinnaswamy Stadium Hosting IPL Matches
Although Bengaluru is scheduled to host multiple IPL matches, the status of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as a venue remains under review.
Following safety concerns raised after a tragic stampede during the team’s title celebrations, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and the state government formed an expert committee to inspect the stadium’s readiness.
The inspection includes a full-scale mock demonstration of match-day operations to ensure safety and crowd management before approving the venue for IPL games.
Possible Additional Home Venue for RCB
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are also expected tosplit their home fixtures between two venues during the tournament.
While Bengaluru will remain their primary home ground, the franchise may host two matches at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, depending on the final venue approvals.
This arrangement could help the franchise manage scheduling challenges and stadium capacity concerns.
Key Fixtures to Watch for RCB in IPL 2026
Several early matches in the RCB schedule promise exciting contests:
Season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru
High-profile clash with Chennai Super Kings
Away fixture against the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati
Rivalry match against the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium
These matches could play an important role in shaping the defending champions’ campaign in the early part of the season.
What to Expect From RCB in IPL 2026
With a championship-winning squad and strong leadership, Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter IPL 2026 with high expectations. The team will aim to maintain their momentum from the previous season and secure another playoff berth.
If RCB can start strongly in the first phase of the tournament, they could once again emerge as serious contenders for the IPL title.
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