RCB vs CSK set to kick off IPL 2026 — Reports
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League is set to begin on March 28. And it is expected that the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will host 5-time champions, Chennai Super Kings, at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, in the tournament opener. The BCCI will announce the official IPL 2026 schedule in a couple of days (most likely on March 12). According to reports, last season's runners-up, the Punjab Kings, will be in action on March 29 against the Gujarat Titans at Mullanpur. The IPL 2026 Final will be played on May 31.
The BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the IPL 2026 schedule will be released in one or two days. The schedule will be released in two phases due to the Assembly elections being declared by the Election Commission of India. The states of West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu will conduct the election during the IPL 2026 season, which is why the IPL Governing Council has cleared the plan for a two-phase schedule.
"We are hoping to release the IPL schedule in a day or two," Devajit Saikia, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), confirmed to Cricbuzz on Tuesday (March 10) evening. "It will be a staggered two-phase schedule, and we will release the first phase, covering the first 20 days, on March 12 or 13. The second phase of the schedule will be announced after the dates of the Assembly elections are declared by the Election Commission of India."
"We are waiting for confirmations from a few centres, and once they come, we will announce the dates for the first phase," the BCCI secretary further said, confirming that there will be one new venue—Raipur—apart from the regular centres of the league.
The league traditionally prefers a high-voltage blockbuster match as the tournament opener, which sets the tempo for the rest of the season. According to Brand Finance & fan following, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Kolkata Knight Riders are considered the most popular IPL franchises, and most of the time, one of these teams starts the tournament.
All the franchises have started their preparations for the upcoming IPL season. According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed all franchises that the annual meeting with coaches and captains will take place in Mumbai on March 25. The board stated that the meeting's agenda will be revealed later. The meeting usually includes a discussion of the major adjustments that are planned for the next season. The BCCI has also instructed the franchises that the captains' shoot will be held in New Delhi on March 15.
