The Board of Control for Cricket in India has finally announced the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule. After much waiting, the initial phase shall run from March 28 to April 12 with 20 matches played all over India. This is the heart of cricket in India, and this announcement is already getting many fans on 12BET Exchange extremely excited for top odds!
Table of Contents
IPL 2026 Schedule Overview for the Opening Phase
Season Opener and Early Fixtures
Per the latest IPL 2026 schedule, defending winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru shall host Sunrisers Hyderabad for the opening match. Such a major match clash will happen in M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28.
With such a schedule, the next day happens where Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium.
In the first phase of the IPL schedule this year, it will have 20 matches in 10 venues. Host cities are included such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad.
Double-Headers and Match Timings
One key feature to note in the schedule is the addition of four double-header match days. Meaning that one of the days, fans will be able to watch two matches, along the afternoon matches starting at 03:30 PM IST and evening ones at 07:30 PM IST.
With that, it’s good to note that the first double-header in the IPL 2026 schedule will happen on April 4 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Delhi Capitals will face Mumbai Indians in the afternoon match, and in the evening, Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Early Fixtures Set the Stage for the Season
This announcement of the first phase of the IPL 2026 is exciting many fans who have been waiting for official news! 20 matches are scheduled all over major cricket venues, and the opening phase is bound to provide high-energy clashes. While the rest of the schedule is getting finalized, be sure to stick around and get your best IPL 2026 odds at 12BET India!
