RCB vs CSK set to kick-off IPL 2026 as schedule for first two games gets leaked - Reports

IPL 2026 will be played from March 28 with RCB set to defend their title.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is all set to begin on March 28. The season dates were officially confirmed by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia. The initial dates for the start of the season was March 26, but it was postponed by two days.

In another major development, as per reports in Cricbuzz, the finalists of IPL 2025 Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be playing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the tournament opener. Although, the venue is yet to confirmed, it is expected that first match will be played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Generally, the first match of a new IPL season is played between the last year’s finalists. However, it will be a bit different this season. While RCB will play CSK, Punjab Kings (PBKS), on the other hand, will start their campaign against the Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 29 in Mullanpur, as per Cricbuzz.

The BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia recently confirmed that the schedule for IPL 2026 will be announced by March 12 or 13.

“We are hoping to release the IPL schedule in a day or two. “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” Saikia confirmed the same to Cricbuzz on May 10.

State elections to affect IPL 2026 schedule announcement

Meanwhile, the reason behind the announcement of the IPL 2026 schedule in phases is due to elections in states like Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal and Kerala. The elections might affect the IPL schedule in three of the four states and hence the delay. The other reason for the delay, as stated by Saikia, is that the BCCI is awaiting the confirmation of Raipur being added as a new venue.

“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

Previously, in few seasons the IPL schedule was announced in phases due to state elections as well. The similar procedure will be followed in IPL 2026 as well. Meanwhile, the teams have started practicing ahead of the new season in various centres across the country.

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