The next edition of the Indian Premier League will begin on March 28, 2026, with official broadcaster Star Sports confirming the start date on Sunday. The announcement was made shortly before the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 between India national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.While the tournament’s opening date has now been revealed, the detailed schedule for the IPL 2026 season is still awaited from the league organisers.The defending champions heading into the new campaign are Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who clinched the 2025 title after defeating the Punjab Kings by six runs in the final played in Ahmedabad.Earlier this month, Santosh Menon, Secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, confirmed that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will stage five of RCB’s home matches during the upcoming season. However, not all of RCB’s home games will take place in Bengaluru. The franchise’s remaining two home fixtures will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.In an official statement released earlier this week, the franchise expressed its appreciation to the authorities who helped facilitate the return of IPL matches to Bengaluru.“RCB extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Karnataka, the Karnataka State Cricket Association and the Karnataka Police for their unwavering guidance, cooperation and support in facilitating the hosting of matches in Bengaluru. The collective efforts to ramp up infrastructure and safety measures in time for the IPL season have ensured that the defending champions will play the majority of their home games in their home ground,” the statement said.Rajesh Menon, CEO of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, highlighted the importance of the Chinnaswamy Stadium to the franchise and its supporters.“The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is more than just our home ground; it is where our identity as a team truly comes alive. The energy our fans bring to Bengaluru has always been a driving force for our players, inspiring them through every phase of the game. Our fans have stood by us unconditionally, and they deserve the opportunity to watch their team compete at home.”“After detailed discussions and completing the necessary due process around permissions, we are pleased to confirm that RCB will play five matches in Bengaluru. We sincerely thank the Government of Karnataka, the KSCA, and the Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible,” Menon added.Cricketing activity at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium had been suspended since June last year following a tragic stampede during RCB’s IPL 2025 title celebrations, in which 11 people lost their lives and several others were injured. The upcoming season will mark the return of IPL matches to the iconic Bengaluru venue.
