Five-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will face each other twice in IPL 2026 as complete schedule for the league phase was put out by BCCI on Thursday. MI will also take on defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru twice with the 19th season of the tournament starting from March 28.The BCCI had initially released part of the season’s schedule and on Thursday they put on almost all of it with only the venues of playoffs left out.
Teams have been split into two groups based on the number of titles they have won, as has been the case previously. Group A comprises: CSK (5), Kolkata Knight Riders (3), Rajasthan Royals (1), RCB (1) and Punjab Kings while Group B comprises: MI (5), Sunrisers Hyderabad (1), Gujarat Titans (1), Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants.
In the past three years, teams in the same group played each other twice and once against teams in the opposite group. This year the IPL has reversed that structure with teams in the same group playing each other once and twice against teams in the opposite group. This allows for the CSK vs MI clashes on April 23 in Mumbai and May 2 in Chennai and the MI vs RCB clashes on April 12 in Mumbai and May 10 in Raipur.
Twenty matches were scheduled to take place between March 28, when the season begins with defending champions RCB taking on SRH, and April 12, a double header Sunday.
Fifty matches have been scheduled to take place from April 13 to May 24 across 12 venues in India, including Raipur which RCB have chosen as a second home base for two games.
Dharamsala also returns to the calendar. Last year, the DC vs PBKS game was halted after cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. This year, on May 11, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association ground will introduce itself with that very same contest.
There were four double-headers in the initial schedule. Eight more have been added now. The dates and venues for the playoffs are not yet out. ESPNcricinfo understands the final will be taking place on May 31.
Afternoon game discrepancy
There will be 12 afternoon matches with all teams playing minimum two each. Barring RR, all other teams will host at least one afternoon match at home. RR are the only side to play two afternoon games away while DC will be the only team to host two afternoon matches at home.
Of bigger significance, though, is three teams – PBKS, SRH and DC – play three afternoon matches each compared to the other seven playing one less.
