The excitement surrounding the IPL 2026 first match date is already building as fans eagerly await the return of the world’s most electrifying T20 tournament.
With the Indian Premier League set to deliver another action-packed season, the announcement of the opening fixture will officially mark the beginning of cricket’s biggest festival.
The IPL 2026 first match date will not just signal the start of a new campaign — it will set the tone for weeks of high-intensity clashes, packed stadiums, and unforgettable performances.
With a star-studded IPL 2026 squad and strong support from major brands on the IPL 2026 sponsors list, the league’s commercial appeal and global reach are clear.
IPL 2026 First Match Date
The BCCI has unveiled the first phase of the IPL 2026 tournament where RCB and SRH play in the opener match on March 28 at Bengaluru.
- Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Date: 28 March 2026
- Time(IST): 07:30 PM
- Time(GMT): 02:00 PM
IPL 2026 First Match Live Streaming
Fans can catch all the action through IPL 2026 First Match Live Streaming, ensuring they don’t miss a single moment of the tournament’s highly anticipated opening clash.
The IPL 2023-27 media rights have earned INR 48,390 crores (digital+TV). Across five years of media rights, a total of 410 matches will be played where BCCI earns roughly INR 118 crore per match.
Disney Star retained their Indian sub-continent TV rights by paying Rs 23,575 crore (Rs 57.5 crore/game) while Viacom18 bagged the digital rights with a winning bid of Rs 23,578 crore.
For Indian fans, JioHotstar and Star Sports network will livestream and telecast the whole tournament. But don’t worry, we have listed the IPL 2026 First Match Live Streaming for all locations below:
| Location | Broadcaster |
| India | Star Sports, JioHotstar |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports |
| United States | Willow TV |
| Australia | Fox Sports, Kayo Sports |
| Middle East | Cricbuzz App |
| South Africa | SuperSport |
| Pakistan | Tapmad |
| New Zealand | Yupp TV |
| Caribbean | Flow Sports (Flow Sports 2) |
| Canada | Willow TV |
| Bangladesh | T Sports |
| Afghanistan | Ariana Television Network |
| Nepal | Star Sports, Yupp TV |
| Sri Lanka | Supreme TV |
| Maldives | Star Sports, Yupp TV |
| Singapore | StarHub |
| Guyana | ENet |
DIGITAL |
JioHotstar, Yupp TV, Foxtel, StarHub |
Radio |
Cricket Radio, 89.1 Radio 4 FM, Gold 101.3 FM, Talksport |
Don’t have time to watch the match live? then bookmark “Who won yesterday’s IPL match in IPL 2026” to check playing 11, scorecard, player of the match and live streaming details of the last played match.
IPL First Match History Since 2008
| Year | Match |
| 2026 | TBA |
| 2025 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| 2024 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings |
| 2023 | Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings |
| 2022 | Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders |
| 2021 | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challenger Bangalore |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings |
| 2019 | Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| 2018 | Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings |
| 2017 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| 2016 | Mumbai Indians vs Rising Pune Supergiant |
| 2015 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians |
| 2014 | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders |
| 2013 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals |
| 2012 | Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders |
| 2010 | Deccan Charges vs Kolkata Knight Riders |
| 2009 | Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians |
| 2008 | Royal Challengers Banglore vs Kolkata Knight Riders |
