Published: 27 March 2026ESPN CricinfoSports
IPL 2026 Kicks Off: Defending Champions RCB Face SRH in Season Opener at Chinnaswamy
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicked off on March 28, 2026, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru at 7:30 PM IST.
Rajat Patidar-led RCB entered the season on a high following their maiden IPL title win in 2025. The defending champions relied on their batting line-up featuring Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, and Jacob Bethell. The BCCI decided to cancel the originally planned opening ceremony as a mark of respect for the 11 people who lost their lives in a tragic stampede at the venue last year. Despite the solemn start, the tournament began as scheduled.
The 19th edition will run through May 2026, with 74 matches across multiple venues in India.
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Frequently asked questions
When did IPL 2026 kick off and which teams played the opening match?
**IPL 2026 (19th edition)** kicked off on **March 28, 2026** with defending champions **Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)** taking on **Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)** at **M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru** at **7:30 PM IST**.
Who is the captain of RCB in IPL 2026 and what is their batting lineup?
**Rajat Patidar** captains RCB in IPL 2026. The batting lineup features **Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, and Jacob Bethell**. RCB entered as defending champions after winning their **maiden IPL title in 2025**.
Why did BCCI cancel the IPL 2026 opening ceremony at Chinnaswamy Stadium?
The **BCCI cancelled the IPL 2026 opening ceremony** as a mark of respect for the **11 people who lost their lives** in a tragic stampede at the **M. Chinnaswamy Stadium** during last year's IPL victory celebration. The tournament itself began as scheduled.
How many matches and teams are there in IPL 2026 and when does the season end?
**IPL 2026 features 10 teams** competing across **74 matches**. The 19th edition will run through **May 2026** across multiple venues in India. It began on March 28, 2026 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
Which bowlers are unavailable for RCB at the start of IPL 2026?
RCB's pace bowling faced pressure at the start of IPL 2026 with **Yash Dayal ruled out** and **Josh Hazlewood yet to regain match fitness**. This put pressure on their bowling attack despite a strong batting lineup featuring Virat Kohli and Phil Salt.
