The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to kick off with a bang as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28. This thrilling opener promises to set the tone for the season, featuring RCB's powerful batting lineup, led by Virat Kohli, against SRH's disciplined bowling attack, led by Pat Cummins. The match is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm IST, and fans can expect fireworks from both teams. RCB will be looking to start their title defense on a high note, while SRH aims to make a strong statement in the tournament. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is awaiting clearance from an expert committee constituted by the Karnataka state government to host IPL 2026 matches. The committee will inspect the stadium on March 13, 2026, and conduct a mock demonstration of match-day arrangements to assess its preparedness. IPL 2026 is set to kick off on March 28 with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The first phase of the tournament features 20 matches, including four double-headers, and will see all ten teams play four games each. The schedule was released in two phases due to state elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam, where teams like KKR, Chennai Super Kings, and Rajasthan Royals have home grounds. RR will wrap up the Guwahati leg of their season in this first phase, which includes three matches at the venue. Their other four home games are set be played at their primary home ground, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Two other teams have secondary home grounds this season. RCB will play two matches in Raipur and Punjab Kings (PBKS) three matches in Dharamsala. Since the IPL began in 2008, the schedule has been announced in two parts whenever the country has had general elections - in 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024 - or states involved in the tournament have had assembly elections. The uncertainty surrounding the stadium's clearance is due to a tragic stampede incident that occurred during RCB's victory parade celebrations in June 2025, resulting in 11 fatalities. The Karnataka government has imposed strict safety measures for large gatherings, including sporting events, and the stadium is undergoing infrastructure upgrades to meet these requirements.