The Board of Control for Cricket in India released the second phase schedule for the TATA IPL 2026 on March 26, 2026, completing the full picture of the league stage for cricket fans across the country. The second phase comprises 50 matches and runs from April 13 to May 24, 2026, across 12 venues in India. The playoff venues will be announced separately at a later date, with the final confirmed for May 31 in Bengaluru.
The second phase kicks off on April 13 with Sunrisers Hyderabad taking on Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad, setting the tone for what the BCCI describes as a crucial phase where teams will battle intensely for playoff positions through the latter half of the league stage.
Phase 2 at a Glance
Total matches in phase 2: 50. Start date: April 13, 2026. End date: May 24, 2026. Venues: 12. Double headers: 8. Afternoon match start time: 3:30 PM IST. Evening match start time: 7:30 PM IST. Opening fixture: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, Hyderabad, April 13.
The 12 venues for the second phase are Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Dharamsala, Raipur, and New Chandigarh. Guwahati, which hosted Rajasthan Royals in the first phase, does not feature in the second phase schedule.
Home Ground Arrangements for Phase 2
Several franchises have split home ground arrangements that fans should note when planning to attend matches in the second phase.
Punjab Kings will play their phase 2 home matches across two venues, New Chandigarh and Dharamsala. Three of their home fixtures in this phase will be held at the scenic HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, one of the most picturesque cricket venues in the world and a ground that generates exceptional atmosphere for day matches given its Himalayan backdrop.
Rajasthan Royals return to their primary home ground at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur for four home games in the second phase, having played their first phase home matches in Guwahati.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will split their second phase home fixtures between the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where they will host three matches, and the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, where they will host two matches. The Raipur fixtures extend RCB’s geographical footprint into Chhattisgarh, bringing IPL cricket to a market with significant cricket enthusiasm and a growing fanbase.
Eight Double Headers in Phase 2
The second phase features eight double header weekends, with afternoon matches starting at 3:30 PM IST and evening matches at 7:30 PM IST. Double headers provide fans with back-to-back IPL action across different venues on the same day and are typically among the most watched days of the IPL calendar. For the eight weekends featuring double headers in phase 2, cricket fans will have six hours of live IPL action available across afternoon and evening slots.
The Race for Playoffs
With 20 league stage matches completed in phase 1 and 50 remaining in phase 2, the playoff race is the defining narrative of the second phase. All ten teams will have played four matches by the time phase 2 begins on April 13, meaning the vast majority of each team’s league stage campaign lies ahead. The top four teams at the conclusion of the league stage on May 24 will advance to the playoffs, with the playoff venues and dates to be confirmed by BCCI at a later stage.
The defending champions RCB enter phase 2 having played the opening match of the season and three further first phase fixtures. Their phase 2 schedule includes the high-profile home clashes at Chinnaswamy and the Raipur away fixtures that give their campaign a geographical spread unusual for a franchise typically associated exclusively with Bengaluru.
How to Watch and Attend
All IPL 2026 matches including the second phase fixtures are broadcast on Star Sports and streamed live on JioHotstar. Tickets for second phase matches will be available on BookMyShow, District by Zomato, and Paytm. Fans are advised to purchase tickets exclusively through these official platforms and to avoid third-party sellers offering IPL tickets, which BCCI and franchises have consistently warned may be fraudulent.
This article is based on the official BCCI media advisory issued on March 26, 2026. Playoff fixture details will be updated when announced by BCCI. All match timings are in IST and subject to change.