cricbuzz: The BCCI has released the full IPL league-stage schedule showing Mumbai Indians will face Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru twice as the 19th season opens on March 28 ET. The schedule reverses the recent grouping structure and spreads 50 matches from April 13 to May 24 ET across 12 venues. Organizers made the announcement to set exact dates and a revised pattern of intra- and inter-group fixtures.
Key fixtures, dates and the reversed group structure
The revised schedule places teams into two title-count groups and reverses the recent pattern: teams in the same group will play each other once and face teams in the opposite group twice. That reversal produces headline fixtures — CSK vs MI on April 23 in Mumbai and May 2 in Chennai, and MI vs RCB on April 12 in Mumbai and May 10 in Raipur. The season begins on March 28 ET and had 20 matches slated between March 28 and April 12 ET, with a further 50 matches set from April 13 to May 24 ET.
Cricbuzz: Groups, venues and scheduling details
Groups have been drawn by title counts. Group A comprises Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings. Group B comprises Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. The calendar includes 12 venues, with Raipur named as a second home base for Royal Challengers Bengaluru for two matches and Dharamsala returning to the rotation with the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association ground hosting Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings on May 11 ET.
Initial plans featured four double-headers; the complete schedule adds eight more double-headers. The calendar includes 12 afternoon matches, with all teams playing a minimum of two afternoon games. Rajasthan Royals are the only team scheduled to play two afternoon matches away from home, while Delhi Capitals will host two afternoon fixtures at their home venue. Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals are scheduled for three afternoon matches each, one more than the other seven teams.
What this means and what’s next
The swapped intra-/inter-group pattern reshapes marquee matchups and creates repeat high-profile clashes for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With playoff venues still to be confirmed, the league-stage calendar fixes the bulk of the action and sets clear travel and venue commitments through May 24 ET. Organizers will announce playoff venues and any remaining logistical details next; broadcasters and teams will finalize travel and hosting plans ahead of the March 28 ET season opener.
For fans tracking fixtures in real time, cricbuzz-style scoreboards and fixture trackers will be essential once the tournament begins; the calendar now gives supporters and teams a clear map of the league stage and the intensified run of matches that follows.
