The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has officially begun today, with the first match of IPL 2026 scheduled for Saturday, March 28 in Bengaluru. The season opener features defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, marking the start of a two‑month tournament involving 10 franchises across 13 cities.
Google Marks IPL Kick‑Off With Special Doodle
To mark the start of the IPL 2026 season, Search engine giant Google unveiled a special animated “Men’s Indian Premier League 2026 Season Begins” neon animated Doodle on its homepage. Google's latest doodle for IPL featured a bright purple neon theme with blinking lights, featuring a cricket bat and ball with a shiny star, such as 'Zing Bails' and other visual motifs around the Google logo.
Clicking on the Doodle directs users to an IPL 2026 page with live scores, match schedules, and the points table, turning the search engine into a one‑stop hub for fans following the tournament. The company described the doodle as a way to celebrate the global excitement around cricket’s biggest T20 league.
Opening Match
The season‑opening fixture sees Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who won their maiden IPL title by defeating Punjab Kings last year, beginning their campaign as defending champions against SunRisers Hyderabad. The match is set to begin at 7:30 pm at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.