Rivalries In IPL 2026 To Not Miss: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to kick off on March 28. The opening phase of the tournament is expected to bring with it some of the most exciting matches of IPL 2026.
With 10 teams set to face each other in the first 20 matches of IPL 2026 between March 28 and April 12, fans can look forward to exciting matches, historic rivalries, and explosive batting displays right at the beginning of the tournament.
Some of the exciting matches between top teams like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Kolkata Knight Riders are part of the opening phase of IPL 2026.
Top Rivalries In IPL 2026 To Not Miss
1. RCB vs SRH – IPL 2026 Opening Match (March 28, Bengaluru)
The opening game of the IPL season of 2026 will host a dramatic match for both teams from the south: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) & Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have had their share of excitement playing at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
RCB will want to defend their title having won last year’s title against another franchisee and have the additional challenge of trying to win the title for the first time while still competing with SCG. The leadership of RCB will be able to rely on Captain Rajat Patidar to help build upon what was accomplished last year and get off to a strong start at home where the fans support RCB.
2. MI vs KKR – Clash of Champions (March 29, Mumbai)
A blockbuster cricket match will take place between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Hyderabad Sunrisers on March 29th at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Read More
Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders has been deemed as an IND vs KX matchup to really watch if you miss at least one game from the current 2026 IPL season.
Mumbai Indians have an outstanding home (Wankhede) and once again, will feature all of the following players when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders:
Kolkata Knight Riders also have a bright future with Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy being part of the squad that represented India at the T20 World Cup under their belt.
3. RR vs CSK – Sanju Samson Faces His Former Team (March 30, Guwahati)
Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) play on March 30 in IPL 2026. Sanju Samson, captain of Rajasthan Royals, will play against RR for the first time. With an emotional story and emotional connections to each team, this will certainly be an interesting experience for fans.
What more can we ask from this IPL 2026 fixture between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings than the fact that two of CSK’s major players, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, have already been traded to Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026 auction? Now, they will be playing against their former team wearing the pink jersey. The game will occur at the ACA Stadium in Barsapara, Guwahati.
4. RCB vs CSK – Match of the South (April 5, Bengaluru)
The match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings is considered one of IPL’s most exciting rivalries. This match is being played at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 5. Given the recent approval by the stadium to host IPL matches following the tragic event of last year, this match should be among the most thrilling matches of the season.
Given that both teams have star players and plenty of fans supporting them, this match is sure to be one of the best and most intense matches in IPL 2026 when they face off against each other. The two sides have an iconic rivalry that has been around forever and this rivalry is well established in the league; therefore this match is not to be missed.
5. MI vs RCB – Superstars to meet at Wankhede (April 12, Mumbai)
Mumbai Indians will be playing Royal Challengers Bengaluru as the first match up of the 2023 IPL Season at Wankhede Stadium on April 12. The matches between these two teams are always known for dramatic finishes and great performances. The fans are in for a treat to see two of India’s cricket idols, Kohli and Sharma, go head-to-head against each other.
Both teams are looking to get off to a flying start in the tournament, and hence, this match is a big one for both teams in terms of the early standings of the IPL 2026. This match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is definitely one of the top rivalries in IPL 2026 that you should not miss.
