Campus Times | Lucknow

The much-awaited Indian Premier League 2026 has officially kicked off on March 28, but fans witnessed something unusual this season — no opening ceremony.

The 19th edition began with a high-voltage clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. While the match delivered full entertainment, the usual star-studded curtain-raiser was missing.

Why Was the Opening Ceremony Cancelled?

According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to skip the opening ceremony this year as a mark of respect for a tragic incident that occurred in 2025.

After RCB’s historic first IPL title win, a celebratory event was hastily organized at their home ground in Bengaluru. Due to poor crowd management and free entry, thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium, leading to a stampede that claimed 11 lives.

Keeping this tragedy in mind, the board has opted for a low-key start to honor the victims and avoid any large-scale pre-match gatherings.

Match Highlight: RCB Begin Title Defence in Style

Despite no opening ceremony, the action lived up to expectations as Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down 202 to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets (203/4 in 19.4 overs vs 201/9). Virat Kohli anchored the chase with an unbeaten 69, while Devdutt Padikkal shone as Impact Sub with a quick 61. Earlier, Ishan Kishan scored 80 for SRH, while Jacob Duffy (3/22) and Romario Shepherd (3/54) impressed with the ball. Padikkal’s match-defining knock ultimately sealed a strong start to RCB’s title defence.

Grand Finale Still on the Cards

While the opening ceremony has been scrapped, fans can still look forward to a spectacular closing ceremony, as confirmed by IPL authorities.

IPL 2026 Schedule at a Glance

• Start Date: March 28, 2026 

• League Matches: 70 games 

• Venues: 12 cities across India 

• Finale: Planned with a grand closing ceremony