IPL 2026 Set to Kick Off on March 28, Confirms Rajeev Shukla

Rajeev Shukla, Vice President of the BCCI, confirmed that the IPL 2026 will commence on March 28 during the wedding reception of cricketer Kuldeep Yadav. The event celebrated Yadav's marriage to Vanshika, following India's recent victory at the T20 World Cup. The IPL schedule for the first two weeks has been announced, with the opening match featuring Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Stay tuned for the complete schedule release.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 17, 2026, 22:42 IST

Rajeev Shukla Attends Wedding, Announces IPL Start Date

Rajeev Shukla, the Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was present at the wedding reception of Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav and his partner Vanshika in Lucknow on Tuesday. During his interaction with the media, Shukla commended Yadav's significant contributions to Indian cricket and extended his best wishes to the couple. He also confirmed that the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to commence on March 28, with a detailed schedule to be revealed shortly.

"Kuldeep has made substantial contributions to Indian cricket. We are here today to bless him on this special occasion. He is an exceptionally talented player," stated the BCCI Vice President. He reiterated that the IPL will start on March 28, with the complete schedule expected to be announced soon.

IPL 2026 Schedule Highlights

The IPL has released the schedule for the initial two weeks of the 2026 season, which will kick off with a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Kuldeep Yadav's Wedding

Kuldeep Yadav recently married his childhood friend, Vanshika, on March 14 at the Welcomhotel The Savoy in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The couple had previously gotten engaged in a private ceremony in Lucknow last June, attended by close family members.

Celebrations Following T20 World Cup Victory

Yadav's wedding follows Team India's impressive performance at the T20 World Cup 2026, where they triumphed over New Zealand in the finals to secure consecutive T20 titles. The final match took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8, where India scored a formidable 255 runs, led by half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Sanju Samson. New Zealand struggled in their chase, getting bowled out for 159 runs. Notably, Kuldeep Yadav participated in just one match during the World Cup, against Pakistan, where he recorded figures of 1/14 in 3 overs.