India, March 11 -- The Board of Control for Cricket in India has unveiled the first phase of the IPL 2026 calendar, with the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium slated to stage the opening clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad. At the same time, the board noted that matches allotted to Bengaluru remain conditional. A government-appointed panel will inspect the venue and oversee a comprehensive mock drill of match-day arrangements before granting the final go-ahead.

"The matches scheduled in Bengaluru are subject to clearance from the Expert Committee constituted by the Government of Karnataka. The committee will conduct a meeting and inspection of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 13, 2026, during which a full-scale mock...