Punjab Kings Schedule 2026: Full Match List, Dates, Timings and Venues — PBKS IPL Fixtures
Itna kareeb, phir bhi itna door. So close, yet so far. That phrase perfectly sums up Punjab Kings’ IPL 2025 campaign. They finished first in the league stage, powered through the playoffs with fearless cricket, and made it all the way to the final — only to lose a heartbreaking title clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The pain of that defeat has not faded. If anything, it has sharpened the hunger inside the PBKS camp ahead of IPL 2026. Under the calm and calculated leadership of Shreyas Iyer, the Kings are back — more determined, more focused, and more desperate than ever to claim the one trophy that has eluded them across 18 editions of the IPL. Here is the complete Punjab Kings IPL 2026 schedule — every match, every date, every venue, and everything you need to know before the season begins.
The Big Picture: IPL 2026 Format and What PBKS Need to Do
IPL 2026 is the 19th edition of the tournament and the biggest yet, featuring 84 matches played across 10 cities all over India. The season got underway on March 28, with the final scheduled for May 31. Every team plays 16 league matches in the group stage, and the top four teams on the points table qualify for the playoffs — which consist of Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, and Qualifier 2 before the grand final.
For Punjab Kings, the mission is crystal clear. Finish in the top two to get two bites of the playoff cherry, avoid the chaos of the Eliminator, and make sure that this time, the trophy comes home to Mullanpur. After the agony of 2025, nothing less than a title will feel like success.
PBKS Home Ground: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
One of the most important things to know about Punjab Kings’ IPL 2026 campaign is their home venue. All of PBKS’s home matches in IPL 2026 will be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. This stunning modern stadium has quickly become one of the most beloved venues in the IPL, with its large capacity, excellent pitch conditions, and passionate crowd turning it into a genuine fortress for the Kings.
The Mullanpur surface is known for being batter-friendly with good carry for the pace bowlers in the early overs. It tends to be a high-scoring venue, which suits PBKS’s aggressive batting philosophy perfectly. All home evening fixtures at Mullanpur are scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
PBKS IPL 2026 Phase One Schedule: All Fixtures, Dates, Timings and Venues
The BCCI released the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule covering the opening 20 matches of the season from March 28 to April 12. Punjab Kings have four confirmed fixtures in this phase — two home games at Mullanpur and two away assignments.
Match 1 — PBKS vs GT (Home Opener) Date: March 31, 2026 Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur Time: 7:30 PM IST
What a way to begin the season. Punjab Kings open their IPL 2026 campaign at home against Gujarat Titans — a side that will be out to prove a point of their own after a difficult 2025. The Mullanpur crowd will be electric for the season opener, with thousands of Punjab fans turning out in red to welcome their heroes back to the fortress. A home win here sets the perfect tone for what PBKS hope will be a title-winning campaign.
Match 2 — CSK vs PBKS (Away) Date: April 3, 2026 Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Time: 7:30 PM IST
PBKS’s first away test of the season takes them to the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai — one of the most spin-friendly and tactically demanding venues in all of T20 cricket. Facing a revamped CSK side, loaded with quality spinners like Noor Ahmad and Rahul Chahar, will be a serious examination of PBKS’s ability to play spin under pressure. The evening conditions in Chennai can be challenging, with dew playing a significant role in the second innings. Whoever wins the toss here will have a significant advantage.
Match 3 — SRH vs PBKS (Away) Date: April 8, 2026 Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad Time: 7:30 PM IST
The trip to Hyderabad to face Sunrisers is one of the most intriguing away fixtures in PBKS’s Phase One calendar. SRH’s home record at Uppal is formidable, and their top order — featuring Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan — is capable of destroying any bowling attack on that surface. For Punjab’s bowlers, particularly Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal, this will be a genuine test of skill, temperament, and tactical adaptability.
Match 4 — PBKS vs MI (Home) Date: April 12, 2026 Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur Time: 7:30 PM IST
The final fixture of Phase One brings Mumbai Indians to Mullanpur — and this is the match every PBKS fan will have circled on their calendar. MI vs PBKS is a fixture between two title-hungry franchises, each with something enormous to prove. Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav arriving at Mullanpur makes this one of the biggest home games Punjab Kings will have played in years. A win here, to close out Phase One at home, would send a resounding message to every other team in the competition.
The Full PBKS Squad for IPL 2026
Punjab Kings head into the season with a well-balanced, deeply talented squad that blends world-class overseas firepower with some of India’s most exciting young talent.
Full Squad: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyala Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Pravin Dubey, Vishal Nishad
It is a squad that has genuine firepower in every department. The batting, led by Shreyas Iyer and the explosive Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh at the top, can post totals against any bowling attack. The bowling, anchored by Arshdeep Singh’s new-ball brilliance and Yuzvendra Chahal’s leg-spin wizardry, has match-winning ability at every stage of an innings.
Key Player to Watch: Arshdeep Singh
If there is one player who will define Punjab Kings’ IPL 2026 season more than any other, it is Arshdeep Singh. India’s premier left-arm pacer has grown into one of the most complete fast bowlers in T20 cricket, with the ability to swing the ball in the powerplay, bowl cutters in the middle overs, and nail yorkers at the death with ice-cold precision. After a stellar T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, Arshdeep arrives at PBKS in the form of his life and desperate to deliver the title to the fans who have waited so long.
One small piece of news that PBKS fans need to be aware of — star New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson will miss the first few matches of IPL 2026 after choosing to delay his arrival to spend time with his newborn child. It is a decision that deserves nothing but respect, and PBKS are well prepared to cover his absence in the early fixtures with Ben Dwarshuis stepping in as a more than capable replacement option.
What Makes IPL 2026 Different for PBKS
The difference between this Punjab Kings side and every previous PBKS squad is hunger. Not just the hunger of a team that has never won — but the specific, focused, almost desperate hunger of a team that came within touching distance of glory and had it snatched away. That kind of pain is a powerful motivator. The squad knows what the final feels like. They know the pressure, the noise, the stakes. And this time, they are better prepared for it.
Under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, PBKS play smart, disciplined cricket without ever losing their aggression. The combination of tactical clarity and explosive talent makes them one of the most dangerous sides in IPL 2026.
Final Word: This Is Punjab’s Year
Every season, PBKS fans tell themselves — this is the year. And every season, heartbreak follows. But IPL 2026 genuinely feels different. The squad is deep. The captain is experienced. The home fortress at Mullanpur is intimidating. And above all, the memory of losing that 2025 final burns bright in every player’s chest.
The wait for the first title has gone on long enough.
Sher dilon waale. Aa gaye Punjab Kings. 🦁❤️
