IPL 2026 kicks off with the opening match as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, 7:30 PM IST, March 28, 2026.
The 19th edition of the world’s richest cricket tournament begins with Virat Kohli’s RCB looking to defend their maiden IPL title won in 2025. This season also brings a format change, with teams now playing opponents from their own group once and the opposite group twice.
Among the big talking points is the arrival of 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, widely tipped to shine for Rajasthan Royals. Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians remain the joint-most successful teams with five titles each. Let’s explore where you can watch this season opener live.
Where to Watch SRH vs RCB IPL 2026 Live?
Fans in unlisted regions can use a VPN to connect to Indian, US, UK, or Australian servers and access JioHotstar, Willow TV, Sky Sports, or Kayo Sports for live streaming.
Live Streaming by Country
| Country | TV Broadcaster | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, Star Sports 1 Kannada | JioHotstar |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV | Willow TV App |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports Cricket | Sky Go, Now TV |
| Australia | Fox Sports | Kayo Sports, Foxtel |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport | Sky Sport Now |
| South Africa | SuperSport | DStv Stream |
| Middle East | — | JioHotstar |
| Rest of World | — | JioHotstar (various regions) |
Live Streaming Apps for IPL 2026
| App Name | Available In | Subscription |
|---|---|---|
| JioHotstar | India, Middle East, Select regions | Rs 79 (Mobile), Rs 149 (Super), Rs 299 (Premium) |
| Willow TV | USA, Canada | $10/month or $80/year |
| Sky Go | United Kingdom | Included with Sky Sports package |
| Now TV | United Kingdom | £15/day or £35/month |
| Kayo Sports | Australia | AU$30/month (Basic), AU$46/month (Premium) |
| Sky Sport Now | New Zealand | $30/week, $55/month, $550/year |
| SuperSport | South Africa | R799/month (DStv Stream Premium) |
How to Watch IPL 2026 Using a VPN
If IPL is geo-restricted in your region, you can use a VPN to access streaming platforms:
Option 1: JioHotstar via Indian Server
- Download a VPN app (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Surfshark)
- Connect to an Indian server
- Visit jiohotstar.com or download the JioHotstar app
- Create an account and subscribe to a plan
- Navigate to the live sports section and start watching
Option 2: Willow TV via US Server
- Connect your VPN to a US server
- Visit willow.tv or download the Willow TV app
- Subscribe for $10/month or $80/year
- Stream IPL matches live
Option 3: Kayo Sports via Australian Server
- Connect your VPN to an Australian server
- Visit kayosports.com.au or download the Kayo app
- Sign up for a free 7-day trial (new users)
- Stream IPL matches in HD quality
Note: Using VPNs may violate some streaming platforms’ terms of service. Proceed at your own discretion.
SRH vs RCB Probable XIs – IPL 2026
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Nitish Reddy, Abdul Samad, Pat Cummins, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mahipal Lomror, Wanindu Hasaranga, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood
Related Reads
Head-to-Head Record
Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad have faced each other multiple times in IPL history. Both teams have produced thrilling encounters over the years, with RCB entering this clash as defending champions looking to start their title defence on a winning note.
