IPL 2026 Week 4 Preview: Rajasthan Royals Defend Top Spot in Action-Packed Schedule
The 2026 Indian Premier League advances into a high-stakes stretch for the week of April 13 through April 19. The Rajasthan Royals currently dictate the pace of the tournament after the first 20 matches. Operating on an unblemished four-match winning streak, the Royals sit atop the official IPL standings with eight points and an imposing +2.055 net run rate. The Punjab Kings remain the only other undefeated franchise, trailing the league leaders by a single point after securing three victories and one no-result in their first four fixtures.
Complete Schedule: April 13–19
This week features nine scheduled matches, concluding with consecutive double-headers over the weekend. Below is the confirmed itinerary for the upcoming matchups, verified against BCCI match data.
| Date | Matchup | Match Type |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, April 13 | Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Single Header |
| Tuesday, April 14 | Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Single Header |
| Wednesday, April 15 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants | Single Header |
| Thursday, April 16 | Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings | Single Header |
| Friday, April 17 | Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Single Header |
| Saturday, April 18 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals | Double Header (Match 1) |
| Saturday, April 18 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings | Double Header (Match 2) |
| Sunday, April 19 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals | Double Header (Match 1) |
| Sunday, April 19 | Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants | Double Header (Match 2) |
Mid-Week Match Highlights
The week opens on Monday with the table-topping Rajasthan side defending their perfect record against Sunrisers Hyderabad. On Tuesday, the Chennai Super Kings return home to host the Kolkata Knight Riders, aiming to establish momentum after registering their first points of the campaign. Wednesday shifts the focus to the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who host the Lucknow Super Giants. RCB will rely on their home advantage to consolidate their position in the upper half of the table.
Thursday presents a significant test for the five-time champion Mumbai Indians as they face the undefeated Punjab Kings. Mumbai has underperformed in the early stages and requires a victory to correct their regular-season trajectory. On Friday, the Gujarat Titans welcome Kolkata, an encounter where the Knight Riders will urgently seek their first win of the season.
Weekend Double-Headers
The intensity scales up during the weekend fixtures. Saturday pairs RCB against the Delhi Capitals, followed immediately by Sunrisers Hyderabad taking on Chennai. The week concludes on Sunday with two high-profile clashes: Kolkata playing Rajasthan, and Punjab meeting Lucknow. These results will significantly impact the playoff qualification math as the middle phase of the tournament begins. For live scoring, detailed player statistics, and historical head-to-head records, refer to ESPN Cricinfo.