Week 1 of the IPL 2026 delivered exactly what we expected — chaos. A couple of upsets, some monster scores, and enough data to start making informed bets for the weeks ahead. If you're betting on the IPL from South Africa, week 2 is where you can start finding genuine value.
This guide covers every week 2 fixture, the form teams worth backing, odds comparison across SA bookmakers, and accumulator tips for building multi-leg bets without going broke.
IPL week 2 typically features 7–8 matches as the tournament settles into its rhythm. All times below are in SAST (South African Standard Time), which is 3.5 hours behind IST — meaning most evening games kick off around 16:00 or 20:00 our time.
| Date (SAST) | Match | Venue | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 31 Mar | Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Chennai | 16:00 SAST |
| Tue 1 Apr | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals | Mumbai | 16:00 SAST |
| Wed 2 Apr | Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings | Jaipur | 16:00 SAST |
| Thu 3 Apr | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans | Kolkata | 16:00 SAST |
| Fri 4 Apr | Lucknow Super Giants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Lucknow | 20:00 SAST |
| Sat 5 Apr | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians | Bengaluru | 16:00 SAST |
| Sun 6 Apr | Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | Chennai | 20:00 SAST |
Based on week 1 results and pre-tournament form, here are the teams worth backing early:
CSK started strong as expected. Their experienced batting lineup handles pressure better than any franchise, and at home in Chennai, the spin-friendly conditions play to their strengths. They're favourites in both their week 2 fixtures, and rightly so.
RR's mega-auction rebuild has paid off with a balanced squad. Their bowling attack has looked sharp, and if their top order clicks consistently, they're genuine title contenders. SA bookmakers are offering slightly longer odds on RR than they should — that's where the value is.
KKR won it all in 2024 and their squad remains strong. Their bowling depth and aggressive batting approach makes them dangerous in any fixture. The Kolkata crowd is electric, and home advantage matters in the IPL more than most SA punters realise.
Punjab have been inconsistent for years and nothing from week 1 suggests that's changed. They might pull off the occasional upset, but backing them in accumulators is bankroll suicide.
Shopping for odds matters, especially in the IPL where margins between favourites and underdogs are thin. Here's how the major SA bookmakers stack up for key week 2 matches:
| Match | Betway | Hollywoodbets | Sportingbet | Supabets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSK vs RCB (CSK win) | 1.65 | 1.60 | 1.62 | 1.67 |
| MI vs DC (MI win) | 1.72 | 1.70 | 1.75 | 1.71 |
| RR vs PBKS (RR win) | 1.55 | 1.52 | 1.57 | 1.54 |
| KKR vs GT (KKR win) | 1.80 | 1.78 | 1.82 | 1.79 |
| LSG vs SRH (LSG win) | 1.90 | 1.85 | 1.88 | 1.91 |
Odds are indicative and will change closer to match time. Always check your bookmaker for live prices. Odds sourced 30 March 2026.
Prediction: CSK win
The rivalry is real, but CSK at home in Chepauk is a different beast. Spin-friendly conditions, a crowd that's basically a 12th man, and MS Dhoni's aura (even in a mentorship role) makes this Chennai's game to lose. RCB's batting can be explosive but they often crumble against quality spin. Back CSK at 1.60–1.67.
Prediction: Mumbai Indians win
Wankhede is a batting paradise and MI know how to use it. Delhi have improved their squad but still lack the big-match composure MI bring. The Rohit Sharma factor makes this a home banker. MI at 1.70–1.75 looks fair.
Prediction: Rajasthan Royals win
This should be the most one-sided match of the week. RR's bowling attack will exploit Punjab's fragile middle order. The Jaipur pitch offers something for everyone, but RR's balance gives them the edge. Value pick of the week at 1.52–1.57.
Prediction: KKR win, but it'll be close
Gujarat have lost some key players since their title-winning days but remain competitive. KKR's home advantage and deeper squad should see them through, but this is the match most likely to produce an upset. Consider a small bet on GT if the odds drift above 2.50.
Prediction: LSG win
Lucknow have been quietly building a squad that can go deep in the tournament. Sunrisers' boom-or-bust batting makes them unpredictable — which means they're not reliable in accumulators. LSG's bowling attack should contain them. Back LSG at 1.85–1.91.
Accas are where the fun is, but they're also where most punters lose their shirts. Here's how to build smarter multi-leg bets:
Combined odds: ~4.20 — A R100 bet returns around R420. All three are strong home favourites with clear form advantages.
Combined odds: ~7.50 — Higher risk with the KKR and LSG legs, but all four picks have genuine reasons to win. R100 returns ~R750.
One reason IPL betting is popular in South Africa: our players are everywhere. Here are the key SA names to watch for player prop bets:
| Player | Franchise | Role | Prop Bet Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock | Lucknow Super Giants | Opening bat / WK | Top batsman — good value in LSG matches |
| Kagiso Rabada | Punjab Kings | Fast bowler | Top bowler — consistently strong, even in losing teams |
| David Miller | Gujarat Titans | Middle-order bat | Most sixes — explosive in death overs |
| Anrich Nortje | Delhi Capitals | Fast bowler | Top bowler — pace terrifies top orders |
| Aiden Markram | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Top-order bat | Top batsman — underpriced when SRH bat first |
| Marco Jansen | Sunrisers Hyderabad | All-rounder | Man of the match — all-round contributions |
SA punters often have a better read on Proteas players than bookmakers do. If you follow SA cricket closely, player prop markets are where you can find genuine edges.
Straightforward and the most liquid market. Best for accumulators and single bets. Odds are tightest here (lowest margin), so you get the best value.
Player prop markets often have wider margins, but that also means more potential value if you know the players. Back SA players you follow closely — you'll spot form trends bookmakers miss.
Venue-dependent. High-scoring grounds (Wankhede, Bengaluru) lean over. Spin-friendly venues (Chennai, Kolkata) lean under. Check pitch reports before placing these bets.
IPL live betting is where serious punters make money. Odds shift dramatically after the first innings, and if you've been watching the game, you can spot value the algorithms miss. Betway and Sportingbet have the best live IPL markets for SA users.
All major licensed SA bookmakers offer IPL markets, including Betway, Hollywoodbets, Sportingbet, Supabets, and 10bet. Betway typically offers the widest range of IPL prop markets, while Hollywoodbets has competitive match-winner odds.
Match winner is the most popular market. Other strong options include top batsman, top bowler, total sixes, and over/under total runs. For accumulators, combining 2-3 match winners with a top batsman pick can offer value at 10–20x returns.
South African players are spread across multiple franchises. Key names include Aiden Markram, David Miller, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Gerald Coetzee. SA players often feature in player prop markets which local punters have an edge on.
Yes. Betway, Hollywoodbets, and Sportingbet all offer live in-play betting on IPL matches. Live markets include next over runs, next wicket method, and session runs. IPL matches start around 16:00 or 20:00 SAST, which is convenient for SA punters.
Week 2 of the IPL 2026 looks like a good week for SA punters who back favourites selectively. CSK and RR at home are the strongest picks, and there's value in the KKR and LSG lines if you're willing to accept slightly more risk. Keep your accumulators tight (3-4 legs max), shop your odds across at least two bookmakers, and never bet more than you can afford to lose.
For more cricket betting content, check out our best cricket betting sites guide or browse the full BetSorted blog.