Overview:
Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala will go to the elections elections during the IPL period, prompting the board to remain flexible regarding venues and match dates.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the fixtures for the first 20 days of the IPL 2026 season will be announced by March 13. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that this initial schedule will cover the tournament’s opening stretch, while the remainder of the fixtures will be shared later.
Following India’s emphatic T20 World Cup win over New Zealand on March 8, attention is already turning to the IPL, which is set to start on March 28, a date previously confirmed by broadcaster Star Sports.
The board is releasing the schedule in phases due to upcoming assembly elections in several states, which could affect security and logistical planning.
Saikia told ANI that the BCCI is coordinating closely with the authorities before finalising the early fixtures.
“We plan to release the fixtures for the first 20 days of the IPL in the next two to three days, after taking the election dates in certain states into account. The remaining schedule will be shared at a later time,” Saikia said.
Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala will go to the elections elections during the IPL period, prompting the board to remain flexible regarding venues and match dates.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, will host the IPL 2026 final, in addition to four group-stage matches and two playoff games.
The stadium’s inclusion is notable, as it was closed for major cricket events over the past year. Cricket activities were suspended after a stampede during RCB’s IPL 2025 title celebrations in June, which tragically claimed 11 lives and injured several others.