The Board of Control for Cricket in India will release the schedule for the first 20 days of IPL 2026 by March 13, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed on Tuesday, with the remainder of the tournament’s fixtures to be announced later as the board navigates around assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala scheduled during the IPL window.
Phased Schedule Release Strategy
“We will announce the first 20-day schedule of IPL in 2 or 3 days after considering the election dates in a few states and will announce the rest of the tournament schedule later,” Saikia told ANI on Tuesday.
The decision to release fixtures in phases stems from logistical and security concerns surrounding elections in key IPL host states. Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are expected to take place during the tournament window, forcing the BCCI to adopt a flexible approach while finalizing venues and match dates.
IPL 2026 Tournament Window
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League will run from March 28 to May 31, 2026. The initial window was between March 26 and May 30 before being adjusted. The tournament begins just 20 days after India’s dominant T20 World Cup 2026 triumph over New Zealand in the final at Ahmedabad on March 8.
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Hosts IPL Final
In a significant development, Bangalore’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host the IPL 2026 final along with one playoff match and five Royal Challengers Bengaluru home games. This marks the venue’s return to hosting major cricket after remaining shut since June 2025 following a stampede during RCB’s IPL 2025 title celebrations that resulted in 11 deaths.
The stadium missed hosting matches during the ICC Women’s World Cup and the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026 due to the suspension.
Teams Already in Pre-Season Preparation
Despite the delayed schedule announcement, franchises have begun pre-season preparations:
- Chennai Super Kings: Started training March 1 at the High-Performance Centre in Navalur with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Held a preparation camp at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on February 10
- Gujarat Titans: Conducted practice sessions at Miraj International Cricket Stadium, Nathdwara
- Punjab Kings: Trained in Abu Dhabi in early February, currently camping in Dharamsala
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Began camp on March 1 with domestic players
- Mumbai Indians: Started training for the upcoming season
- Rajasthan Royals: Expected to assemble on March 15 in Jaipur
- Kolkata Knight Riders: Pre-season camp begins March 18
- Delhi Capitals: Recently held camp in Hyderabad
- Lucknow Super Giants: Completed preparatory session in Lucknow
The phased schedule release ensures the BCCI can finalize match venues and timings without clashing with election-related restrictions in key cricket-hosting states.
