The Board of Control for Cricket in India is set to release the schedule for the first 20 days of the Indian Premier League 2026 season by March 12. Broadcaster Star Sports confirmed that the tournament will officially begin on March 28. The official statement from BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia came right before the India versus New Zealand ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final in Ahmedabad.
Why is the IPL 2026 Schedule Being Announced in Phases
The BCCI is releasing the schedule in two parts because of the upcoming state assembly elections. Elections are scheduled in states like Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala in the coming months.
The cricket board is actively working with the Election Commission of India to make sure match dates do not clash with polling duties and security arrangements across these states.
Secretary Devajit Saikia mentioned that the board will announce the first 20-day schedule within a few days after considering the election dates. The rest of the tournament schedule will be announced later once the polling dates are properly factored into the logistics.
What Are the Key Dates and Venue Updates for IPL 2026
This year fans will witness an expanded season with 84 league matches instead of the usual 74. The tournament follows a double round-robin format for the 10 participating teams, followed by four playoff matches.
- Start Date: March 28, 2026
- Final Match: May 31, 2026
- Final Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru
- Secondary Venue: Raipur will host two home games for the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Currently, stadiums in Ahmedabad and Raipur are under consideration for the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 matches of the playoffs.
Which Teams Have Started Preparing for the New Season
Several franchises have already started their pre-season camps to get ready for the 84-match long season. Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have begun their training sessions early this month.
Rajasthan Royals players are scheduled to gather in Jaipur on March 15 to kick off their preparations. In a major coaching update, Gujarat Titans appointed former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden as their batting coach.
Fans are now waiting for the first set of fixtures to plan their match days and wait for the official ticket prices to be released.
