IPL 2026: What's Causing the Delay in BCCI's Schedule Reveal?

The reason for the delay in announcing the Indian Premier League (IPL) fixtures is tied to the state elections taking place in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam, along with the readiness of the venues for the ongoing T20 World Cup. The 2026 edition of the league is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 31. 

 

A BCCI official shared that the schedule might be released in two parts due to the overlap with the state assembly elections and the counting dates.

 

This situation could raise security concerns since local police will be occupied with the elections. The official also mentioned that the board is waiting for more details from the relevant authorities before finalizing the venues and fixtures.   

 

“It’s a mammoth task to rearrange the schedule of three teams if some of the match dates clash with the election or counting dates. Naturally, the state police won’t be able to provide security for the matches, and we will have to move those games to a different location. We are in touch with the authorities and waiting for clarity on the dates,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by News18.

 

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CSK, KKR Fixtures Likely to Face Disruptions

 

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are expected to be impacted by this scheduling conflict. KKR is reportedly looking into alternative venues and is in discussions with the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) to potentially host some, if not all, of their matches at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium. 

 

Moreover, there’s some uncertainty surrounding Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium due to administrative issues within the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). The Rajasthan Royals are actively searching for a new home venue and are currently in talks with the Maharashtra Cricket Association to host their home games at Pune’s MCA Stadium. 

 

Another challenge for the BCCI is making sure that the venues currently hosting World Cup matches are adequately prepared for the IPL. Out of the 10 IPL venues, five Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahmedabad are involved in the global event and will need time for preparation. The T20 World Cup is set to wrap up on March 8.