Schedule announcement delayed due to upcoming assembly elections in Assam, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on March 28, with the final scheduled for May 31. Although franchises were informed on December 15, 2025, that the tournament would start on March 26, the start date has now been internally revised. The IPL Governing Council is expected to meet next week to finalise the plan for releasing the complete schedule.
The delay in announcing the fixtures is primarily due to the pending declaration of assembly election dates in Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Since key IPL venues fall within these states, election security and logistical arrangements play a significant role in finalising match schedules. Kolkata and Chennai serve as home bases for Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings respectively, while Guwahati in Assam acts as the second home venue for Rajasthan Royals. The tournament authorities are considering whether to release the schedule in phases, as has been done in previous election years, or wait for the Election Commission of India to confirm the poll dates.
Another key discussion point for the Governing Council is the venue for the opening match, which will feature defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Following the stampede during RCB’s victory celebrations at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium last June, which tragically resulted in 11 fatalities, there have been ongoing discussions regarding match hosting arrangements. RCB has been in talks with the Karnataka State Cricket Association to determine whether their seven home matches will remain at the Chinnaswamy Stadium or be shifted elsewhere.
As a precautionary measure, RCB has shortlisted alternate venues including Navi Mumbai, Raipur and Pune. A final decision is expected once consultations with stakeholders and local authorities are completed, paving the way for the official release of the IPL 2026 schedule.
