IPL 2026: When Will the Schedule Be Announced?

Stadium readiness is a factor, as Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad require transition time to host IPL fixtures after the T20 World Cup.

IPL 2026: When Will the Schedule Be Announced?

The BCCI is yet to announce the schedule for IPL 2026. (via FirstPost)

Even as the 2026 T20 World Cup is underway, Indian cricket fans are eagerly looking forward to the start of the 2026 IPL season. It is set to run from March 26 to May 31, but the full schedule has been delayed due to several ‘logistical’ and ‘administrative’ reasons.

IPL 2026 will be a season to look out for, given it will be the first time that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru begin the tournament as defending champions. Five-time winners Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will be aiming for a strong comeback, while Punjab Kings will be determined to lift their maiden IPL trophy after having fallen short in 2025. Ten franchises will be eyeing the biggest prize in T20 cricket. 

The schedule for the two-month Indian Premier League is still being finalized. Typically, the IPL schedule is announced by the BCCI well in advance, for teams to begin preparations. However, the 2026 season’s schedule has been held back due to a variety of hurdles. Additionally, the ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup has occupied the BCCI and related authorities, contributing to the delay in publishing the fixture list.

As per reports, the schedule for the 2026 IPL season might be announced in two phases, mainly due to upcoming assembly elections in three different states. Specifically, three states, Assam (home to the ACA Stadium in Guwahati), West Indies (Eden Gardens in Kolkata), and Tamil Nadu (MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai) will be holding elections. Therefore, the fixtures for the initial phase of IPL 2026 are expected to be released by the end of February or during the first week of March. 

Once the Election Commission of India releases the dates of polling in these states, the BCCI will then announce the schedule for the remaining IPL fixtures, while keeping the matches at these venues in tandem. Given the impending elections in these states, local authorities and security forces are expected to be busy, which could force venue changes and complicate matters for broadcasters and fans.

Uncertainty in venues is also being stated as a reason for the delay, with RCB still awaiting confirmation over their usage of the Chinnaswamy Stadium. As the IPL is set to commence only a month later, the BCCI is therefore aiming to announce a stable schedule as quickly as possible.

DY Patil Cup fireworks: Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s 63-run knock off just 19 balls lays down IPL 2026 marker

Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi is all prepared to set IPL 2026 on fire, following his recent blitz in the DY Patil Cup. Playing for the home side DY Patil Blue, he scored a blistering 63 runs off just 19 deliveries, in a match against the Indian Navy. 

IPL 2026 Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Vaibhav Suryavanshi is all prepared to hit big in IPL 2026 for the Rajasthan Royals. (via Hindustan Times)

The 14-year-old comes off the back of a scintillating run, having won the Player of the Tournament award in a victorious campaign for India at the 2026 U-19 World Cup. The young left-hander from Bihar was at his best in the final against England, where he scored an unbelievable 175 runs off just 80 balls to take his team to a massive first innings total of 411/9. He also hit a record 30 sixes during his campaign. 

Skipping his board exams, Suryavanshi featured for the DY Patil Blue team in a league-stage fixture against the Indian Navy. With the rival team having put up a massive 219-run total, the opener took charge, scoring 63 runs off 19 balls at a strike-rate of 331.58, including seven fours and five sixes. DYP Blue chased down the target in the end, with Arjun Tendulkar (55 off 29) and Anand Bais (35 off 24) making contributions.

However, in DY Patil Blue’s first game of the season, Suryavanshi was dismissed for a low score of just two runs. The young sensation is now all prepared to fire in the 2026 IPL season, where he will be playing for Rajasthan Royals for a second season in a row. 

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