ipl 2026 It will begin on March 28, two days later than BCCI’s original plan.
IPL had informed the franchises about this On 15th December 2025A day before the last auction, it was said that the 2026 edition would start on March 26, but ESPNcricinfo has learned that the IPL has internally decided to change the start date to March 28 and the final will be held on May 31.
It is understood that the IPL Governing Council will meet next week to finalize plans to release the schedule, which has been delayed as the dates for assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have not been announced yet. While Kolkata (in West Bengal) and Chennai (in Tamil Nadu) are home bases Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings Assam’s capital Guwahati is second respectively for (CSK) Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Since the IPL began in 2008, when there have been general elections in the country – in 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024 – or assembly elections in a state, the schedule has been announced in two parts. It is expected that the GC will decide whether to make the same plan this time too or first wait for the Election Commission of India to announce the election dates for the three states.
The IPL Governing Council is also expected to discuss where the opening match of the tournament will be played, as it will also involve the defending champions. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Following the stampede during RCB’s victory celebrations at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru last June, which resulted in the death of 11 fans, RCB has entered into discussions with the Karnataka State Cricket Association over whether the team’s seven home matches will be played at the venue or shifted elsewhere.
RCB had shortlisted some alternative venues including Navi Mumbai, Raipur and Pune.