The IPL 2026 is all set to begin on March 26 with the final on May 31. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has locked the window, but with a little over 45 days left for the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League to begin, the BCCI hasn’t yet released the schedule. But when everything is set, what’s taking so long for the BCCI to release the fixtures? Is it the ICC T20 World Cup or the India vs Pakistan match fiasco?
Actually, none of that. April-May will be busy months for the state security forces as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam will have their assembly elections. The poll dates are likely to impact the fixtures of Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. It might also affect Rajasthan Royals’ schedule, as they play a few games in Guwahati. Hence, without clarity on the poll dates, BCCI could only release a partial schedule.
“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 some clarity on the dates,” a BCCI official told InsideSport.
Assembly Elections 2026
| State | Window | Affected Team |
|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | March-May | KKR |
| Tamil Nadu | March-May | CSK |
| Assam | March-May | KKR, RR |
| Kerala | March-May | None |
| Puducherry | March-May | None |
The primary concern is regarding Kolkata Knight Riders. Last season, KKR hosted one match in Guwahati after the original fixture had to be moved out of Kolkata due to a lack of police support. However, this time, both West Bengal and Assam will be busy in the polls. Hence, KKR won’t be able to shift their matches between the two cities. KKR have played IPL matches in Cuttack in the past, and that could still be an option if the venue is ready. However, KKR haven’t had talks with the Odisha Cricket Association regarding IPL matches yet.
Similarly, Rajasthan Royals have held talks with the Maharashtra Cricket Association for hosting some IPL matches in Pune’s Gahunje stadium. While Rajasthan does not have any elections, RR have had issues with the Rajasthan Cricket Association. That’s the reason why Guwahati became their second base. But this time, there is no certainty on that, impacting the release of IPL 2026 Schedule.
“If the dates take too long to be announced, we may end up releasing the schedule in two parts. That is one option. We will take a call soon,” the BCCI official said.
Impact of ICC T20 World Cup
Not only the assembly elections but the T20 World Cup games will also have an impact on the IPL 2026 Schedule. Out of the 10 stadiums in IPL 2026, five are currently hosting T20 World Cup matches. Kolkata will host six matches until March 1, Mumbai will play host to eight games, Chennai has seven matches, Delhi has six, and Ahmedabad will host six games, possibly including the final. Hence, all these venues need at least a month’s time to refresh the pitches.
That further complicates the release of the IPL 2026 schedule, even though the tournament is set to start on March 26. Barring the five, other teams may play the first few games at home before their away days begin.
Another scheduling challenge is Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The defending champions will play a few matches in Pune as they have agreed with the Maharashtra Cricket Association. RCB’s management has already inspected the MCA Stadium in Pune. They had to make the decision to move their base after the Karnataka government imposed a ban on major events at M Chinnaswamy Stadium following the tragic stampede that took 11 lives. While there have been talks and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has got conditional permission to host matches, RCB may not want to hurry their return.
IPL 2026 Venues (likely)
| Team | City | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| KKR | Kolkata | Eden Gardens |
| CSK | Chennai | MA Chidambaram Stadium |
| RCB | Pune | MCA Stadium |
| Bengaluru | M Chinnaswamy Stadium | |
| MI | Mumbai | Wankhede Stadium |
| GT | Ahmedabad | Narendra Modi Stadium |
| LSG | Lucknow | Ekana Stadium |
| PBKS | Chandigarh | Mullanpur Stadium |
| Dharamshala | HPCA Stadium | |
| DC | Delhi | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| Vishakhapatnam | ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium | |
| SRH | Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium |
| RR | Jaipur | Sawai Mansingh Stadium |
| Guwahati | Barsapara Stadium | |
| Pune | MCA Stadium |
