The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed that the schedule for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) playoffs will be announced next week. Earlier, the board had announced the schedule for the league stage of the tournament in two phases – with the fixtures for the 2nd leg of the tournament announced after the dates for elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry were revealed by the Election Commission of India (ECI). However, the venues for the Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the IPL 2026 final wasn’t revealed.
IPL 2026 playoffs schedule to be announced next week
As per multiple reports, BCCI secretary Saikia informed on Saturday that the IPL 2026 playoffs schedule will be finalised and announced in the next two days. However, the administrator refused to divulge any details on which venues would host the games despite repeatedly being asked if the norm of the defending champions hosting the final will be followed. It is pertinent to point out that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are the defending champions, which means the M Chinnaswamy Stadium should host the final if the convention is followed. However, it remains to be seen what decision the BCCI will take, especially since the board wants to keep its reputation in tact after the Bengaluru stampede which saw 11 people die and several get injured after RCB’s IPL 2025 title win.
“IPL playoffs schedule is coming in two days. The BCCI is seriously thinking about taking measures so that the IPL’s reputation is not damaged,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said, as per RevSportz.
Before the start of IPL 2026, reports had claimed that the Chinnaswamy Stadium will host a Qualifier and the IPL 2026 final. However, the board did not confirm any of these reports. It is pertinent to point out that cricket returned to the iconic venue in the Karnataka capital for the first time after June 4 when IPL 2026 commenced. The KSCA, led by Venkatesh Prasad, raced against time to complete renovation works at the stadium and implement other measures as suggested by the Justice Cunha Commission which probed the stampede.
Cricket
IPL 2026 playoffs schedule and venues to be finalised, announced in two days
