The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received its designated window for the Indian Premier League (IPL), which traditionally runs from March to May. While the tournament is expected to follow the same timeline in 2026, the board has yet to finalise and announce the schedule due to logistical challenges linked to the upcoming state elections.
Election calendar forces cautious approach
Following the IPL Governing Council meeting held last Tuesday, the BCCI has adopted a go-slow policy on releasing the IPL 2026 schedule. The primary reason is the assembly elections scheduled between April and May in five states including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.
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The situation is particularly sensitive because IPL franchises are based in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Matches involving the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru could be affected due to security and administrative constraints during polling phases. As a result, the BCCI is waiting for the official election dates before locking the fixtures.
BCCI shortlists 18 venues for IPL 2026
According to a report by Dainik Jagran, the BCCI has provisionally identified 18 venues for the 2026 season. These include Delhi, Lucknow, Dharamshala, New Chandigarh, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Navi Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Pune, Ranchi and Raipur.
The final schedule will depend on the number of election phases. The board is also keeping alternative venues on standby in case matches need to be shifted from traditional home grounds.
Uncertainty over RCB and Rajasthan Royals home venues
Compounding the issue, the BCCI has asked Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals to finalise their home venues. No confirmation has yet been received regarding matches at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium or Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Stadium.
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Both franchises have been given a deadline of January 27 to communicate their final decisions. The delay has added another layer of complexity to the IPL 2026 scheduling process.
With multiple variables in play, election phases, venue availability and franchise confirmations, the BCCI is expected to release the IPL 2026 schedule only after greater clarity emerges on the election calendar. Until then, contingency planning remains the board’s priority.
