According to a ESPNcricinfo report, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season would begin on March 28, two days later than the BCCI’s initial schedule.
The IPL had told all of the franchises in December 2025 that the 2026 season would begin on March 26. However, the ESPNcricinfo report claims that the IPL has now rescheduled the start date to March 28 with the May 31 grand finale.
The report also stated that the IPL Governing Council will convene next week to finalize the 2026 season’s schedule, which is being postponed because the dates of the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Assam have not yet been revealed.
The three-time champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and five-time champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) play their home games in Kolkata, West Bengal, and Chennai, Tamil Nadu, respectively. Guwahati, the capital of Assam, will be the second home venue of the inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals (RR).
The ESPNcricinfo report added that the IPL Governing Council will also likely talk about the venue of the tournament’s opening match, which will feature the reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
The Bengaluru-based team is in talks with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) about whether or not to move the seven home games of the RCB to another venue after the stampede during the team’s victory celebrations at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru last June, which claimed 11 lives.
The report claims that RCB had shortlisted a few more locations, including Pune, Raipur, and Navi Mumbai.
