IPL 2026: Saikia provides an update on schedule for upcoming edition

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia said that the schedule for the first 20 days of the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be announced within the next two to three days, considering the election dates in a few states.

The IPL 2026 is set to kick off from March 28, the official broadcaster Star Sports confirmed on Sunday.

While speaking to the ANI, Saikia said, “We will announce the first 20-day schedule of IPL in 2 or 3 days after considering the election dates in a few states and will announce the rest of the tournament schedule later”.

The announcement of the cash-rich league`s schedule will be two-phased, with the state assembly elections set to take place in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

In the previous edition, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched the title. They defeated the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Earlier this month, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Secretary, Santosh Menon, confirmed that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host five of the RCB`s IPL 2026 home games. The venue will also host one of the play-off matches and the title clash of the tournament.

Bengaluru`s remaining two home matches will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

Cricket at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has been suspended since June last year. Following RCB`s triumph, fans gathered in huge numbers outside the stadium. During the celebrations, 11 people lost their lives, and several were left injured in a stampede.

The stadium did not host any of the ICC Women`s World Cup matches or the recently concluded Men`s T20 World Cup 2026 games. Even the domestic and state franchise-based tournaments had been affected by this suspension placed on the iconic venue.

Team India emerged victorious in the recently concluded Men`s marquee event. The side defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The triumph helped the “Men in Blue” successfully defend their title. With this, India became the first team to clinch three T20 World Cup titles in the history of the tournament.

(With ANI Inputs)

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