State elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam and the readiness of venues used for the ongoing T20 World Cup are the reasons behind the delay in announcement of Indian Premier League (IPL) fixtures. The 2026 edition of the league will be played from March 26 to May 31.
A BCCI official stated that the schedule could be released in two parts due to the tournament’s clash with state assembly election and counting dates, which could lead to potential security issues due to local police’s involvement in the elections. The official added that the board is awaiting clarity from the relevant authorities before pencilling the venues and fixtures.
“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 clarity on the dates,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by News18.
“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 official added.
CSK, KKR games likely to be affected
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are likely to be affected due to the scheduling clash. KKR are reportedly exploring alternative venues and are in talks with Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) to host some, if not all, of their games at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium.
Additionally, there is uncertainty over Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium amid administrative issues in Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). The Rajasthan Royals are on the lookout for a new home venue, and the discussions are underway with the Maharashtra Cricket Association to host their home games at Pune’s MCA Stadium.
One of the other issues for the BCCI is ensuring that the venues currently hosting World Cup matches are properly readied for the IPL. As many as five of the 10 IPL venues – Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Ahmedabad – are hosting the global event and will require time for preparation. The T20 World Cup will conclude on March 8.
