IPL 2026 Schedule Delayed: Will State Elections Affect the League? Here’s What You Need to Know

New Delhi: The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) was initially scheduled to take place from March 26 to May 31. However, the official match schedule has yet to be released, as ongoing state assembly elections are affecting the planning process. BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla confirmed that the schedule will only be finalized once the Election Commission announces dates for the relevant states. This delay has raised the possibility that the IPL could be shifted slightly from its original timeframe.

Here are the key updates in five points:

1. IPL set to start on March 26
While the official schedule is still pending, the BCCI announced tentative dates last December. The tournament is expected to feature 84 matches, with the opening game likely to be between defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and runners-up Punjab Kings.

2. Elections delaying final schedule
Rajeev Shukla stated that the elections in several states are preventing the finalization of the schedule. “We want to ensure that key stadiums are not affected by clashes between match dates and polling. We are waiting for the official announcement of election dates before releasing a finalized schedule,” he said.

3. Which states are causing the delay?
The BCCI is closely monitoring elections in Assam, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Key stadiums in these states, including Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati (home to Rajasthan Royals), MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai (home of Chennai Super Kings), and Eden Gardens in Kolkata (home of Kolkata Knight Riders), could be impacted until election dates are announced.

4. BCCI consulting teams on home venues
The BCCI has reached out to RCB and Rajasthan Royals regarding their home venues, asking them to finalize decisions within a week. Once the teams confirm their venues, the schedule will be drawn accordingly. Until then, the BCCI is awaiting both team decisions and official election announcements.

5. Chinnaswamy Stadium restrictions eased; Jaipur still in uncertainty
Traditionally, the IPL opener is held at the reigning champion’s home ground. However, following the tragic stampede at RCB’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Karnataka government had imposed restrictions on hosting matches. Last week, the state government gave conditional approval for IPL and international matches, allowing RCB to install a ₹4.5 crore AI-based crowd management system to prevent future accidents.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals’ home venue, Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, is still facing administrative hurdles with the Rajasthan Cricket Association. As a result, the team is considering Guwahati as a temporary home base, but election-related uncertainties continue to affect scheduling.