IPL 2026 schedule for first 20 matches to be announced by March 13: BCCI
India Today
The BCCI will unveil the schedule for the first 20 days of IPL 2026 by March 13, as confirmed by Secretary Devajit Sikia. The board is releasing fixtures in phases while factoring in state election dates.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will announce the schedule for the first 20 days of the IPL 2026 season by March 13, secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed on Tuesday. The initial set of fixtures will cover the opening stretch of the tournament, with the remaining schedule to be released later.
As India continues to celebrate its dominant T20 World Cup triumph at home after beating New Zealand in the final on March 8, attention is already shifting back to the world's biggest franchise cricket tournament. The IPL is set to begin on March 28, a date that was earlier confirmed by broadcaster Star Sports.
However, the BCCI has decided to release the fixtures in phases because of upcoming assembly elections in several states, which could affect logistics and security arrangements during the tournament.
Speaking to ANI, Saikia said the board is currently working around the election calendar before locking in the early part of the schedule.
“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,” Saikia said.
Elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are expected to take place during the IPL window, forcing the board to adopt a flexible approach while finalising venues and match dates.
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