The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will go ahead as planned despite concerns surrounding global developments and logistical challenges. The first phase of the tournament is scheduled to be held from March 28 to April 12, 2026.
BCCI Vice-President and Congress MP Rajeev Shukla stated on Thursday that the league’s fixtures will remain on track, with the remaining schedule to be released once the Election Commission of India announces the dates for upcoming State Assembly elections.
“IPL will be held as per schedule. We have released the schedule for 20 matches. The schedule for remaining matches will be released after the Election Commission announces the dates for states going to the election,” Shukla said while speaking to ANI.
Travel Concerns Amid West Asia Situation
Ongoing tensions in West Asia have created some uncertainty around international travel arrangements. Following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in India, the West Indies team experienced delays in their departure due to flight disruptions in the region.
Despite such challenges, the BCCI has moved ahead with announcing the initial phase of the tournament. With three states scheduled to hold elections during the IPL window, authorities will finalise the complete match schedule after the polling dates are confirmed.
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Opening Match and Venues Announced
The 19th edition of the T20 league will begin with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. A total of 20 matches are set to be played across 10 venues during the first phase — Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
Four double-headers have been scheduled in this period, with afternoon fixtures starting at 03:30 PM IST and evening matches commencing at 07:30 PM IST.
Following the opening game, Mumbai Indians will take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The first double-header of the season will be staged on April 4, when Delhi Capitals face Mumbai Indians in the afternoon encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, followed by Gujarat Titans playing Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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Home Fixtures and Venue Allocations
Rajasthan Royals will begin their home fixtures in Guwahati, hosting Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, while Punjab Kings will play their early home matches at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.
Across the tournament, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are scheduled to play five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur. Punjab Kings will host four games in New Chandigarh and three in Dharamshala, while Rajasthan Royals will play three home fixtures in Guwahati and four in Jaipur.
Matches in Bengaluru remain subject to clearance from an Expert Committee constituted by the Government of Karnataka. The panel is set to inspect the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 13, 2026, including a full-scale mock demonstration of match-day arrangements to evaluate the venue’s readiness for hosting IPL fixtures.
