The long wait for IPL 2026’s official schedule is nearly over. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed on Tuesday that the schedule will be released within a day or two most likely on March 12, and no later than March 13 just 18 days before the tournament’s opening day.
In a conversation with Cricbuzz, Saikia revealed that the schedule will be rolled out in two separate phases this season. The first phase will cover the opening 20 days of the tournament, while the second phase will account for the remaining fixtures.
“We are hoping to release the IPL schedule in a day or two,” Saikia told Cricbuzz. “It will be a staggered two-phase schedule, and we will release the first phase, covering the first 20 days, on March 12 or 13. The second phase of the schedule will be announced after the dates of the Assembly elections are declared by the Election Commission of India.”
The IPL 2026 season is set to begin on March 28 and conclude on May 31 a deadline the BCCI Secretary confirmed will not be pushed further.
The primary reason for the phased approach is the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, and Kerala three of which serve as home or away venues for IPL franchises. The BCCI is holding off on finalising the second phase of the schedule until the Election Commission of India officially announces poll dates for these states.
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“We are waiting for confirmations from a few centres, and once they come, we will announce the dates for the first phase,” Saikia added.
The IPL Governing Council had already green-lit the two-phase scheduling plan on March 3, according to Cricbuzz. Saikia also clarified that the BCCI’s scheduling decisions have not been influenced by any external factors including global disruptions stemming from the conflict in West Asia involving Iran, Israel, and the United States and that the sole reason for the delay remains the pending state election calendar.
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