IPL 2026 Season Kickoff Delayed to March 28 Amid Election Scheduling

IPL 2026 Season Start Date Adjusted

The 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is now set to commence on March 28, a slight shift from the previously announced date of March 26, as reported by a sports news outlet.

In December 2025, the IPL had communicated to its franchises that the tournament would begin on March 26. However, recent updates indicate a new start date of March 28, with the final match scheduled for May 31.

Next week, the IPL Governing Council is expected to convene to finalize the schedule for the upcoming season. This delay is attributed to the pending announcement of assembly election dates in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.

Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, and Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, serve as home grounds for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), respectively. Additionally, Guwahati in Assam is the secondary venue for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), the inaugural champions.

Discussions are also anticipated regarding the location of the tournament's opening match, which will feature the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

In light of the tragic stampede during RCB's victory celebrations at M Chinnaswamy Stadium last June, which resulted in 11 fatalities, the franchise is in talks with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to determine if their seven home games will be held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium or relocated.

RCB has reportedly identified several alternative venues, including Navi Mumbai, Raipur, and Pune, for their home matches.