Summers too hot for cricket? BCCI is considering starting IPL 2027 in early March

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is actively considering moving the Indian Premier League (IPL) schedule to an earlier window, with plans mooted to start future editions around March 10 and conclude by May 15.

The aim of this move is to avoid extreme summer heat in the final stages of the tournament while maintaining the current structure and competitive balance. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the development to PTI.

The proposal comes amid growing concerns over weather conditions at the end of May, along with the challenge of fitting a busy international cricket calendar around the two-month IPL window.

“This year, the IPL started around March 29 (28) and ended on May 31. The only thing we are discussing is that during the frenzied end of the tournament after May 15… there are fears that rain will start or pre-monsoon will start,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said. “On the other hand, there is hot weather, which is not very favorable for either the players or the crowds,” he said.

Saikia explained that the board’s primary concern is to ensure better playing and viewing conditions, especially in regions where temperatures are extreme during the second half of the IPL season. He said discussions were underway within the IPL Board of Governors to see if the tournament could be moved by nearly two weeks without disrupting other cricketing commitments.

WHAT ABOUT EXTENSION OF IPL TO 94 GAMES?

He also clarified that despite occasional proposals to expand the league, there will be no increase in the number of games from 74 to 94 in the foreseeable future due to the constraints of the international schedule.

“Therefore, there is a discussion in the BCCI as well as in our IPL Governing Council whether we can start the tournament a little earlier than the end of March,” Saikia said. “It will be very difficult to go beyond two months because other countries also have to pay for bilateral matches… So at the moment there is no discussion to increase the number of matches from 74 to 94. It is not happening immediately,” he added.

Saikia further stressed that any expansion would require coordination with other cricket boards and the ICC calendar, which is impractical at this stage. He noted that the IPL already operates within a tightly compressed international window and its further expansion could disrupt bilateral series involving major cricketing nations.

He also stressed the importance of aligning India’s domestic calendar to support the proposed IPL window, saying that completing domestic competitions earlier would be key to smoother scheduling.

Saikia said the BCCI is also working to ensure that domestic tournaments are completed by early March to allow for a cleaner transition to the IPL season. He pointed out that India’s domestic structure already spans several months, starting in late August and ending with the Ranji Trophy final in March, so flexibility remains limited. Streamlining that schedule, he said, is essential if the IPL is to start earlier and avoid overlapping weather and logistical challenges.

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Published on:

18 Jun 2026 12:24 IST