The governing body (BCCI) has revealed why the schedule for the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has not been released yet. IPL 2026 is said to be is scheduled to take place from March 26 to May 31 and with less than 45 days left for the tournament to begin, fans are wondering why BCCI has yet to release the final draw.
While many cricket lovers are currently focused on the T20 World Cup, a large section of fans are eagerly waiting for the IPL schedule. So what actually causes the delay?
A BCCI official said the schedule was delayed due to potential clashes with election and census dates. Security restrictions could force venue changes, which would require complex adjustments. The board is awaiting clarification from the authorities and may consider releasing the schedule in two phases if necessary.
Speaking to InsideSport, an official said: “It is a mammoth task to rearrange the schedule of the three teams if some of the match dates conflict with election dates or the census. Of course, the state police will not be able to provide security for the matches and we will have to move these matches to another venue. We are in touch with the authorities and waiting for the dates to be clarified.”
The official further added, “If it takes too long to announce the dates, we may end up releasing the schedule in two parts. That’s one option. We’ll take a call soon.”
HOW ELECTIONS DELAY IPL DATES?
One of the main reasons seems to be the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam. During the election period, the state’s security forces will be busy with election duties, which may affect the schedule of matches. According to reports, the voting dates could directly clash with the matches of teams like Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Traditionally, in case of lack of availability of Eden Gardens, KKR’s home matches are shifted to Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, but with assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam this year, this creates further complications for the team. KKR are reported to have been in talks with the Odisha Cricket Association to host some of their matches at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium.
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Apart from the schedule conflicts with the election dates, the BCCI has been stuck due to the situation developing in Jaipur. Due to ongoing issues with the Rajasthan Cricket Association, Rajasthan Royals were forced to look for a new home this season. RR are said to be in talks with the Maharashtra Cricket Association to host their home matches at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
STADIUM AVAILABILITY A PROBLEM?
Apart from the elections, stadium availability is another major concern due to the ongoing T20 World Cup. Five of the 10 IPL venues, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Ahmedabad, are currently hosting World Cup matches and will need time for handovers and preparations before the IPL begins.
Delays in announcing matches now seem more strategic than unusual. However, fans are still waiting for an official confirmation.
The defending champions are Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who won their maiden IPL title last season with a six-run win over Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 12, 2026