IPL 2026 schedule to be announced on THIS date
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The start date for IPL 2026 has been delayed.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 approaching its end, the next big thing awaiting cricketing fans is the most exciting T20 league in the world. The Indian Premier League (IPL) will showcase the best talents from across the world, and this year will be another season of action, drama and entertainment.
However, there has been a slight setback as reports in Cricbuzz have confirmed the start date of the IPL 2026 will be pushed back by a day or two. While reasons remain uncertain, fans will be excited to see the return of MS Dhoni, alongside Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are the defending champions as they won title last year under Rajat Patidar. The team won their maiden title last year and will look to continue their dominance. Teams like Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be looking to repeat past glory.
MI mainly will be hoping to regain their winning ways, having not won since 2020. Other teams like LSG, DC and PBKS will hope the 19th edition is finally when they break their title drought.
When will IPL 2026 schedule be announced?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to announce the schedule for the IPL 2026 season on March 6 or 7, as per the reports in Cricbuzz. This might be after India’s semi-final match against England, and before the all-important T20 World Cup 2026 final.
Interestingly, the schedule will be announced in two phases. The reason for this huge delay in releasing the fixtures is due to the assembly elections this year in India. The Election Commission of India is yet to announce the dates for the same, and IPL wants to prevent any clash between both the events.
States like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are set to be the centre of attention, as both states play hosts to IPL teams and will also be going through the election process.
When will IPL 2026 schedule be announced?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India is all set to announce the schedule for the IPL 2026 season on March 6 or 7.
Who are the defending champions?
RCB will defend their title in 2026, after winning maiden title last year.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.