IPL 2026 start & final dates revealed! Know here
(Courtesy : Twitter)
The IPL 2026 which was scheduled to begin on March 26 but got delayed.
Cricket fever runs high across India every spring, and this year is no different. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is very close to releasing the full schedule for the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). For months, fans, broadcasters, and franchise owners have waited with growing anticipation.
This follows a dramatic IPL 2025. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) claimed their first-ever title then. They secured a six-run victory over the Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The lead-up to the 2026 season has its own hurdles. The governing body must resolve administrative and logistical questions before cricket takes centre stage again.
IPL 2026 to start on 28th March
As per the reports in ESPNCricinfo, it is learned that IPL 2026 will start on 28th March. This is two days later than the date the BCCI originally communicated to franchises back on 15th December 2025. At that time, the board indicated a 26th March start. The board now has firmly set the grand finale for 31st May. This gives the tournament a 65-day window to complete its full fixture list.
Pending state assembly election announcements are the main reason for this shift. Authorities have not confirmed election dates in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu yet. Security forces typically support election duties. Those absences directly affect stadium operations and crowd management across the affected cities.
The IPL Governing Council plans to meet in the coming week to finalise the schedule. Discussions may result in a phased release. The council will cover the opening fixtures first. They will confirm the remaining matches once election dates emerge.
Additionally, venues such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad are hosting ICC T20 World Cup 2026 fixtures. These grounds require enough preparation time before the IPL gets underway.
Defending champions RCB, as per the reports, will open the tournament on 28th March. However, the board has not confirmed their opponents or the venue yet. A tragic stampede occurred during their 2025 title celebrations at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
That event claimed eleven lives. Now, RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association continue discussions over home fixtures. They are deciding whether to stay in Bengaluru or shift to alternate venues. These include Navi Mumbai, Raipur, and Pune. The decision carries heavy emotional and commercial weight for the franchise and its supporters.
When does IPL 2026 begin?
IPL 2026 is scheduled to begin on 28th March, two days later than the date originally communicated to franchises.
When is the IPL 2026 final scheduled?
The grand finale is firmly scheduled for 31st May, giving the tournament a 65-day window to complete its full fixture list.
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