IPL 2026 start may be pushed back by two days

The start of the IPL 2026 season could be pushed back by a couple of days, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India yet to lock in a final opening date. While no official confirmation has been issued, March 28 appears the likelier option - with March 29 also under consideration - and a formal announcement is expected within the coming week.

The BCCI had earlier announced that the season would begin on March 26, a date conveyed to the franchises during December's IPL auction in Abu Dhabi. At the time, the window for the season, the franchises were told, would be between March 26 (Thursday) to May 31 (Saturday). There is no immediate indication yet on whether the final will be pushed back by a day or two too.

The franchises have not yet been formally informed, but an informal talk of a slight postponement is doing the rounds among the IPL teams. The BCCI has not announced the full IPL season schedule till now because of the impending elections to four state assemblies - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal - the dates for which are expected to clash with the season in some cities.

The original plan was to announce the full programme once the Election Commission of India [ECI] announced the assembly election dates. However, with time fast running out and the franchises mounting pressure on the BCCI, there is a likelihood that the board may initially release a partial schedule, followed by the complete fixtures once the election programme is announced.

Such a practice would not be unprecedented, as a similar plan was adopted in 2019, the year of the general election in the country, though no final decision has been taken yet. It is still unclear when the ECI will announce the election dates, but indications are that the BCCI could release some form of partial or tentative schedule in the first week of March.

BCCI-broadcasters-franchise meet

Meanwhile, the BCCI brought together various stakeholders - mainly the broadcaster JioHotstar and all 10 franchises - to discuss ways of building pre-season excitement. Representatives from all stakeholders met at the BCCI office last Tuesday - with three franchises attending virtually - to deliberate on how the broadcaster and teams could align their efforts so that the build-up matches the levels seen in leagues such as the NFL and NBA.

Discussions were held on how to maximise publicity and generate interest and excitement through both traditional and social media. Players will play a key role in igniting the build-up, but they generally report to their franchises only about a week before the season. Strategies were also explored to maximise their participation in creating pre-launch momentum.