The wait for the Indian Premier League’s full fixture list may soon ease — at least partially.
With the 19th edition of the IPL approaching, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is preparing to unveil the first portion of the tournament calendar, offering clarity on the opening phase of one of the sport’s biggest global events.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the governing body intends to release the initial set of fixtures within days as preparations accelerate ahead of the tournament’s scheduled start later this month. Speaking to IANS on Tuesday, Saikia said the schedule will initially cover the opening stretch of matches rather than the entire competition at once. “We plan to announce the IPL 2026 schedule by March 12. For now, we are going to announce the IPL schedule for the first 20 days,” he said.
IPL 2026 to run from March 28 to May 31
The upcoming IPL season is scheduled to be played between March 28 and May 31, following a slight adjustment to the league’s initial proposed window of March 26 to May 30.
While the tournament dates are confirmed, the BCCI has opted for a staggered schedule release, with the remaining fixtures expected to be announced later. The phased approach is primarily aimed at ensuring the tournament calendar does not overlap with assembly elections in several Indian states.
West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu are among the regions expected to hold elections during the IPL window, making logistical coordination between cricket administrators, state authorities, and security agencies a key consideration in finalizing match venues and travel schedules.
IPL franchises already deep into preseason preparations
Even without the full schedule confirmed, IPL franchises have already begun extensive preparations for the new season.
Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings launched their preseason camp on March 1 at the franchise’s High-Performance Centre in Navalur, where captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and former India captain MS Dhoni have been among the players training.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier conducted a preparation camp at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on February 10, while Gujarat Titans held two practice sessions at the Miraj International Cricket Stadium in Nathdwara.
Punjab Kings began their preparations abroad in early February with a training stint in Abu Dhabi and are currently conducting a camp in Dharamsala. Sunrisers Hyderabad also opened their training camp on March 1, focusing initially on domestic players.
Camps across India as teams finalize preparations
Several other franchises are also stepping up their build-up to the season.
Mumbai Indians have already commenced their preseason training programme, while Rajasthan Royals are expected to assemble in Jaipur for a practice camp starting March 15. Kolkata Knight Riders are scheduled to begin their preseason preparations on March 18.
Delhi Capitals recently held a training camp in Hyderabad and are expected to follow it with another session in New Delhi. Lucknow Super Giants have also conducted preparatory training in Lucknow as squads ramp up readiness ahead of the competition.
With teams intensifying preparations and the first phase of the schedule set to be released imminently, attention is now turning to the opening weeks of the IPL season — and how the early fixtures will shape the race for the title.
