At this time T20 World Cup 2026 The schedule of IPL 2026, which is currently grabbing the attention of the world, remains a major topic of discussion as fans await the official fixture list. Although the tournament window is closed from March 26 to May 31, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) it is currently overcoming a number of material, technical and political obstacles. According to InsideSport, the delay is not the result of a “fiasco” or foreign cricket politics, but the complex “mammoth task” of aligning the league with India’s domestic landscape.
IPL 2026 schedule: What causes delay in BCCI’s fixture announcement?
According to the report, the most significant hurdle for the BCCI is the 2026 Assembly Elections. West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry. As the elections will be held in April and May, they coincide almost perfectly with the IPL season. It creates a huge security problem for teams like this Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
“If some match dates coincide with election or counting dates, it is a big task to rearrange the calendar of the three teams. Of course, the state police will not be able to provide security for the matches and we will have to move those games to another place. We are in touch with the authorities and we are waiting for some clarity on the dates.” This was reported by InsideSport with reference to the BCCI official.
For KKR, the situation is more delicate. Traditionally, the franchise looked at Guwahati as a second home when the Eden Gardens were unavailable. However, as Assam also goes to polls, KKR may have to go further afield, potentially to other venues, to host matches. Similarly, without final poll dates, the BCCI is considering splitting the schedule into two parts to avoid mass cancellations and venue changes.
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Impact of T20 World Cup 2026 on Indian Premier League
Apart from politics, the physical condition of the stadiums is a pressing concern. Five of the ten major IPL venues, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Ahmedabadcurrently hosting the 2026 T20 World Cup. With the World Cup final scheduled for March 8, 2026, these venues will have less than three weeks to “renovate their pitches and recover from the rigors of international play”.
“If it takes too long to announce the dates, we can release the schedule in two parts. That’s an option. We’ll call soon,” BCTI official concluded.
This narrow window makes the early part of the IPL schedule difficult. Grounds like Eden Gardens and MA Chidambaram Stadium need time to breathe to ensure the quality of the playing surface continues throughout the 74-match IPL season. As a result, teams may be forced to play their opening games away from home or at neutral sites while their home fields are restored.
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