IPL to start on March 28; Final set to be played on May 31

On Friday, February 27, a report published on ESPNcricinfo revealed that the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season will commence on March 28, two days after what the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had originally planned.

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While the earlier report published in December 2025 revealed that the 2026 edition of the cash-rich league would commence on March 26, the latest report has confirmed that the IPL has a new start date, with the grand finale scheduled to be played on May 31.

The same report further revealed that the IPL Governing Council is expected to meet next week to announce the schedule for the IPL 2026 season. Notably, the schedule announcement has been delayed because the dates for the assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu haven’t been announced yet.

It’s important to note that Kolkata and Chennai are the home grounds for the three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), respectively.

On the other hand, Guwahati, Assam’s capital, will be the second home venue for the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Moreover, the IPL GC will also discuss where the season opener is expected to be played since it will feature the IPL 2025 title winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Following the stampede during RCB's victory celebrations at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in June 2026, which caused 11 deaths, the Bengaluru-based franchise is involved in discussions with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on whether RCB's seven home games could be played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Moreover, the BCCI also brought together all 10 franchises and the broadcaster JioHotstar to discuss ways of building pre-season excitement among fans to match the levels seen in world-class leagues such as the NFL and NBA

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