The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is waiting for the Election Commission to announce election dates before confirming the schedule for the 2026 Indian Premier League season. The Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been instructed to decide on their home venues by the week’s end. Elections are upcoming in various Indian states, with the BCCI particularly interested in the dates for Assam, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal polls.
“We are in the process of planning the IPL schedule, pending the Election Commission’s election date announcement. Once these dates are set, we can create a schedule that won’t disrupt the election process or clash with matches in the states going to polls, ensuring a smooth operation of both,” a source from the BCCI shared. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) recently received approval to host IPL and international cricket matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, subject to specific government terms and conditions.
The BCCI has requested the Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru to finalize their home venues promptly. Once these decisions are made, the schedule will be adjusted accordingly. The return of marquee cricket events to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium follows months of uncertainty after a tragic incident during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 celebrations.
Hosting matches at the stadium again was contingent on implementing recommendations from the Justice Michael D’Cunha report, which was part of the investigation into the previous tragedy. The KSCA, after facing administrative challenges, has now obtained clearance from the state government to host matches at the iconic cricketing venue. The BCCI is keenly awaiting the decisions of RCB and RR regarding their home venues before finalizing the IPL 2026 schedule.
