Last Updated:
The IPL 2026 season starts on March 28, confirmed by Star Sports. RCB, the defending champions, will play five home games at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and two in Raipur.
IPL 2026 will start in late March. (BCCI Photo)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is ready to begin on March 28, as confirmed by broadcaster Star Sports on Sunday.
This announcement was made prior to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final between India and Latest Zealand on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Nonetheless, the particular fixtures for the IPL 2026 edition are yet to be released by the IPL authorities. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are the defending champions, having defeated Punjab Kings by six runs within the 2025 final held in Ahmedabad.
Why Delay In IPL Fixtures?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has explained why the match schedule for the nineteenth season of the IPL has not been officially released yet. IPL 2026 is anticipated to happen from March 26 to May 31. With lower than a month and a half before the tournament begins, fans are keen to grasp the delay within the fixtures.
A BCCI official stated that election schedules and vote-counting dates across several states have complicated the planning process. Matches coinciding with polling duties would result in security shortages, necessitating venue changes and adjustments to team travel plans. Subsequently, the board is awaiting official confirmation from authorities before finalising the dates.
RCB To Play At…?
Earlier this month, Santosh Menon, Secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), announced that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium would host five of RCB’s home games within the IPL 2026 season. Moreover, the stadium will even host the tournament’s final and one play-off match. The remaining two home matches for RCB will probably be played on the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
In a press release on Tuesday, RCB expressed gratitude to the Government of Karnataka, the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and the Karnataka Police for his or her support in hosting matches in Bengaluru. The statement highlighted the collective efforts to reinforce infrastructure and safety measures, ensuring that the defending champions could play most of their home games at their home ground.
Cricket on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium had been suspended since June last yr after a stampede during RCB’s IPL 2025 title celebration resulted in 11 fatalities and several other injuries.
(With inputs from Agencies)
March 08, 2026, 18:35 IST
Read More