The Indian Premier League (IPL) governing body, BCCI, could consider changing the schedule window of the tournament in the coming years, with IPL chairman Arun Dhumal admitting that the intense summer heat during the current March-May period has become a growing concern.
Since the tournament began in 2008, the IPL has always been played during the Indian summer. However, with the league expected to expand further after 2028, discussions have started around whether shifting the tournament to a different part of the calendar would be a better option for players, broadcasters, and advertisers.
IPL chairman on tournament's schedule change
Speaking to Sportstar, Dhumal said there is no immediate plan to move the tournament, but the BCCI is open to discussions, especially with broadcasters, before taking any major decision regarding the IPL schedule window.
“We need to sit across and speak to the broadcaster for their opinion on whether the tournament can be moved to another window. One suggestion was a window in September-October," Dhumal said.
“That is the best time from an advertiser’s point of view because it’s just before Diwali. We will look at that when the next bilateral tender comes into play, in case we can find a window there," Dhumal added.
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Current IPL teams and matches
At present, the IPL features 10 teams and 74 matches spread across two months. But with talks of adding more games in future editions, scheduling the tournament during peak summer could become even more challenging.
Many IPL venues witness extreme temperatures during May, making playing conditions physically exhausting for the cricketers. The issue of player fatigue, along with the packed international calendar, has reportedly pushed the BCCI to explore another window for the cash-rich league.
How could the September-October IPL window can benefit advertisers?
A possible September-October IPL window could also benefit advertisers due to the festive season leading up to Diwali, which is traditionally considered one of the biggest commercial periods in India.