IPL 2026 Schedule: The Governing Council of the Indian Premier League held an online meeting earlier this week and decided to reveal the schedule of the upcoming season in two phases, as there will be Assembly elections in many states during the tournament. Per a report, the Governing Council has approved the first half of the schedule, which will be announced on March 6 or 7.

According to Cricbuzz, the Rajat Patidar-led side, who are the reigning champions, will start their campaign, probably at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. But there is clarity on who they will face in their first match.

At the same time, the beginning of the tournament opener will be postponed by a few days. Initially, speculation was rife that the upcoming season might start on March 26, but it will now begin on March 28 or 29.

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The summit clash is scheduled for May 31.

As per the report, the Governing Council has told all 10 teams that they are awaiting the Election Commission's announcement of the polling dates, as the State Assembly Elections will be held in West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu. And that is why there has been a delay in announcing the IPL 2026 schedule.

RCB to Play Five Matches at Chinnaswamy

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have revealed that they will play five of their seven home matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, putting all speculation to rest. Following the tragic stampede outside the stadium during their IPL victory parade last year, it has faced serious criticism. Due to this, all the high-octane matches, which were supposed to happen here, were shifted.

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The Rajat Patidar-led side will be playing two matches in Raipur.

“The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is more than just our home ground; it is where our identity as a team truly comes alive. The energy our fans bring to Bengaluru has always been a driving force for our players, inspiring them through every phase of the game. Our fans have stood by us unconditionally, and they deserve the opportunity to watch their team compete at home", Rajesh Menon, who is the CEO of this team, said.

“After detailed discussions and completing the necessary due process regarding permissions, we are pleased to confirm that RCB will play five matches in Bengaluru. We sincerely thank the Government of Karnataka, the KSCA, and the Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible", he added.