IPL 2026 Schedule: BCCI to Release First List by March 12

Chandani — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:18:13 +0000

BCCI Secretary Gives Big Update On IPL 2026 Schedule Announcement

The wait for the IPL 2026 fixtures is almost over. On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia shared a major update. The goal is to release the match list in a few days. In fact, the BCCI will announce the first part of the schedule by March 12. Plus, the 19th edition of the league will now run from March 28 to May 31.

The Two-Part Schedule Strategy

But why is the BCCI releasing the schedule in parts? The reason involves the upcoming assembly elections in India. Is the whole list coming at once? No. Consequently, the board will only release the first 20 days of fixtures for now. Moreover, states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have busy election dates. Previously, the IPL window was slightly different. So, the board shifted the dates to March 28 to avoid any security clashes. Therefore, the rest of the schedule will come once election dates are clear.

Teams Begin Pre-Season Training

Still, the players are already hitting the ground. The plan for many teams involves early camps in different cities. And, MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad have already joined the CSK camp in Navalur. Accordingly, fans are excited to see the legends back in action.

Team	Camp Location	Status
🦁 CSK	Navalur (Chennai)	Training Started
👑 RCB	Navi Mumbai	Prep Camp Done
🛡️ GT	Nathdwara	Practice On
🔴 PBKS	Dharamsala	Current Camp
👕 MI	Mumbai	Training Started

The Defending Champions and Others

But what are the defending champions doing? The reason for RCB’s early camp in February was to build team bond. Why? Because they want to protect their title after the 2025 win. Essentially, every team is finding unique spots to train. Indeed, Rajasthan Royals will start their Jaipur camp on March 15.

Then there is the matter of the KKR camp. The reason for their late start on March 18 is their domestic player schedule. Worth noting: Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians are also already in full swing. Ultimately, the stage is being set for a massive 84-match season starting late March.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is the first IPL match of 2026? So, the season officially kicks off on March 28. Because of this, you can expect the opening match to feature the defending champions, RCB.

Why is the schedule being released in parts? In fact, this is due to assembly elections in three states. Additionally, it helps the police manage security for both the games and the voting.

Where is MS Dhoni training? But he is currently at the CSK High-Performance Centre in Navalur. Consequently, it looks like the legend is ready for another season.