The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to start in 2 days, with the inaugural match between the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on 28th March, 2026.
However, it became a matter of concern when the BCCI didn’t give any further statement on the second half of the IPL schedule. Yesterday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) clarified that they will be announcing the pending match schedule soon. This was confirmed officially by Board Secretary Devajit Saikia in an interview with The Times of India.
Why did the delay happen?
As we are already aware, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule was already aligned in the opening window of IPL 2026 from March, due to which it got slightly delayed.
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Additionally, after the Election Commission of India announced assembly election dates in states such as West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu, the schedule needed to be put on hold. Therefore, the BCCI announced the schedule for the first half only, i.e., till 12th April, covering just 12 games.
Meanwhile, the fuel crisis due to the ongoing war in West Asia also made the Board members reconsider logistical planning. The BCCI has stated that the schedule for the second half of the IPL season will be released soon.
The official Board Secretary Devajit Saikia of the BCCI said, “We will announce the remaining IPL 2026 schedule soon.”
His statement clarified that the league will commence as planned without any major changes, unlike what was seen during the lockdown phase.
Team Captains Briefed on Latest IPL Rule by BCCI
Yesterday, the BCCI also shared details about the first half of the schedule for the upcoming edition. All 10 captains were briefed on tournament rules and regulations by match referees’ head Javagal Srinath and umpire panel chief Nitin Menon at the BCCI headquarters. This was followed by the captains’ shoot at the Cricket Club of India.
All rules remain unchanged: the innings timer (60-second clock), Impact Player rule, concussion substitute, code of conduct, two-bouncer rule, bat checks, ball replacement, restrictions on saliva usage, and the retired-out provision, as stated by a source.
Going further, the source also confirmed that most captains agreed on the Impact Player rule, which will continue till 2027.
Ball Change Rule Retained
Going further, it was also confirmed that to counter dew in night matches, fielding captains will be allowed one ball change after the 10th over of the second innings in evening games.
The same rule will be applied this year as well, making teams more comfortable and ensuring fairness. The replacement ball will have similar wear and tear, while umpires will retain the discretion to change the ball at any moment if it becomes unfit for play.
It will be quite interesting to see how the league progresses, with several big names already joining teams as replacements after their terrific performances in the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Last year, Royal Challengers Bengaluru broke their long wait for their first-ever IPL trophy under the leadership of Rajat Patidar.
It will be quite interesting to see how they carry their redeemed title forward in the 19th edition with a completely new spirit and confidence. They will be seen defending their title in the opening game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, who will be led by India’s star batter Ishan Kishan, who is in the prime form of his career, having played a key role in India’s third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup win in 2026 with his impeccable batting. His recent performances have made him one of the players to watch out for in the upcoming season.
