“This year, IPL started around March 29 [28], and it was over by May 31,” Saikia told PTI. “Only thing which we are discussing is that during the fag end of the tournament after May 15… there is apprehension of having rainfall or pre-monsoon season starting.
“On the other hand, there is hot weather which is not very conducive either for the players or for the crowds.
“So therefore, there is a discussion going on in BCCI as well as in our IPL governing council regarding whether we can start the tournament a little bit earlier than the fag end of March.
“From next year, we will make an effort and I have already instructed our general manager (games development) [former India fast bowler Abey Kuruvilla] to look for the windows, whether we can start it by 10th of March and conclude it by 15th of May. So that there are no adverse weather conditions in the run-up to the playoffs and the finals of IPL 2027, which will be the 20th edition.”
Saikia said he has heard complaints from players and fans about the extreme weather conditions towards the end of IPL seasons.
“I’m hearing a lot of complaints from the fans as well as from the players, because not all players are very well-equipped or well-acclimatised to play in such hot conditions,” he said. “So, to provide a pleasant atmosphere for the tournament, we want to close it by 15th of May.
“That is our first goal now, and that is the prime area of concern for the next year’s 20th edition of IPL, which will be a big event.”
Since the IPL became a 10-team tournament in 2022, it has been played over 74 games, with each team meeting one set of opponents once and others twice. While there has been talk of expanding the tournament to a full double-round-robin format encompassing 94 games, Saikia said it wouldn’t be possible given the packed cricket calendar.
“… [T]hat is not feasible right at this moment because we have to consider many other factors regarding various players coming from various nations,” Saikia said. “With lot of difficulties we are getting this two months window.
“It will be very difficult to go beyond two months because other countries also have to pay bilateral matches… So at this moment there is no discussion regarding increasing matches from 74 to 94. Not happening immediately.”
Saikia did not rule out a future expansion, however.
“In course of later years, I do not know what will be the position but right at this moment, I don’t see any possibility of increasing it from 74 to 94 [matches] because for that it is not only India that is to be considered but also the interest of other cricketing nations of the ICC especially players from Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies.
“We do not want to upset bilateral matches also and other multi-country tournaments.”
For the start of the IPL to be moved forward, Saikia said the domestic season would need to end earlier.
“If you look at our domestic cricket, it is a robust system which is in place. We started sometime in the later part of August with Irani Trophy and all the matches, and it goes up to the Ranji Trophy final, which happens in the month of March.
“Already, we have about 7-8 months long period of domestic cricket. We have to squeeze in some of the matches, so that we finish our domestic cricket by 10th of March, so that we can start it [the IPL] immediately.”
