The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is exploring a significant change to the Indian Premier League (IPL) calendar, with discussions underway to move future seasons to an earlier window. Under the proposed plan, the tournament could start around March 10 and wrap up by May 15, giving the league a cleaner finish before the peak of the summer heat and pre-monsoon weather.
The idea has gained traction because of the growing concern around the final phase of the IPL, when late-May conditions often become difficult for both players and fans. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board is actively evaluating the shift, saying the main concern is the risk of rainfall and the onset of the pre-monsoon period after May 15. He also pointed out that extreme heat during that stretch is not ideal for either competition or attendance.
“This year, IPL started around March 29th (28th), and it was over by May 31. The only thing that 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,” Devajit Saikia told PTI. “On the other hand, there is hot weather which is not very conducive either for the players or for the crowds,” he added.
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According to Saikia, the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council are studying whether the league can be advanced by nearly two weeks without disrupting the broader cricket calendar. The goal is to find a better balance among weather conditions, player workload, and the packed international schedule, which already leaves limited room for flexibility.
At the same time, Saikia made it clear that expanding the IPL from 74 matches to 94 is not on the table for now. While there have been occasional suggestions to increase the number of games, he said the reality of international commitments makes such an expansion difficult at this stage. With several countries needing time for bilateral cricket, the IPL cannot simply stretch beyond its current two-month format.
🔴 BCCI REJECTS IPL GROWTH PLAN, 94-MATCH DREAM DELAYED 🤯
– BCCI is targeting an IPL window from March 10 to May 15 in future seasons.
– The proposed expansion from 74 matches to 94 matches has been rejected for now and won’t happen immediately.
– A 94-match IPL is being… pic.twitter.com/UUYSQ365d0
— Sam (@cricsam02) June 18, 2026
“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,” Devajit Saikia said. “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,” he added.
Saikia also stressed that any long-term change would have to fit smoothly with the ICC calendar and other boards’ schedules. That makes an immediate expansion unrealistic, even if the idea remains open for the future.
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Another important part of the conversation is India’s domestic calendar. Saikia noted that domestic competitions would need to finish earlier if the IPL is to begin sooner. India’s domestic season currently runs from late August through to the Ranji Trophy final in March, leaving little breathing space before the IPL window opens. For the BCCI, streamlining that schedule will be key if it wants to move the tournament forward without creating fresh logistical problems.
