IPL 2027 to be preponed due to weather concerns but no extra matches next season, says BCCI secretary

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is always in the news irrespective of what’s going on in the international circuit. While the Indian team is in the midst of an ODI series against Afghanistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed the timeline for the next IPL season, which will be played in 2027.

Due to some hot conditions and extreme weather situations, the BCCI is planning to prepone the IPL 2027. Usually, an IPL season begins in the last week of March and finishes by the end of may, taking more than two months of action. However, Saikia feels that from the next season onwards, the BCCI might commence the new IPL season a bit earlier, quoting March 10, so that the marquee tournament could be concluded by May 15.

BCCI plans to prepone IPL 2027

This year, the IPL 2026 began on March 28, with the M Chinnaswamy Stadium hosting the tournament opener. The 19th season of the cash-rich league continued for a total of 64 days. On May 31st, the Narendra Modi Stadium hosted the summit clash between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT). However, taking into account the unpredictable weather of the country and a threat of an early monsoon, the board is most likely to create a slightly new window for the IPL.

“This year, IPL started around the 29th of March, and it was over by the 31st of May. The only thing we are discussing is that during the fag end of the tournament, after the 15th of May, there are issues regarding the weather; particularly in some areas, there is apprehension of having rainfall or the pre-monsoon season starting or on the other hand, there is warm weather or hot conditions, which are not very conducive either for the players or for the crowds or the fans.” Saikia said while speaking to the Press Trust of India.

This season, we saw a match between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) get washed out due to rain. The two teams shared a point each, which perhaps eventually played a part in PBKS’ ouster from the league stages. Catch what Punjab’s Prabhsimran Singh had to say about it here. Saikia confirms that the matter will be discussed in IPL’s governing council as well.

“So, there is a discussion going on in the BCCI as well as in our IPLGC regarding whether we can start the tournament a little bit earlier than the fag end of March. From next year, we’ll make an effort and I have already instructed our general manager of games development to look for the windows where we can start it by the 10th of March so that we can conclude it by 15th of May so that there are no adverse weather conditions in the run-up to the final stages of the playoffs and the finals of the IPL 2027 which will be the 20th edition of the IPL.”

Number of IPL matches to remain same?

“So far as the other thing regarding the increase of the number of matches that is not feasible right at this moment because we have to consider many other factors regarding various players coming from various nations and with lot of difficulties, we are getting this two months window but it will be very difficult to enhance it to go beyond two months because other countries also have to play bilateral matches and there are various other things relating to international draws and fixtures.”

“So, at this moment there is no discussion regarding increasing it from 74 to any further matches up to 94 which is not happening immediately. In the course of later years I do not know what the position will be, but right at this moment I don’t see any possibility of increasing it from 74 to 94 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, and South Africa all are playing in this tournament… West Indies… so we do not want to upset their bilateral matches also and other international pictures, including various other multi-country tournaments.“

“So, at this moment I don’t see any chance of increasing it beyond the window of two months, which will accommodate only about 74 matches with a lot of double headers during the run-up to the tournament.”

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