RCB will face SRH in the IPL 2026 tournament opener on March 28 in Bengaluru.
Before the Election Commission of India announced the dates of assembly elections in IPL states, including Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, the BCCI had only published schedules for the first 20 games (until April 12). It is now anticipated that the remaining 54 matches will be played later this week.
“We will announce the remaining IPL-2026 in a few days,” Saikia told The Times of India.
The league will continue as usual without any restrictions, according to BCCI sources, despite worries about a potential energy and fuel crisis impacting venues or spectator turnout in the second half.
After a captain’s photoshoot at the Cricket Club of India, match referees' head Javagal Srinath and umpiring panel chief Nitin Menon addressed all ten IPL captains on IPL 2026 regulations at the BCCI headquarters.
“All rules remain unchanged—innings timer (60-second clock), Impact Player, concussion substitute, code of conduct, two-bouncer rule, bat checks, ball replacement, saliva usage, and retired-out provision. The session helps captains gain clarity at the start of the tournament, especially first-timers like Ishan Kishan, who is leading Sunrisers Hyderabad,” a source said as per Times of India.
Meanwhile, Devajit Saikia also told the newspaper that, keeping in mind the 11 victims of the stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, during RCB’s IPL 2025 trophy celebration, there will be no opening ceremony or celebration before the IPL 2026 opening match between defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday night, March 28.
However, the BCCI and its IPL Governing Council are planning a grand closing ceremony for the 19th season of the IPL on the day of the final, May 31.
"Due to last year's tragic incident on June 4, there will be no formal function on the day of the start of IPL-2026 (in Bengaluru). The BCCI is not organizing any cultural or entertainment show at the start of IPL-19 as a mark of respect to the departed souls due to the tragedy on June 4, 2025.
However, the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council are planning a grand entertainment function at the closing of the IPL, on the day of the final (May 31)," Saikia told TOI.
In 2019, as well, the BCCI had scrapped the IPL opening ceremony, following the Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of around 40 CRPF personnel. Instead, the funds for the same were donated to the families of the victims.