May's intense heat and humidity make conducting matches increasingly difficult.
Speaking to Sportstar, Dhumal revealed one key proposal being discussed with broadcasters is holding a portion of the tournament in a September-October window.
“I do not think so. We need to sit across and speak to the broadcaster for their opinion on whether the tournament can be moved to another window. One suggestion was a window in September-October. That is the best time from an advertiser point of view because it is just before Diwali,” Dhumal said.
He also pointed out that May's intense heat and humidity make conducting matches increasingly difficult and can lead to a surge in player injuries. As a result, the BCCI is also considering the possibility of running the tournament in two phases - one from February to April and another later in the year.
“Weather is another challenge that we are facing now with May getting very hot. We are also looking if we can find a window from February to April and then later in the year,” Dhumal explained.
This restructure could help facilitate the league's expansion from 74 to 94 matches, though it requires negotiation within the upcoming ICC international calendar cycle. The current ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle is locked until 2027, tying up the calendar.
“We have to do what is best for the game because IPL does not impact only the BCCI, it impacts all other cricket boards and players who play across the globe. We will sit across with all our friends from other countries and find what works best for this tournament and cricket globally,” the IPL chairman remarked.
The IPL 2026 season has reached its business end with all four playoff teams confirmed. Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala on Tuesday (May 26 to secure a place in the final.
Gujarat Titans will now play the winner of the Eliminator clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday (May 29) in New Chandigarh for a place in the final, scheduled for May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.