The BCCI is looking to start the Indian Premier League earlier in the year to avoid the extreme May heat in most parts of the country. Board secretary Devajit Saikia said they’re eyeing a March 10 to May 15 window for future editions, starting with the 2027 season.
But he made it clear that the number of matches will stay at 74. That 94-match expansion that some people have talked about? Not happening anytime soon.
The IPL usually starts in the last week of March and wraps up at the end of May. Saikia said starting earlier would protect both the players and the fans who pay to watch.
“This year, IPL started around March 28th and was over by May 31,” Saikia said. “There is apprehension of rainfall or pre-monsoon season starting after May 15. On the other hand, there is hot weather which is not very conducive either for the players or for the crowds.”
He said they’re looking to move the tournament forward by about two weeks to beat the rising temperatures during the latter part of May.
“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,” Saikia said.
According to him, the BCCI aims to schedule the tournament between March 10 and May 15, starting with the 20th edition of the IPL in 2027.
As for increasing the number of matches from 74 to 94, Saikia shot that down pretty firmly. “That is not feasible right at this moment because we have to consider many other factors regarding various players coming from various nations. With lot of difficulties we are getting this two months window.”
He explained that they can’t go beyond two months because other countries also have bilateral matches to play. “We do not want to upset bilateral matches also and other multi-country tournaments.”
Saikia didn’t rule it out completely for the distant future, but made it clear it’s not happening anytime soon. “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.”
He also pointed out that Indian domestic cricket needs to finish by early March to make this work. “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 immediately.”
Saikia was also pleased that the BCCI was able to complete the 19th edition of the IPL this year despite the tournament being held amid crisis in West Asia.
Could Adelaide Oval Host an IPL Match in 2027? Here’s What We Know
Adelaide Oval in Australia has put forward a proposal to host an Indian Premier League match in March 2027. If it happens, it would be a first for the tournament.
The idea came from Adelaide Oval chairman Jamie Briggs and South Australia Cricket Association chairman Will Rayner, and they’ve already discussed it with several key people. But here’s the catch, the BCCI hasn’t been officially told about it yet.
The plan is being pitched as part of a trade. Australia’s Big Bash League is keen to travel to Chennai and play a match there, so in exchange, Adelaide would get an IPL game. Adelaide Oval is already set to host the T20 World Cup final in 2028.
There’s a clear logic behind the proposal. With a large Indian community in Australia, an IPL match would sell out fast and bring huge attention to Adelaide. The city has already used events like LIV Golf and the AFL’s Gather Round to boost tourism. The stadium officials think March is the ideal time weather-wise in Australia. The AFL season starts around then. The ground can be converted from a football field to a cricket pitch in just 48 hours.
Among those who’ve been told about the idea are South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas, federal trade minister Don Farrell, Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird, and Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg. Tourism South Australia has also signed off on it. Briggs has confirmed there’s interest in bringing an IPL game to Australia, and BBL clubs want to play in Chennai. But so far, the BCCI hasn’t shown any interest.
This would be the fifth time the IPL has been held outside India. Previously, it was played overseas in 2009 and 2014.
FAQs
Q. Why does the BCCI want to start the IPL earlier?
A. The BCCI wants to start the IPL earlier to avoid the extreme heat and possible pre-monsoon weather in May.
Q. Will the IPL increase from 74 to 94 matches in 2027?
A. No. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the IPL will remain a 74-match tournament.
Q. Could an IPL match be played in Australia in 2027?
A. Adelaide Oval has proposed hosting an IPL match in March 2027.
Q. What changes are needed if the IPL starts on March 10?
A. The BCCI plans to finish India’s domestic cricket season by early March.
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