IPL 2026 schedule change: Amid the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a revision to its schedule, which shall impact fixtures between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT). The afternoon clash, which was slated for April 26 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi stadium shall now be played at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. The match will begin at 3:30 PM IST. 

Reverse fixture relocated too

The BCCI, in a corresponding adjustment, has also shifted the reverse fixture between the two sides, scheduled for May 21, to Ahmedabad. The clash will now unfold at the Narendra Modi Stadium, and will kick off at 7:30 PM IST as an evening game. 

The move seeks to ensure logistical balance while accommodating external factors affecting the tournament schedule. 

IPL 2026 schedule change: Polls prompt venue swap

Notably, the decision has been taken in light of the upcoming municipal corporation elections across parts of Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, lined up for April 26. As the security and administrative resources are expected to be stretched, the BCCI mulled and implemented a venue swap to ensure smooth conduct of the league. 

IPL 2026 details

The 2026 installment of the season began on March 28 with a high-profile opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. So far, 21 matches have been played in the 19th edition of the tournament. Initially, the BCCI had announced only a partial schedule owing to pending election dates in poll-bound states like West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu. Later, the full league-stage fixtures were confirmed on March 26, just two days before the commencement of the tournament. 

What ahead in the tournament?

The remaining 50 matches of the league will be played between April 13 and May 24 across 12 venues like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Lucknow. The second phase features eight double-headers, with afternoon and evening matches scheduled at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM respectively. 

While playoff venues are awaited, the final is expected to be hosted at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Rajasthan Royals (RR) are topping the charts, while Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are at the bottom, adding further intrigue to an already gripping season.

Also read: IPL 2026: Pandya fined for slow over-rate vs RCB, Tim David penalised for disobeying umpire