Overview
- BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the initial slate will be announced on March 12, with the rest to be released later.
- The tournament window runs from March 28 to May 31, with the start date confirmed by broadcaster Star Sports.
- The staggered rollout accounts for polling timetables in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, which influence police deployment and venue clearances.
- Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is cleared to host the opener, one playoff and the final following safety measures introduced after the 2025 stampede.
- Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five home matches at Chinnaswamy and two in Raipur as franchises continue pre-season camps despite the pending full schedule.