The uncertainty surrounding global travel due to the ongoing West Asia conflict has sparked discussions about whether the Indian Premier League (IPL) could face disruption this year. Regarding the same, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla has provided the much-needed update.

Rajeev Shukla opens up on Iran war impacting IPL 2026

Speaking about the situation, Mr Shukla stated that the tournament will go ahead according to the existing plan. Notably, the BCCI has already released the schedule for the opening phase of the season, while the remaining fixtures will be finalized once the Election Commission of India announces polling dates for the states heading into assembly elections.

Mr Shukla explained that the board has adopted a phased approach to scheduling in order to accommodate potential logistical challenges arising from the election process. According to him, only the first set of matches has been released for now, while the rest of the tournament schedule will follow after clarity on election dates.

“IPL will be held as per schedule. We have released the schedule for 20 matches. The schedule for remaining matches will be released after the Election Commission announces the dates for states going to the election,” Mr Shukla said as quoted by NDTV.

West Asia conflict raises travel concerns for international players

While the IPL schedule itself remains unaffected, the ongoing conflict in West Asia has created some challenges related to international travel. Flight disruptions in the region have already impacted cricket teams recently, highlighting how geopolitical developments can indirectly influence the sport.

One such example occurred after the T20 World Cup held in India, when the West Indies team reportedly faced delays in departing the country due to cancelled flights connected to the conflict zone. Situations like these have raised concerns about the travel arrangements of overseas players participating in IPL 2026.

Despite these complications, the BCCI remains confident that the tournament’s operations will proceed smoothly. The board is expected to closely monitor the situation and coordinate with airlines and government authorities to ensure that players and support staff can travel safely.

Also READ: Anil Kumble names 2 greatest teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL)

RCB to take on MI in the opening clash of IPL 2026

Earlier, the BCCI released the fixtures for the opening phase of IPL 2026, which will run from March 28 to April 12. A total of 20 matches will be played during this period across multiple venues.

The season will begin with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The clash is expected to set the tone for another highly anticipated season of the world’s most popular franchise-based T20 league.

Also READ: Faf du Plessis picks a player who will be ‘under most pressure’ in IPL 2026