The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is facing a scheduling headache ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. After the announcement of the state assembly election dates, questions have arisen whether Rajasthan Royals (RR) matches will be played without changes in the first phase.
Assam elections are clashing with cricket matches being held in Guwahati. The Election Commission of India has fixed April 9 as the date of voting in Assam. BCCI has released the first 20 matches of the Indian Premier League and Guwahati is to host three matches in the first phase.
Organizers announced only the initial phase of the program to manage the complex security arrangements during assembly elections in several states.
Rajasthan Royals is set to play three matches in Guwahati
Rajasthan Royals will play three home matches at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. They will face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 30 before taking on Mumbai Indians on April 7. After this, the Royals will host Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 10.
BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia addressed potential scheduling concerns. He dismissed rumors of matches being moved away from Guwahati and confirmed that local police authorities have assured proper security arrangements for the IPL fixtures.
“There will be no rescheduling of IPL matches in Guwahati, Assam. I have already spoken to the Honorable Chief Minister of Assam and the Commissioner of Police, Guwahati. Both have assured me that they will manage to organize the matches, and there is no need to change the schedule.” Saikia told The Times of India.
IPL scheduling faces challenges during election period
Managing cricket matches during election periods requires careful coordination with local authorities. State police forces must monitor polling stations, secure financial transfers and safely transport electronic voting machines.
Border security forces also remain on high alert as Assam shares an international border with Bangladesh. While Rajasthan Royals deals with these scheduling challenges, some other teams are currently enjoying a geographical advantage.
Teams like Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will not face any state election clashes this spring. As a result, these teams can enjoy uninterrupted home advantage during crucial April fixtures.
Rajasthan Royals shifted their base to Guwahati
Rajasthan Royals will play three home matches in Guwahati. Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Notanlu, Jaipur is also undergoing mandatory security audit. After their games in the North-East, the team will face a tough challenge in consecutive away matches in mid-April.
The remaining schedule of IPL will be announced after the elections are over. Voting will take place in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but the match dates there have been staggered enough to avoid clashes. As a result, Rajasthan Royals will continue with their planned matches in Guwahati without any changes.
The extended IPL season has made security planning more difficult for the BCCI. With 84 matches in the tournament, organizers may schedule fewer double-headers during busy voting weeks. This approach will help in managing the crowd better and reduce the pressure on the local police.
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