BCCI hints early start to IPL 2027 to minimise matches in extreme summer

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has hinted at the possibility of an early start to the IPL from next season onwards. Saikia stated that the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council are in discussions about starting the tournament sooner due to the extreme heat that the players and fans encounter as well as pre-monsoon showers that could disrupt games in the second half of May.

"This year, the Indian Premier League began around March 29 [28], and it ended on May 31. Only thing which we are discussing is that during the fag end of the tournament after May 15... there is apprehension of having rainfall or pre-monsoon season starting," Saikia told PTI.

"On the other hand, the weather is hot, which doesn't help the players or the crowd much. So therefore, there is a discussion going on in BCCI as well as in our IPL governing council regarding whether we can start the tournament a little bit earlier than the fag end of March.

Saikia went on to say that he's looking at a window of March 10 to May 15 for the tournament.

"From next year, we will make an effort and I have already instructed our general manager (games development) [former India fast bowler Abey Kuruvilla] to look for the windows, whether we can start it by 10th of March and conclude it by 15th of May. So that there are no adverse weather conditions in the run-up to the playoffs and the finals of IPL 2027, which will be the 20th edition," he said.

"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," he said. "So, to provide a pleasant atmosphere for the tournament, we want to close it by 15th of May. That is our primary objective right now, and it will be a major concern for the 20th IPL, which will take place next year.

Interestingly, the Border-Gavaskar series at home, comprising five Test matches, is scheduled to go on till March 3 if the fifth and final Test goes on for all five days. Also, England and Australia players will be occupied with the 150th Anniversary Test match, set to be played at Lord's in London from March 11 to 15.