BCCI makes major IPL 2026 schedule change - Here's what's new

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday revised the IPL 2026 schedule, swapping the dates and venues for matches between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings due to upcoming municipal corporation elections in Gujarat on April 26.Elections are set to be held not only in Ahmedabad but also across several cities, including Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Karamsad-Anand, Gandhidham, Nadiad, Navsari, Porbandar, Mehsana, Morbi, Vapi and Surendranagar. The counting of votes is scheduled for April 28. IPL schedule: What has changed?As per the revised schedule announced by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, the afternoon fixture between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, initially slated for April 26 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, will now be played in Chennai at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on the same date. The match will continue to start at 3:30 PM IST.As a result, the return fixture - originally scheduled for May 21 in Chennai - will now be hosted in Ahmedabad, while retaining its 7:30 PM IST start time.The rest of the IPL 2026 schedule remains unchanged as the tournament moves into its crucial mid-season phase.“The change has been necessitated in view of the municipal corporation elections in Ahmedabad and other parts of Gujarat scheduled on April 26, 2026,” the BCCI said in a release.IPL 2026: Points table scenarioFive-time champions Chennai Super Kings are regaining their form after having opened their account with a 23-run win over Delhi Capitals and beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs in Chennai on Tuesday. Chennai Super Kings will face Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18 which is their away fixture and they will look to conitinue their winning form after three straight losses and two back-to-back to wins. Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, have collected four points from four matches and are placed fifth on the table. They will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders in Ahmedabad on Friday. A win in their next match against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 17 could potentially propel them into the top four, depending on other results.