Arun Dhumal hints at separate windows for IPL in future

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal has revealed that the BCCI is exploring the possibility of creating separate windows for the tournament in the future, with a September-October schedule being one of the options under discussion. 

The IPL currently occupies a major portion of the cricket calendar every year, running over two months. With the league continuing to grow in size and popularity, there have been discussions around whether an extended season could eventually lead to viewer fatigue. However, Dhumal stated that the BCCI is still evaluating different possibilities and will hold detailed discussions with broadcasters before taking any decision.

Dhumal said a September-October window could be commercially beneficial for the league due to its proximity to the festive season in India.

“I do not think so. We need to sit across and speak to the broadcaster for their opinion on whether the tournament can be moved to another window. One suggestion was a window in September-October. That is the best time from an advertiser point of view because it is just before Diwali,” Dhumal said while speaking to Sportstar.

Dhumal also highlighted the growing challenge of extreme weather conditions during the latter stages of the tournament, especially in May. According to him, the board is considering a split-window model, where one phase of the IPL could be held between February and April, with the remaining matches taking place later in the year.

“Weather is another challenge that we are facing now with May getting very hot. We are also looking if we can find a window from February to April and then later in the year,” Dhumal explained.

The IPL chairman further stressed that any future scheduling changes would need to align with the international cricket calendar, considering the tournament’s impact on players and cricket boards across the world.

“We have to do what is best for the game because IPL does not impact only the BCCI, it impacts all other cricket boards and players who play across the globe. We will sit across with all our friends from other countries and find what works best for this tournament and cricket globally,” he added.

Meanwhile, IPL 2026 has entered its business end with the playoffs currently underway. Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a place in the final after defeating Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala on May 26. On May 27, Sunrisers Hyderabad are set to face Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator in New Chandigarh.