Discussions surrounding a major calendar shift for the Indian Premier League gained momentum in November 2026 as prominent franchise owners and executives backed proposals to move the tournament away from the extreme heat of April and May.
The debate intensified when Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Juhi Chawla supported a proposal from former league chairman Lalit Modi to reschedule the tournament to January, pointing to the harsh weather conditions during the traditional window. Chawla questioned the timing of the competition on social media, writing on X that the tournament earns the right to influence the cricket calendar.
“Why should the world’s biggest cricket tournament continue to be played in the hottest months of the year? And if the calendar is being reconsidered, why not January instead of April-May? Better conditions, better cricket, and overall a better experience for everyone. The format of the IPL has changed. Perhaps it is time for a change in its calendar as well!” said Juhi Chawla Mehta, @iam_juhi.
The IPL no longer needs to find its place in the cricket calendar. It has earned the right to influence it. So why keep playing the biggest cricket tournament on the planet in the harshest heat? And if the calendar is being reconsidered, why not January instead of April-May?…
RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka also supported the shift, arguing in a post that cooler weather benefits player performance and improves the experience for attending families. Goenka said that players perform better in pleasant weather compared to forty degree Celsius heat, and that families can enjoy packed stadiums without battling a summer furnace, while pre-monsoon weather and heat create fewer interruptions.
Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia added his support to a revised calendar. Wadia said that starting in January would be ideal if the window is found, though international and domestic calendars must be examined first.
Modi argued that the Board of Control for Cricket in India holds the authority to set the schedule independently without requiring a dedicated window from the International Cricket Council. Modi said that the tournament is no longer seeking a place in world cricket and that world cricket must recognize the standing the league has already achieved.
While franchise figures advocate for January, the BCCI has separately weighed adjustments to avoid late-May heat and pre-monsoon rains. Board secretary Devjit Saikia indicated that the BCCI and IPL governing council are discussing starting the tournament before the last week of March, though no official decision has been made.
Saikia said that pre-monsoon rains threaten many parts of the country after May 15, and extreme heat remains unfavorable for players and spectators alike.