The BCCI has not yet named the venues for the playoffs of the Indian Premier League 2026, with the league’s post-league stage set to feature four knockout fixtures: Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the final. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia indicated that the venue list will be confirmed shortly, while also addressing ongoing discussion around the Impact Player rule and its future in the tournament calendar.
Key takeaways
- The BCCI is yet to announce where the IPL 2026 playoff matches will be hosted.
- Saikia said the venues are expected to be revealed within two days, with additional time if further planning is needed.
- The Impact Player rule, introduced in IPL 2023, is scheduled to remain in place until 2027 before a review.
- Saikia stated that IPL franchises have not raised formal concerns about the Impact Player mechanism so far.
- A review of the Impact Player rule is planned after IPL 2026 concludes, with any mid-season change described as not feasible.
IPL 2026 playoffs: venues still to be confirmed
At present, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has not officially disclosed the grounds that will stage the IPL 2026 playoffs. The final phase of the competition will consist of four matches in total: Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the tournament final. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board is working on the “appropriate” venues and expects to communicate the locations soon.
Saikia said, “We are going to announce the venues in two days’ time.” He added that the board is in the process of finalising which venues should be used for the playoffs and the final, and suggested another short window could be required to complete the decision-making. “So, we’ll take another two days’ time,” he said.
Impact Player rule: continued through 2027, reviewed after IPL 2026
The Impact Player concept has been a major talking point since it was introduced in the IPL in 2023. The BCCI has already indicated that the rule will continue to be part of the competition up to 2027, after which it will be evaluated. Saikia, while responding to questions about the rule, pointed to the variety of match outcomes being seen across the league stage and playoffs build-up.
While discussing the Impact Player rule, Saikia acknowledged that some low-scoring contests have occurred, but argued that fans are still enjoying the matches. He also highlighted that bowlers have been able to secure useful breakthroughs, and noted that team totals can vary significantly—mentioning instances where some sides have struggled with very low scores, while others have chased targets around 260 in certain games.
“Everything is happening… it is a full bouquet in one package,” Saikia added, summing up the overall entertainment value he believes the current framework is producing.
Franchise feedback and the timeline for any changes
Saikia also said that the franchises appear comfortable with how the Impact Player rule is functioning. He stated that the BCCI has not received complaints from teams so far, and reiterated that the rule will be reviewed after IPL 2026 ends.
Explaining why decisions may not be made mid-tournament, Saikia said, “This (discussion on the rule) has been going on for the last two years. We are reviewing it after this tournament is over, and in the middle of the tournament, we cannot take any call.”
He further clarified that there is no official request currently on the table to reconsider the Impact Player approach. “There is no official request that we should revisit this particular impact player proposition,” Saikia said. He added that the idea is sometimes discussed in the media, but insisted that if teams bring it up formally, the board would have to respond. “But till now, no such situation has arisen,” he concluded.
