Lalit Modi, the founding chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has called for a fundamental rethink of the tournament's scheduling, advocating a shift from the current March-May window to a broader October-to-April slot — with January as a proposed start date — and an expansion of the match count from 74 to 94. The remarks, reported on 2 November 2026, represent one of the most detailed public interventions on IPL scheduling from its architect since the league's founding in 2008.

The Case for a New Window

Modi argued that the April-May slot was never the ideal home for the IPL — it was simply the only available window when the league launched. 'April-May was the opportunity available then. It was never a declaration that these were the ideal months for Indian cricket for all time,' he said. He drew a parallel with global football leagues that operate across several months, suggesting that cricket's premier franchise competition deserves similarly considered scheduling.

He also cited heat and humidity as a persistent problem for players, spectators, and other stakeholders in the latter stages of the current window, calling for 'choosing dates and venues intelligently' and factoring in conditions across India's diverse geography.

The 94-Match Proposal Explained

The expansion from 74 to 94 matches stems from a sporting logic Modi laid out explicitly: a full home-and-away league format for 10 teams produces 90 league fixtures, plus four playoffs — totalling 94 matches, an increase of nearly 60% on the original 59-match schedule. He acknowledged fatigue risks, arguing that a longer, better-spaced season was the solution rather than compressing more fixtures into the same short window. 'A longer season gives us room to create a recognisable weekly rhythm, build anticipation and leave breathing space,' he said. Notably, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal had earlier this year also floated a split-window format to accommodate more matches, signalling that the idea has traction within the BCCI's own ecosystem.

What the Calendar Change Would Mean

A January start would require significant adjustments to India's international and domestic cricket calendar, including the Future Tours Programme (FTP). Modi acknowledged this directly, stating: 'It would require changes. That is precisely why this discussion belongs in the new FTP.' He stressed that the proposal does not amount to seven uninterrupted months of exclusive IPL cricket, but rather a structured season designed around international protected blocks, domestic programmes, and genuine player rest. 'You cannot fit a Test tour into a few spare weekdays. But "the calendar would have to change" cannot be the final answer to every proposal,' he added.

Modi's Appeal to ICC Chairman Jay Shah

In a pointed appeal, Modi called on ICC chairman Jay Shah to use his position to help broker an international agreement around a revised IPL window. He framed it as an opportunity for leadership rather than an imposition of an Indian calendar on other boards. 'A settlement that strengthens the IPL while giving the wider game greater certainty could be a defining achievement of his chairmanship,' Modi said. He acknowledged that overseas boards supplying talent to the IPL must have a commercial reason to support any new arrangement, and called for transparent assessment of player release terms and bilateral income impacts.

The Economics Behind the Push

Modi grounded his argument in an assessment of cricket's evolving financial landscape, suggesting that bilateral and ICC rights income faces pressure in the coming cycle. He described the IPL as the BCCI's 'principal commercial engine and, in my view, its lifeline for future growth,' urging the board to plan proactively. 'Keeping the calendar unchanged regardless of how those income streams develop is not a business strategy,' he argued. The proposal, if it gains traction, would mark the most consequential structural change to world cricket's scheduling since the IPL's own launch nearly two decades ago.