A legal challenge around the name of the Indian Premier League has now been settled, bringing clarity ahead of the new season. The Kerala High Court has dismissed a plea that questioned whether the tournament should be allowed to use the name, “Indian Premier League”.
The petition was filed by Ashique from Ernakulam, who argued that the league is not an official national tournament and therefore should not carry this name. However, the court did not agree with this argument. A bench led by Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. found no strong basis in the claim and decided not to proceed with the case.
The IPL, launched in 2008 with eight teams, has since grown into the biggest T20 cricket league in the world. Over the years, it expanded to include more franchises and attracted top players from across the globe, making it one of the most popular sporting events.
Meanwhile, preparations for the upcoming season are in full swing. The 2026 edition will begin on March 28, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
There was also uncertainty about whether matches would be held at this venue. The stadium had not hosted major games since a tragic stampede during RCB’s victory celebrations last year. However, that concern has now been resolved.
The Karnataka government has officially approved the stadium to host IPL matches again. This decision came after a detailed review meeting involving officials, experts and representatives from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), RCB and other stakeholders.
Authorities confirmed that all necessary safety measures and preparations have been completed. Based on the expert committee’s recommendations, the government is satisfied with the arrangements and has given permission for matches to go ahead.
With both the legal issue resolved and the venue cleared, the stage is now set for another exciting IPL season.
