Indian Premier League 2018 to begin April 7 in Mumbai; here are new match timings

The Indian Premier League 2018 will be held from April 7 to May 27, with the start time of IPL matches also undergoing a notable change.

The 11th edition of the lucrative Indian Premier League will be held from April 7 to May 27, the IPL governing council said today. Mumbai will host the opening match and the final of the cash-rich T20 tournament.

The 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be held from April 7 to May 27, the governing council said today. (IPL)

The IPL governing council also decided to shift the start of the matches, which were scheduled to begin at 8pm and 4pm earlier.

“The broadcasters (STAR Sports) requested for a change in timings and IPL governing council in principle has accepted it,” IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said.

“Live broadcast of 8pm game will be shifted to 7pm, while 4pm will be played at 5:30pm,” he added.

Kings XI Punjab will play four of their home games in Mohali and three in Indore, while the home matches of Rajasthan Royals, who are returning to IPL after serving a two-year ban, will be decided after the Rajasthan High court’s hearing on January 24.

A total of 578 players including 360 Indians will go under the hammer in this year’s IPL auction at Bangalore on January 27 and 28.

BCCI rejects Bihar appeal

The IPL governing council has not accepted Bihar’s request to include nine of its player in the IPL players auction in Bangalore on January 27 and 28. Acting on the January 4 Supreme Court order, Bihar had written to the cricket Board to include nine players in the auction but it was not even discussed in Monday’s GC meeting, it is learnt.