The much-anticipated 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off on March 22nd, with the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai. This exciting clash marks the beginning of a packed season featuring 74 thrilling matches, including playoffs.
However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the schedule for only the initial 21 matches, spanning two action-packed weeks from March 22nd to April 7th. This strategic decision stems from the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with the Election Commission yet to finalize polling dates. The BCCI aims to finalize the remaining schedule after a clearer picture emerges regarding the elections' impact on hosting matches across various cities.
Despite the partial schedule reveal, excitement remains high. All teams, except Delhi Capitals, will play their initial home matches in their usual venues. Delhi will host its first two home games in Visakhapatnam due to pitch concerns at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, which recently hosted the Women's Premier League. The additional time will hopefully allow Delhi's curators to prepare pitches to the team's satisfaction.
The initial leg promises four exhilarating double-headers with evening matches starting at 7:30 PM IST. The opening ceremony precedes the much-awaited CSK-RCB clash, featuring cricketing legends MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, which kicks off at 8:00 PM IST. Following discussions with broadcasters and franchise officials, it's understood that the IPL final is slated for May 26th, offering a five-day buffer before the T20 World Cup commences in the USA and West Indies.
This isn't the BCCI's first dance with such scheduling adjustments. In 2019, overlapping General Elections prompted a similar approach, with the initial two weeks' schedule revealed first. The remaining matches were announced later, ensuring a smooth tournament within India from March 23rd to May 12th.
There are presently no intentions to relocate the tournament despite the impending General Elections.
Take a look at the franchise-wise fixture list spanning the first 15 days of the tournament:
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Fixtures:
March 22: CSK vs RCB in Chennai
March 26: CSK vs GT in Chennai
March 31: DC vs CSK in Visakhapatnam
April 5: SRH vs CSK in Hyderabad
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Fixtures:
March 22: CSK vs RCB in Chennai
March 25: RCB vs PBKS in Bengaluru
March 29: RCB vs KKR in Bengaluru
April 2: RCB vs LSG in Bengaluru
April 6: RR vs RCB in Jaipur
Punjab Kings (PBKS) Fixtures:
March 23: PBKS vs DC in Mullanpur
March 25: RCB vs PBKS in Bengaluru
March 30: LSG vs PBKS in Lucknow
April 4: GT vs PBKS in Ahmedabad
Delhi Capitals (DC) Fixtures:
March 23: PBKS vs DC in Mullanpur
March 28: RR vs DC in Jaipur
March 31: DC vs CSK in Visakhapatnam
April 3: DC vs KKR in Visakhapatnam
April 7: MI vs DC in Mumbai
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Fixtures:
March 23: KKR vs SRH in Kolkata
March 29: RCB vs KKR in Bengaluru
April 3: DC vs KKR in Visakhapatnam
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Fixtures:
March 23: KKR vs SRH in Kolkata
March 27: SRH vs MI in Hyderabad
March 31: GT vs SRH in Ahmedabad
April 5: SRH vs CSK in Hyderabad
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Fixtures:
March 24: RR vs LSG in Jaipur
March 28: RR vs DC in Jaipur
April 1: MI vs RR in Mumbai
April 6: RR vs RCB in Jaipur
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Fixtures:
March 24: RR vs LSG in Jaipur
March 30: LSG vs PBKS in Lucknow
April 2: RCB vs LSG in Bengaluru
April 7: LSG vs GT in Lucknow
Gujarat Titans (GT) Fixtures:
March 24: GT vs MI in Ahmedabad
March 26: CSK vs GT in Chennai
March 31: GT vs SRH in Ahmedabad
April 4: GT vs PBKS in Ahmedabad
April 7: LSG vs GT in Lucknow
Mumbai Indians (MI) Fixtures:
March 24: GT vs MI in Ahmedabad
March 27: SRH vs MI in Hyderabad
April 1: MI vs RR in Mumbai
April 7: MI vs DC in Mumbai