CSK and RCB to meet in IPL 2024 opener: Details
The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will commence on March 22. Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opener at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium. Notably, the BCCI has announced the schedule for the first 15 days. The full schedule is likely to come after the Election Commission of India announces the General Election dates.
Full schedule to come in March
The nationwide polling dates are expected to be announced between the second and third week of March. Hence, the entire IPL 2024 will be announced only thereafter. Meanwhile, IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal recently expressed confidence that the competition will not have to be moved out of the country due to the clash with the elections.
Key updates ahead of IPL 2024
DC skipper Rishabh Pant, who missed the last season, will reportedly play IPL 2024 as a pure batter. GT pacer and the highest wicket-taker of IPL 2023, Mohammed Shami has been reportedly ruled out of the season due to an ankle injury. Mitchell Starc, having bagged Rs. 24.75 crore from KKR in the IPL 2024 auction, became the most-expensive player in IPL history.
IPL 2024 first phase schedule
21 matches will be played
A total of 21 matches will be played across the first 15 days as the schedule has been announced till April 7. As many as four double-headers will take place in the first phase. The afternoon matches will start at 3:30pm on days of double-headers, while the evening games will begin at 7:30pm.
A look at the league format
Each team will play 14 games in total in the league phase, seven at home and seven away from home. The 10 teams are divided into two groups of five each. They will play the other four teams in their group twice (one home and one away). They will face four teams in the other group once and the remaining team twice.
IPL 2024 schedule for first phase (1/4)
CSK vs RCB in Chennai on March 22 - 7:30pm IST. PBKS vs DC in Mohali on March 23 - 3:30pm IST. KKR vs SRH in Kolkata on March 23 - 7:30pm IST. RR vs LSG in Jaipur on March 24 - 3:30pm IST. GT vs MI in Ahmedabad on March 24 - 7:30pm IST.
IPL 2024 schedule for first phase (2/4)
RCB vs PBKS on March 25 in Bengaluru - 7:30pm IST. CSK vs GT on March 26 in Chennai - 7:30pm IST. SRH vs MI on March 27 in Hyderabad - 7:30pm IST. RR vs DC on March 28 in Jaipur - 7:30pm IST. RCB vs KKR on March 29 in Bengaluru - 7:30pm IST.
IPL 2024 schedule for first phase (3/4)
LSG vs PBKS on March 30 in Lucknow - 7:30pm IST. GT vs SRH on March 31 in Ahmedabad - 3:30pm IST. DC vs CSK on March 31 in Visakhapatnam - 7:30pm IST. MI vs RR on April 1 in Mumbai - 7:30pm IST. RCB vs LSG on April 2 in Bengaluru - 7:30pm IST.
IPL 2024 schedule for first phase (4/4)
DC vs KKR on April 3, Visakhapatnam - 7:30pm IST. GT vs PBKS on April 4, Ahmedabad - 7: 30pm IST. SRH vs CSK on April 5, Hyderabad - 7:30pm IST. RR vs RCB on April 6, Jaipur - 7:30pm IST. MI vs DC on April 7 in Mumbai - 3:30pm IST. LSG vs GT on April 7, Lucknow - 7:30pm IST.
DC to play their initial home games in Visakhapatnam
DC are scheduled to play two home games in the first phase, against CSK on March 31 and versus KKR on April 3. However, those games will be played at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam as the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi will host the second half of the Women's Premier League.
