NewsBytes Explainer: Decoding IPL's new format
The BCCI, on Friday, released a new format for the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). For the first time, the teams have been given seeded based on the titles won and the number of appearances in the finals. The 10 teams have been divided into two groups. Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians would be headlining the groups. Here we decode the new format.
Why does this story matter?
The 15th edition of the IPL is witnessing the addition of two new teams. And interestingly, the BCCI has found a perfect way to restrain the League to 14 games per side during the group stage by using a scheduling matrix. The newest format is inspired by the 2011 season when 10 teams featured in the tournament for the first time.
Key details related to IPL 2022
IPL will be played in a "bio-secure environment at a single hub." It will kick off on March 26 and it will get concluded on May 29. A total of 70 leagues games (Wankhede 20, Brabourne Stadium 15, DY Patil Stadium 20, and MCA International Stadium 15) will be played across four venues. The BCCI is yet to announce the venue for playoff games.
Break down of all 70 games
The 10 IPL teams in 2022 will play 14 games during the group stage - seven home and seven away - a total of 70 league games. It will be followed by four playoff encounters. Each side will face five teams twice while the remaining four teams just once - two on home ground and two on away soil.
A look at the seedings
Mumbai Indians: Won (5), finals (6) Chennai Super Kings: Won (4), finals (9) Kolkata Knight Riders: Won (2), finals (3) Sunrisers Hyderabad: Won (1), finals (2) Rajasthan Royals: Won (1), finals (1) Royal Challengers Bangalore: Won (0), finals (3) Delhi Capitals: Won (0), finals (1) Punjab Kings: Won (0), finals (1) Lucknow Super Giants: Won (0), finals (0) Gujarat Titans: Won (0), finals (0)
A look at the two groups
Group A: MI, KKR, RR, DC, and LSG. Group B: CSK, SRH, RCB, PBKS, and GT. Mumbai Indians, which are placed in Group A, will play two games against each team in their group - Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants. MI will play two games against CSK as they are their equivalent side in the second group.
Team-wise fixture
MI: KKR, RR, DC, LSG, CSK twice. GT, PBKS, RCB, SRH once. CSK: SRH, RCB, PBKS, GT, MI twice and KKR, RR, DC, LSG once. KKR: MI, RR, DC, LSG, SRH twice and CSK, RCB, PBKS, GT once. SRH: CSK, RCB, PBKS, GT, KKR twice and MI, RR, DC, LSG once. RR: MI, KKR, DC, LSG, RCB twice and CSK, SRH, PBKS, GT once.
Team-wise fixture (Part 2)
RCB: CSK, SRH, PBKS, GT, RR twice. MI, KKR, DC, LSG once. DC: MI, KKR, RR, LSG, PBKS twice and CSK, SRH, RCB, GT once. PBKS: CSK, SRH, RCB, GT, DC twice and MI, KKR, RR, LSG once. LSG: MI, KKR, RR, DC, GT twice and CSK, SRH, RCB, PBKS once. GT: CSK, SRH, RCB, PBKS, LSG twice and MI, KKR, RR, DC once.
IPL auction 2022
The IPL mega auction took place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. 204 players were sold across two days and Rs. 552 crore was splurged by the 10 teams in the auction. Indian cricketers dominated the auction with Ishan Kishan pocketing Rs. 15.25 crore to become the costliest player. CSK broke the bank to re-acquire the services of Deepak Chahar (Rs. 14 crore).
