The IPL was initially scheduled to start on March 14 this year. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revised the schedule.
As per the updated schedule, the 18th season of the IPL will now begin on March 21, with the final set for May 25. This decision was reportedly made during a special general meeting of the BCCI, as noted by cricket websites ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz.
The ICC Champions Trophy final is scheduled to take place on March 9 in either Lahore or Dubai. Starting the IPL just five days after the Champions Trophy could have caused logistical challenges. To address this, the IPL governing council aimed for nearly a two-week gap between the conclusion of the Champions Trophy and the start of the IPL.
Traditionally, the defending IPL champions host the opening match of the new season, and this year is no different. The opening match will be held at Eden Gardens, the home ground of the reigning champions, Kolkata Knight Riders. Additionally, the second qualifier and the final are also set to take place at Eden Gardens. The first qualifier and the Eliminator will be hosted at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, the home of last year’s runners-up, Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Although there were discussions about increasing the number of matches in this IPL season, the governing council decided to stick with the usual 74 matches, as seen in the last three years. Following discussions with all stakeholders, including sponsors and broadcasters, the final schedule is expected to be announced by the end of the month.
Last November, the IPL mega auction was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 182 players were bought by the tournament’s 10 franchises for ₹639.15 crore, while 46 players were retained.
Meanwhile, the dates for the Women’s Premier League (WPL), popularly known as the Women’s IPL, have also been finalized. The five-team tournament will run from February 7 to March 2. While Mumbai and Bengaluru have been confirmed as venues, Lucknow and Baroda are also being considered.
