IPL 2024 Schedule: For the record eighth time, the Chennai squad will take on any given IPL season in its first game. Earlier, the team has played the inaugural match in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
The schedule of the 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been released on Thursday (22 February). The first game will be played by the Chennai Super Kings, the reigning champion team. This match will be held on March 22 at his home ground MA Chidambaram Stadium. Chennai will face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The schedule of 21 matches has just been released. Chennai team will play the first match of any IPL season for the record ninth time. Earlier, the team has played the inaugural match in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Delhi Capitals will play its first two matches in Visakhapatnam. The final of the Women’s Premier League will be played in Delhi, immediately after that it will take time to prepare the ground for the IPL. For this reason, Delhi’s first two matches will be held in Visakhapatnam. Due to the general elections to be held in the country this year, the complete schedule of IPL has not been released. Now the program of 17 days has come out. The schedule of the remaining matches will be released after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election dates.
Two double headers in the first week
“21 matches will be played across 10 cities over a two-week period, with each team playing a minimum of three matches and a maximum of five matches,” the BCCI stated in a press statement. The first weekend will feature two doubleheaders, starting with Punjab Kings hosting Delhi Capitals on Saturday afternoon, followed by Kolkata Knight Riders hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad in the evening. Home team Rajasthan Royals will face Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur on Sunday afternoon (24 March). Home team Gujarat Titans will face five-time winners Mumbai Indians on Sunday evening.
The board declared, “In light of the approaching Lok Sabha elections in India, the BCCI will closely collaborate with the government and security authorities by adhering to all relevant procedures and advice. The Board will assess and settle any concerns with the first two weeks’ timetable following the announcement of the 18th Lok Sabha election dates. “After that, in consideration of the voting dates, the BCCI will collaborate with local authorities to determine the schedule for the remaining games of the season.”
The entire IPL will be held in the country itself.
IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal had said that the entire tournament will be organized in India only. Only in 2009 was the IPL played entirely abroad (South Africa), while in 2014, due to the general elections, some matches were played in the UAE. However, the tournament was held in India despite the general elections in 2019.
Schedule of first 21 matches of IPL
| Match | Date | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 March | CSK vs RCB | Chennai |
| 2 | 23 March | PBKS vs DC | Mohali |
| 3 | 23 March | KKR vs SRH | Kolkata |
| 4 | 24 March | RR vs LSG | Jaipur |
| 5 | 24 March | GT vs MI | Ahmedabad |
| 6 | 25 March | RCB vs PBKS | Bengaluru |
| 7 | 26 March | CSK vs GT | Chennai |
| 8 | 27 March | SRH vs MI | Hyderabad |
| 9 | 28 March | RR vs DC | Jaipur |
| 10 | 29 March | RCB vs KKR | Bengaluru |
| 11 | 30 March | LSG vs PBKS | Lucknow |
| 12 | 31 March | GT vs SRH | Ahmedabad |
| 13 | 31 March | DC vs CSK | Visakhapatnam |
| 14 | 1 April | MI vs RR | Mumbai |
| 15 | 2 April | RCB vs LSG | Bengaluru |
| 16 | 3 April | DC vs KKR | Visakhapatnam |
| 17 | 4 April | GT vs PBKS | Ahmedabad |
| 18 | 5 April | SRH vs CSK | Hyderabad |
| 19 | 6 April | RR vs RCB | Jaipur |
| 20 | 7 April | MI vs DC | Mumbai |
| 21 | 7 April | LSG vs GT | Lucknow |
