CSK will kick off IPL 2024 against RCB on March 22
IRTTeam
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled a provisional schedule for the first 21 matches of IPL 2024, spanning from March 22 to April 7, due to the pending announcement of India’s general election dates.
The opening clash of the tournament will witness defending champions Chennai Super Kings locking horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The fixture marks the beginning of what promises to be another thrilling season of IPL cricket.
The complete schedule, including the latter half of the tournament, will be finalized once the Election Commission of India discloses the dates for the national elections, anticipated to take place between April and May.
Here’s the schedule for the initial phase of IPL 2024, from March 22 to April 7:
March 22 – CSK vs RCB in Chennai March 23 – PBKS vs DC in Mullanpur March 23 – KKR vs SRH in Kolkata March 24 – RR vs LSG in Jaipur March 24 – GT vs MI in Ahmedabad March 25 – RCB vs PBKS in Bengaluru March 26 – CSK vs GT in Chennai March 27 – SRH vs MI in Hyderabad March 28 – RR vs DC in Jaipur March 29 – RCB vs KKR in Bengaluru March 30 – LSG vs PBKS in Lucknow March 31 – GT vs SRH in Ahmedabad March 31 – DC vs CSK in Visakhapatnam April 1 – MI vs RR in Mumbai April 2 – RCB vs LSG in Bengaluru April 3 – DC vs KKR in Visakhapatnam April 4 – GT vs PBKS in Ahmedabad April 5 – SRH vs CSK in Hyderabad April 6 – RR vs RCB in Jaipur April 7 – MI vs DC in Mumbai April 7 – LSG vs GT in Lucknow
The inaugural match will commence at 8 pm IST, while subsequent matches will follow the conventional timings: 7.30 pm IST for evening fixtures, and on days featuring double-headers, 3.30 pm IST for the early game.
The initial schedule features four double-header matchdays, including two on the opening weekend. On March 23, Punjab Kings will host Delhi Capitals, followed by Kolkata Knight Riders facing Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens. Similarly, on March 24, Rajasthan Royals will take on Lucknow Super Giants, and Mumbai Indians will clash with Gujarat Titans.
Notably, the tournament opener will not showcase both finalists from the previous season, with last year’s runners-up Titans commencing their campaign two days later.
During this 17-day window, Capitals, Titans, and RCB will play five matches, while KKR will play three. Other franchises are slated to play four games each. Punjab Kings will host their home games at a new venue in Mullanpur, on the outskirts of Chandigarh.
The opening day will mark the return of MS Dhoni to competitive action. Set to resume training with CSK in early March, Dhoni will grace the field after recovering from knee surgery. Additionally, Hardik Pandya will make his return to Mumbai Indians, this time as captain, following his stint with Titans. Rishabh Pant is also expected to return to action after recuperating from a car accident.
In total, the tournament will witness 74 thrilling encounters, culminating with four playoff matches.
