First 15 days and 21 matches of IPL 2024 are announced
The eagerly awaited schedule for IPL 2024 was recently unveiled by the BCCI, although only partially, owing to its clash with the general elections in India. The opening match on March 22 will feature MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings squaring off against Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore. Over the course of 15 days, the first 21 fixtures were announced, with the remaining schedule expected to follow suit in due time, including the highly anticipated final.
The inaugural two weeks will be action-packed with four IPL 2024 double-headers scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays. All 10 franchises will commence their campaigns by the end of the first week, with matches such as Punjab Delhi Capitals versus Punjab Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders facing off against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first double-header.
Rajasthan Royals will face Lucknow Super Giants in the afternoon, followed by Gujarat Titans versus five-time champion Mumbai Indians in the evening. A thrilling matchup will take place between the newly-appointed Mumbai Indians captain and his former teammate Shubman Gill.
Delhi Capitals have deviated from their usual venue, the Arun Jaitley Stadium, by hosting two of their home games at Visakhapatnam's Dr. YS Rajashekar Reddy ACA-VDCA International Stadium. As the Delhi and District Cricket Association will be transitioning from hosting matches of the Women's Premier League, including the WPL final, it will require additional time to prepare the ground.
Some teams have a more even split
During the initial phase of IPL 2024, the schedule promises an electrifying start, with certain teams facing rigorous back-to-back matches. Punjab Kings will commence their campaign at their newly established home ground in Mullanpur on March 23, followed by a swift journey to Bangalore for a showdown with RCB on March 25th. Similarly, the Titans, under the leadership of Gill, will encounter a comparable challenge, initiating their campaign on March 24 before venturing to the Chepauk to take on CSK on March 26th.
This opening fortnight will witness a flurry of activity, as some teams navigate through a significant portion of their fixtures. Capitals, Titans, and RCB are slated to engage in five matches each, while KKR enjoys a relatively lighter schedule with only three games. The remaining franchises will participate in four matches during this period, laying the groundwork for an exhilarating and fiercely competitive start to the IPL 2024 season.
