The anticipation is finally over as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the remaining schedule of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
The significant highlight from the revealed plan, as seen by Cricpulse, is the affirmation that all 74 matches of the IPL 2024 will be conducted within India.
The latter stages of the tournament are set to unfold in Ahmedabad and Chennai.
Qualifier 1 and Eliminator matchups are slated to be hosted at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera on May 21 and 22, respectively.
Subsequently, Qualifier 2 and the final showdown will take place at the iconic Chepauk in Chennai on May 24 and 26.
The choice of playoff venues – Ahmedabad and Chennai – aligns with expectations.
Given that the Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans were last year’s finalists, their home grounds have been selected for the playoffs, with Chennai, the city of champions, hosting the final.
Additionally, it served as the venue for the season’s inaugural match.
Following the release of the dates for the initial 21 matches, the BCCI has devised a schedule for the subsequent leg, commencing directly with the 22nd game on Monday, April 8.
Similar to the first segment, the second leg also opens with a match featuring the Chennai Super Kings.
The defending champions will face the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Chepauk on April 8 in a night fixture.
Cricpulse was the first to report that the IPL 2024 would be conducted entirely in India, dispelling speculations about a segment of the league being held in the UAE.
Speaking to Cricpulse, BCCI secretary Jay Shah dismissed such possibilities, and the IPL operational team has formulated a comprehensive plan centered around Indian venues.
One of the challenges faced by the BCCI was security concerns due to the General Elections scheduled across the country in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the counting slated for June 4.
The BCCI has adeptly avoided scheduling overlaps with election dates in specific centers across the seven phases, while also commendably adhering to the home and away format.
According to the schedule, a couple of games are set to be held at Dharamsala, a traditional secondary venue for Punjab Kings.
The hill town will host the Punjab franchise’s home games on May 5 (against Chennai Super Kings, a day game) and May 9 (against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, a night game).
Guwahati, the preferred secondary base for the Rajasthan Royals, will also host two games.
They will face Punjab Kings on May 15 and the Kolkata Knight Riders on May 19.
Notably, the RR-KKR encounter marks the final match of the league phase.
Chennai and Mumbai, the two most successful teams in the league, will clash only once in IPL 2024, scheduled for Mumbai on April 14.
Meanwhile, Delhi – after hosting the second leg of WPL 2024 – will commence their IPL campaign at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 20 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
CSK’s last home game is slated for May 12 against Rajasthan Royals, with their final league game scheduled in Bengaluru six days later.
Should they fail to qualify for the playoffs, these respective matches could mark the last appearances for MS Dhoni in Chepauk and in the IPL.
CSK and Gujarat Titans, the finalists from last year, will square off at the same venue this season on May 10.
The marquee clash between MI and CSK at the Wankhede Stadium is penciled in for April 14, Tamil New Year’s Day.
Following a one-day break on May 20, the playoffs are set to kick off on May 21.
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