IPL 2024: Teams, Schedule, Timing, all you need to know

The excitement is palpable as Big-Bucks league Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is scheduled to commence on March 22nd. The two-month-long league is set to churn out electrifying clashes amid huge fan fervour and star-studded line-ups. IPL has become the biggest cricketing extravaganza due to its revolution over the years.

Now in its 17th edition, IPL has, over the past many years, produced a lot of talent, from seasoned veterans to emerging talents. With no exception this year as well, players like, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are set to light up the stage. The opening clash of the tournament will see Royal Challengers Bangalore facing defending champions Chennai Super Kings on 22nd March at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

As of now, partial schedule for 21 games has been announced in order to avoid any clash with general elections’ schedule, which was announced last week. With the general elections schedule out, IPL organisers are expected to come up with the rest of the schedule in the coming days.

There are ten teams vying in the tournament with their full-strength squads. The ten teams are…

Chennai Super Kings

Delhi Capitals

Lucknow Super Giants

Mumbai Indians

Punjab Kings

Gujarat Titans

Kolkata Knight Riders

Rajasthan Royals

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Playoffs scenario:

All ten teams will play one another twice during the course of league stage games. The two teams finishing at the top will lock horns in the first qualifier, while the teams finishing at third and fourth will battle it out in the eliminators.

The team winning the first qualifier will advance to the final, meanwhile the loser will meet the winner of the eliminator in the second qualifier to reach the final of the tournament. The tournament will be played in a home-and-away format.

Who won the title in 2023?

Chennai Super Kings lifted their fifth IPL title, defeating Gujarat Titans in the final. This year too, they will eye another title to add to their collection of trophies.

New faces taking the reins...

There have been few captaincy changes ahead of the start of IPL 2024. Hardik Pandya has replaced Rohit Sharma at Mumbai Indians, making his return from Gujarat Titans. Pat Cummins is set to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad, taking over the reins from Aiden Markram.

And in a huge development, Rishabh Pant has returned to lead Delhi Capitals after missing the league last year due to a horrifying car crash incident in which he sustained multiple injuries. Shreyas Iyer will captain Kolkata Knight Riders as he was ruled out last year due to an injury.

IPL 2024 Fixtures:

March 22 - CSK vs RCB - (Chennai) - 8:00 PM

March 23 - PBKS vs DC - (Mohali) - 3:30 PM

March 23 - KKR vs SRH - (Kolkata) - 7:30 PM

March 24 - RR vs LSG - (Jaipur) - 3:30 PM

March 24 - GT vs MI - (Ahmedabad) - 7:30 PM

March 25 - RCB -PBKS - (Bengaluru) -7:30 PM

March 26 - CSK - GT - (Chennai) - 7:30 PM

March 27 - SRH -MI - (Hyderabad) - 7:30 PM

March 28 - RR vs DC - (Jaipur) - 7:30 PM

March 29 - RCB vs KKR - (Bengaluru) - 7:30 PM

March 30 - LSG vs PBKS - (Lucknow) - 7:30 PM