IPL is scheduled to commence on March 22 confirmed by IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal
Aoba Tanaka
2 min read
In exciting news for cricket enthusiasts, the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to commence on March 22, as confirmed by IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal in an interview with PTI on Tuesday. Notably, the league will take place entirely in India, despite the looming general elections in April and May, according to Dhumal.
The IPL schedule for its upcoming season has been held back due to the anticipated general elections, and Dhumal stated that initially, only the schedule for the first 15 days will be disclosed. The remaining fixtures will be finalized post the announcement of the election dates, expected to be early next month.
“We are looking at a March 22 start for the tournament. We are working closely with the government agencies, and we will first release the initial schedule. The entire tournament will be held in India,” assured Dhumal.
This decision contrasts with the 2009 edition, which was entirely held overseas in South Africa, and the 2014 season, partially hosted in the UAE due to the general elections. However, in 2019, the IPL successfully took place in India despite the concurrent elections.
Given that the T20 World Cup starts shortly after the IPL concludes, the final is likely to be on May 26. India’s opening World Cup match against Ireland is slated for June 5 in New York, with the ICC tournament commencing with a USA-Canada clash on June 1.
As per tradition, the IPL opener will feature last year’s finalists, with the Chennai Super Kings, the reigning champions, taking on the runners-up, Gujarat Titans.
Auction Highlights and Record-Breaking Purchase
The players’ auction for the 2024 season, held in December last year, made headlines as Australian pacer Mitchell Starc emerged as the most expensive player in IPL history. The Kolkata Knight Riders secured Starc’s services for a staggering Rs 24.75 crore, creating a buzz around the upcoming season. Cricket enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the commencement of IPL 2024, anticipating thrilling matches and remarkable performances from the world’s top players.
