IPL 2024 Schedule Released with CSK vs RCB as Opening Match

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will host Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the opening match of IPL 2024 on March 22.

On Thursday, the Indian Premier League (IPL) released the partial schedule including the initial set of 21 matches from March 22 to April 7. The final match is expected to be on May 26, just 5 days before the commencement of the men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean on June 1.

The second half of the tournament schedule awaits the declaration of the national election dates by the Election Commission of India believed to be slated for April and May. The opening game will commence at 8pm IST, followed by standard match timings: 7.30pm IST for evening matches and 3.30pm IST for the first game in the double-headers.

The schedule includes four double-headers, with the opening weekend seeing two. On March 23, Punjab Kings will play during the day against Delhi Capitals, followed by Kolkata Knight Riders hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens. Rajasthan Royals will compete with Lucknow Super Giants while Mumbai Indians will face Gujarat Titans on March 24.

Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans will play successive games with just a day in between. After the opening match on March 23, Punjab Kings will head to Bengaluru to face Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 25. Meanwhile, the Titans, captained by Shubman Gill, will travel to Chennai after their initial match on March 24 to clash with Chennai Super Kings on March 26.

Delhi Capitals will be the only team without any home games in the March 22-April 7 period as their matches will be held at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. This decision came after the Delhi and District Cricket Association expressed concerns about the venue’s readiness following Women's Premier League contests.

Capitals, Titans, and RCB are scheduled for five matches, KKR for three, and the rest for four. Punjab Kings will have their home fixtures at a novel location in Mullanpur, near Chandigarh, instead of their former venue in Mohali.

The opening game marks the return of renowned player MS Dhoni, who is resuming practice with Chennai Super Kings in early March. Dhoni had been absent from competitive cricket since the previous season. The tournament also sees Hardik Pandya rejoining Mumbai Indians after two years with the Titans, while Glenn Maxwell shifts back to the Mumbai Indians and Yuzvendra Chahal resumes play following his recovery after a car accident in December 2022.

The IPL season will encompass a total of 74 games, comprising four playoff matches at the end.