The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to begin on March 22, with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) hosting Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a partial schedule of 21 matches, which will be played between March 22 and April 7. The remaining matches will be revealed after the dates of the general elections are finalized.
The IPL 2024 will feature 10 teams, including two new entrants: Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans. The tournament will also see some major changes in the team compositions, with Hardik Pandya returning to Mumbai Indians as captain after two seasons with Titans, and Rishabh Pant leading Delhi Capitals for the first time. The IPL will also mark the comeback of MS Dhoni, who underwent knee surgery last year and has not played any competitive cricket since then.
The opening match between CSK and RCB will be a clash of titans, as both teams boast of some of the biggest names in world cricket. CSK, led by Dhoni, have Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, and Lungi Ngidi in their ranks. RCB, captained by Virat Kohli, have AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kyle Jamieson, and Mohammed Siraj in their squad. Both teams have won the IPL title three times each, and will be eager to add another trophy to their cabinet.
Full Schedule of IPL 2024
The first weekend of the IPL will also witness some exciting matches, such as Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals on March 23, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23, Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants on March 24, and Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans on March 24. The IPL 2024 will also feature four double-headers, where two matches will be played on the same day. The first double-header will be on March 23, followed by March 24, March 30, and April 7.
The IPL 2024 will also serve as a platform for the players to showcase their skills and form ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the USA and the Caribbean from June 1. The IPL will also provide an opportunity for the young and emerging talents to make a mark and impress the selectors. Some of the players to watch out for are Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Prithvi Shaw, and Ishan Kishan.
The IPL 2024 promises to be a thrilling and entertaining spectacle for the fans, who can catch all the action live on various platforms. The matches will be broadcasted on Star Sports network and streamed on Disney+ Hotstar. The fans can also follow the live updates and scores on the official IPL website and app, as well as on various news websites
