IPL 2024 Schedule: CSK vs RCB To Kick Off Season 17 On March 22 - First 21 T20 Matches Announced

On Thursday, the highly anticipated schedule for the first 21 matches of the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season was officially revealed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), setting the stage for an exciting cricketing extravaganza.??

Twitter

Chennai Super Kings, the defending champions, will kick off the tournament by hosting Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chepauk's MA Chidambaram stadium on March 22.

This season, CSK will once again kick off the tournament by playing the first match. This is a tradition they've upheld since 2009, with previous instances in 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Fan frenzy! CSK vs RCB voted as IPL opener??

Fans were given the opportunity to select the opening game's opponents, with over 50% voting for a CSK vs RCB showdown, followed closely by Mumbai Indians. It's customary for the defending champions to start the IPL season at their home ground.

"The first weekend will include two double headers. On Saturday, the Punjab Kings will host the Delhi Capitals in the afternoon, followed by the Kolkata Knight Riders welcoming the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the evening. The action will then move to Jaipur on Sunday afternoon (March 24th), where the Rajasthan Royals will take on the Lucknow Super Giants. In the evening, the Gujarat Titans, champions of 2022, will clash with the five-time winners Mumbai Indians," stated the BCCI.

Delhi Capitals relocate: first two home games shifted to Vizag??

Due to the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium not being ready to host matches, the Delhi Capitals will play their first two home games in Vizag.

The schedule for the first 17 days of season 17 is from March 22 to April 7. During this time, there will be four doubleheaders with a total of 21 matches scheduled across 10 cities. Each team is set to play a minimum of three matches and a maximum of five.

?IPL 2024 faces election clash: schedule adjustments ahead??

The Indian Cricket Board plans to announce the remaining schedule after the Election Commission of India announces the General Election dates.

Representational Image

"The BCCI will work closely with government and security agencies, adhering to all necessary protocols and advisories related to the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections in India. Once the dates for the 18th Lok Sabha elections are announced, the Board will review and address any issues pertaining to the schedule of the first two weeks. Subsequently, the BCCI will collaborate with local authorities to finalize the schedule for the remainder of the season, taking into account the polling dates," stated board secretary Jay Shah.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been hosted overseas three times in the past. It was held in South Africa in 2009 and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2014 due to scheduling conflicts with general elections in India. The 2020 season was also hosted in the UAE due to the Covid-19 crisis in India.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit?Indiatimes News.