The IPL returns for its 15th edition and The Cricketer has all the information you need to know
The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League, a T20 competition organised by the BCCI.
The 2022 IPL begins on Saturday, March 26 when defending champions Chennai Super Kings take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The 70-match group stage ends on Sunday, May 22 with the top four sides progressing to the playoffs.
The playoff schedule is yet to be confirmed but the final is due to take place on Sunday, May 29.
Four venues will be used in the 2022 IPL. Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium and the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will host 20 group matches apiece while the Brabourne Stadium (Mumbai) and MCA International Stadium (Pune) will each host 15 matches.
10 teams are competing in this season's IPL, an increase of two from last year. Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans are the two new franchises, joining familiar faces Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Liam Livingstone, the most expensive overseas player at auction, is one of nine English players in the 2022 IPL [Francois Nel/Getty Images]
Unlike in recent years, the teams have been split into two groups of five. In the group stage, each team will play 14 matches: facing the other four teams in their group twice, four teams in the opposite group once, and the remaining team in the opposite group twice.
The top four teams in the combined table will progress to the playoffs.
Group A consists of Delhi Capitals (PK), Kolkata Knight Riders (SH), Lucknow Super Giants (GT), Mumbai Indians (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RCB).
Chennai Super Kings (MI), Gujarat Titans (LSG), Punjab Kings (DC), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RR), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (KKR) are in Group B.
The initials in brackets denote the team in the opposing group each team will face twice.
Covid-19 disrupted the 2021 IPL, with the tournament split between India (March-May) and the UAE (September-October).
Delhi Capitals topped the regular season table and were joined in the playoffs by Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers and Kolkata Knight Riders, the latter team sneaking through on net run rate.
Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings narrowly missed out on playoff qualification, but Sunrisers Hyderabad were well of the pace, winning just three matches to finish bottom.
In the playoffs, Chennai Super Kings defeated Delhi Capitals by four wickets to progress to the final where they were joined by Kolkata Knight Riders. MS Dhoni's CSK defeated Eoin Morgan's KKR by 27 runs in Dubai to collect their fourth title.
Liam Livingstone was the most expensive overseas player purchased at February's mega auction, bought by Punjab Kings for a huge 11 crore (£1.45m). Fellow allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga also cashed in, with RCB picking up the Sri Lanka international for 10.75 crore (£1.05m).
A host of World Cup-winning Aussies are set to take part, including Josh Hazlewood (RCB), David Warner (Delhi Capitals), Pat Cummins (KKR), Mitch Marsh (Delhi Capitals), Glenn Maxwell (RCB), and Aaron Finch (KKR).
New franchise Gujarat Titans have snared New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson, South Africa batter David Miller and T20 World Cup-winning wicketkeeper Matthew Wade alongside a trio of Afghans (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, and Noor Ahmad) and West Indies duo Alzarri Joseph and Dominic Drakes.
T20 World Cup winners Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell will all participate in the 2022 IPL [William West/AFP via Getty Images]
Lucknow Super Giants, meanwhile, bagged Australia's Marcus Stoinis, South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, Dushmantha Chameera (Sri Lanka) and West Indies trio Evin Lewis, Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers.
In total, there are nine English players set to participate in the IPL. Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals) and Moeen Ali (CSK) were retained by their franchises with Chris Jordan joining the latter at CSK.
Jonny Bairstow and Benny Howell will join Livingstone at Punjab Kings while Sam Billings will represent KKR. Tymal Mills and David Willey will represent Mumbai Indians and RCB, respectively.
Singapore international Tim David, who will represent Mumbai Indians, was the only associate player picked up at auction.
In the UK, Sky Sports have exclusive rights to this year's tournament, with matches available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket.
Fans in India can watch all of the action on Star Sports.
Elsewhere in the world, viewers in Australia can watch the IPL on Fox Sports while in New Zealand, Sky Sport will provide coverage.
Willow TV and Flow Sports will broadcast the tournament in the United States and the Caribbean, respectively.
Fans in MENA can catch the action on beIN Sports while in South Africa, SuperSport have the rights.
The IPL can also be streamed on Disney + Hotstar.
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