IPL 2024: March 22 start date confirmed as first batch of fixtures are announced

Chennai Super Kings host Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first match of the 74-game tournament, with the final pencilled in for May 26. The remainder of the schedule is set to follow once the date of the Indian general election is known

William Comish | 22/02/2024 at 14:21

Fixtures for the first three weekends of the Indian Premier League have been announced, with MS Dhoni set to return for reigning champions Chennai Super Kings' season opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22.

Last year's runners-up Gujurat Titans begin their season at home to Hardik Pandya's Mumbai Indians on Sunday, March 24, the fourth time in the past six years that the season opener is not a replay of the previous season's final.

The second day of competition sees Punjab Kings play Delhi Capitals as part of a doubleheader before Kolkata Knight Riders face Sunrisers Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals kick off against Lucknow Super Giants as part of back-to-back games on the first Sunday (March 24).

Just 21 matches have been confirmed with the remainder of the schedule to be released once the Indian Electoral Commission sets the date for the country's national elections, which are expected across April and May.

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^{Defending champions CSK are chasing a sixth title (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)}

Capitals, Titans and RCB feature five times in the initial batch, while all the other teams, bar KKR who play three, have four games.

Furthermore, Capitals, the 2020 runners-up, will be the only team to not play at their home ground. The Dehli and District Cricket Association have reportedly informed the IPL there is not enough time to prepare the venue after hosting 11 matches of the Women's Premier League.

As a result, Capitals will play their home games at the AC-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam for the foreseeable future.

Each team will play 14 matches, with 74 games staged across the tournament, including the four playoff matches.

The final is expected to be played on May 26, just five days before the opening match of the Men's T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean which begins from June 1.

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