The 2019 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will get underway on March 23 with Chennai Super Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tournament opener at the M.A Chidambaram stadium.
After much delay due to the upcoming general elections in India, the schedule for the first two weeks of the 2019 IPL was released on Tuesday.
A total of 17 matches will be played across this period with six of the eight franchises scheduled to play four games each. Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals are the two teams that will play five games apiece in the opening two weeks.
However, the released schedule could still be subject to a late change with the dates of India’s general elections yet to be declared.
“These are still subject to the announcement of the Lok Sabha 2019 election dates. Once these have been released BCCI will address any issues with the first two weeks and will also prepare a schedule for the remainder of the season working with the local authorities around the polling dates,” a statement released by the IPL said.
It will be former and current India skippers MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli who will go head-to-head in the 2019 IPL tournament opener. Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings are the defending champions of the IPL while Kohli’s Royal Challengers are eyeing their maiden title.
IPL INITIAL TWO WEEKS FIXTURES
Saturday, March 23
Evening – Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai
Sunday, March 24
Afternoon – Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata
Evening – Mumbai Indians v Delhi Capitals, Mumbai
Monday, March 25
Evening – Rajasthan Royals v Kings XI Punjab, Jaipur
Tuesday, March 26
Evening – Delhi Capitals v Chennai Super Kings, Delhi
Wednesday, March 27
Evening – Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata
Thursday, March 28
Evening – Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians, Bengaluru
Friday, March 29
Evening – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals, Hyderabad
Saturday, March 30
Afternoon – Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians, Mohali
Evening – Delhi Capitals v Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi
Sunday, March 31
Afternoon – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Royal Challengers Bangalore, Hyderabad
Evening – Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals, Chennai
Monday, April 1
Evening – Kings XI Punjab v Delhi Capitals, Mohali
Tuesday, April 2
Evening – Rajasthan Royals v Royal Challengers Bangalore, Jaipur
Wednesday, April 3
Evening – Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai
Thursday, April 4
Evening – Delhi Capitals v Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi
Friday, April 5
Evening – Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders, Bengaluru