IPL stays in India, starts on March 23

NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 will be held in India. This was decided by the Committee of Administrators here on Tuesday after discussion with state and central agencies that provide support to stakeholders involved in staging matches.

It lays to rest all speculation that the world’s richest Twenty20 league will be played abroad since it would clash with the general elections.

In 2009 and 2014, the IPL clashed with the general elections.

The first time this happened, the tournament was moved to South Africa. The UAE hosted the first half of the season in 2014.

IPL is scheduled to start on March 23 but the final schedule has not been decided yet.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who made a return to the tournament last year after serving a two-year ban due to corruption, are the defending champions. CSK defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final played in Mumbai on May 27 last year.

Last year’s IPL started on April 7 and was played over 51 days. Starting Saturday, India’s top stars will be busy playing a limited-overs series in and against Australia. They then make a trip to New Zealand for a ODI and T20 series that will end on February 2.

Then Australia visit India for five ODIs and two T20s that end on March 13. So the national players will have 10 days to recover and prepare with their respective teams.

The idea to start IPL on March 23 is to allow the national players to recover for the ICC World Cup scheduled in UK from May 30.

India start against South Africa at Southampton on June 5.

IT LAYS TO REST ALL SPECULATION THAT THE WORLD’S RICHEST T20 LEAGUE WILL BE PLAYED ABROAD SINCE IT WOULD CLASH WITH THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.