Dhoni vs Virat to kick off IPL 2019
NEWDELHI: Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will face off with the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening fixture of the 2019 IPL in Chennai on March 23, according to a tentative two-week schedule released by BCCI on Tuesday.
The IPL will see the secondearliest start to the season after 2010, which began on March 12. The 2018 IPL kicked off on April 7. The MS Dhoni-led Chennai won in 2018 defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final on May 27.
The BCCI released a two-week schedule keeping in mind the 2019 general elections, the dates of which are not out yet. The elections are expected to be held in April and May.
“These (dates) are still subject to the announcement of the Lok Sabha 2019 election dates. Once these (election dates) 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,” the BCCI said in a statement.
A total of 17 matches will be played during the first two weeks across eight home venues. All teams will play minimum of four matches in the period with Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers playing five each. Every team will play a minimum of two home and two away matches with Delhi playing three home matches and RCB will play three away
matches.
The IPL will have its first double header on the second day. On March 24, Kolkata Knight Riders will host Sunrisers Hyderabad in the afternoon encounter while Mumbai Indians will take on Delhi Capitals at home.