Indian Premier League 2024: All you need to know

thecricketer.com

16 March 2024

Indian Premier League 2024: All you need to know

The IPL returns for its 17th edition and The Cricketer has all the information you need to know

What is it?

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, a T20 competition organised by the BCCI.

When is it?

The 2024 IPL will begin in Chennai on Friday, March 22, with Chennai Super Kings hosting Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Only the first 21 fixtures (up until Sunday, April 7) have been announced, with the BCCI waiting for confirmation of when India's general election will take place before revealing the rest of the schedule.

The final is expected to take place on Sunday, May 26.

Where is it?

Chennai, Mohali, Kolkata, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Vizag and Mumbai will host matches during the first two weeks of the IPL.

Which teams are involved?

There are 10 teams involved in the IPL: Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

What's the format?

It is expected that, as in 2023, each team will play 14 matches during the group stage, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs.

The first and second-placed teams will meet in Qualifier 1, with the winner progressing directly to the final. The loser will drop into Qualifier 2, where they will face the winner of the Eliminator (third versus fourth) for a spot in the final.

What happened last year?

Chennai Super Kings captured their fifth title in 2023, drawing level with Mumbai Indians as the most successful side in IPL history.

MS Dhoni's side, who finished second in the regular season table, defeated table toppers Gujarat Titans to advance directly to the final before beating the same opponents in the trophy match. They won by five wickets in a rain-affected final in Ahmedabad.

Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants also reached the playoffs, finishing third and fourth, respectively, while Sunrisers Hyderabad finished bottom for the second time in three years.

Titans pair Shubman Gill and Mohammed Shami topped the batting and bowling charts.

Who are the overseas players?

There are 13 English players involved in the 2024 IPL, spread across seven teams.

There'll be a distinctly English flavour at Punjab Kings, with Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone and Chris Woakes on their roster, while Rajasthan Royals (Jos Buttler and Tom Kohler-Cadmore) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (Tom Curran, Will Jacks, and Reece Topley) also have multiple English players. Phil Salt was selected as a replacement player by KKR, David Willey is at Lucknow Super Giants and Moeen Ali returns to CSK.

There have also been a number of English withdrawals, with Harry Brook (Delhi Capitals), Jason Roy, Gus Atkinson (both KKR) and Mark Wood (Lucknow Super Giants) pulling out of the competition.

Australia bowler Mitchell Starc is among the headline overseas names after KKR spent 24.75 crore (£2.3m) to secure his services while New Zealand allrounder Daryl Mitchell cost CSK 14 crore (£1.3m). He will be joined in yellow by compatriot, and rising star, Rachin Ravindra.

Ireland's Josh Little was retained by Gujarat Titans, who are also boosted by Rashid Khan's return from injury. The Afghanistan allrounder had been sidelined with a back issue since November 2023.

And Lucknow Super Giants have taken a gamble on West Indies quick Shamar Joseph as Wood's replacement. The 24-year-old has only played two T20s but earned global attention after producing 7 for 68 to lead West Indies to an eight-run Test victory over Australia in January.