After much speculations, the BCCI released the schedule of the entire IPL season on March 19. Matches of the group stages will go on till May 5. As per the schedule, all the eight teams will be playing seven home matches at their respective home venues.
Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Chennai in the IPL opener, which will begin on March 23. The schedule has been released in parts by the board owing to the General Elections which will be held around the same time.
Also, as per a report on ESPNCricinfo, the final of the season will take place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 12. The critical dates for the qualifiers are May 7 (Qualifier 1), May 8 (Eliminator) and May 10 (Qualifier 2). Also, Vizag has been kept as a standby venue if the matches have to be shifted due to any unforeseen circumstances.
Also, as per the final schedule, the afternoon games will commence from 4 pm while the evening games will start from 8 pm.
The full schedule of the IPL group stages, as confirmed:
March 23
Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Match 24
4 p.m. - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
8 p.m. - Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals
Match 25
Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab
March 26
Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings
March 27
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab
March 28
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians
March 29
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals
March 30
4 p.m. - Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians
8 p.m. - Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
March 31
4 p.m. - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
8 p.m. - Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
April 1
Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Capitals
April 2
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
April 3
Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
April 4
Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
April 5
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders
April 6
4 p.m. Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab
8 p.m. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians
April 7
4 p.m. - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals
8 p.m. - Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
April 8
Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
April 9
Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders
April 10
Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab
April 11
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings
April 12
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals
April 13
4 p.m. Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals
8 p.m. Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
April 14
4 p.m. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings
8 p.m. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals
April 15
Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
April 16
Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals
April 17
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings
April 18
Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians
April 19
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
April 20
4 p.m. Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians
8 p.m. Delhi Capitals vs Kings XI Punjab
April 21
4 p.m. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders
8 p.m. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings bengaluru
April 22
Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals
April 23
Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
April 24
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab
April 25
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals
April 26
Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians
April 27
Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
April 28
4 p.m. Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
8 p.m. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians
April 29
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kings XI Punjab
April 30
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals
May 1
Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals
May 2
Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
May 3
Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders
May 4
4 p.m. Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals
8 p.m. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
May 5
4 p.m. Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings
8 p.m. Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders
