2024 IPL to begin on 22nd March, fixtures to be released after Election dates announcement

The IPL is reported to start on 22nd March and end by the end of May. 70 Matches will be played in accordance of the 2024 Indian General Elections.

The Indian Premier League Trophy (Image via ESPN)

For the 2nd time since the first Indian Premier League, the tournament will be played in India during the Indian General Elections. In the 2009 and 2014 IPL were played out of India, while the 2019 IPL had built its schedule in accordance with the Election Dates.

Arun Dhumal, IPL Chairman, confirmed that the IPL was going to be played in India in October itself, and is ready to schedule the tournament in accordance with the Elections. The BCCI has identified a window between 22nd March till the end of May to host the 2024 IPL.

During the 2019 IPL, which was just before the 2019 ODI World Cup, the tournament began on 23rd March and finished on 12th May. As of now the 2024 Indian general Election dates have not been called by the Election Committee.

Boards assure BCCI player availability, ECB’s fixture could intervene

On the eve of the 2024 IPL Auction, most boards such as West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia have given their players full clearance to play the IPL. The Australian board has also let players decide if they want to travel to India or play the Sheffield Shield, which ends in March.

England, Bangladesh, Ireland and Sri Lanka have given conditional clearance, as England host Pakistan in May for a T20I series. Bangladesh and Ireland have given special clearance to Mustafizur Rahman and Joshua Little, while others might have to miss games due to National duties.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh play a Test series, with the 2nd Test coinciding with the start of the IPL. Josh Hazlewood has registered himself for the IPL, but will miss a majority of it as he and his wife are expecting their first child. Rehan Ahmed from England has pulled out of the IPL as well.