Even as the stage is being set for the start of the World Cup, Indian Premier League (IPL) authorities, too, are keeping things in motion.
In a couple of days, they are likely to announce the schedule for the fourth edition of the T20 event.
It has been reliably learnt that IPL 4 will take off in Chennai on April 8, just six days after the World Cup final in Mumbai on April 2. The inaugural match will be played between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai, will also host the ‘qualifier’ and the final. These matches will be played on May 27 and 28. Mumbai will host the semifinal, rather the first two matches of the play-offs, on May 24 and 25.
As per the new rule, the first play-off will be between No 1 and No 2 teams of the league stage. Play-off two will be between No 3 and No 4 teams. The qualifier or play-off 3 will be between loser of the play-off 1 and winner of the play-off 2. The final will be between winner of the play-off 1 and qualifier. As is the practice, Chennai, being the defending champions, have the right to host the final.
Meanwhile, Team Kochi might get to play its home matches in Kerala but some of their games have been shifted to Indore. Deccan Chargers will retain their base in Hyderabad but the former champions are scheduled to play couple of games in Cuttack, their catchment area. Some of the matches are also scheduled in Dharamsala where Kings XI Punjab will play a couple of their ‘home’ games.
But the key to the whole schedule are the election dates in three states. West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala will go to polls during the IPL and the schedule may be tweaked as per the polling day in the particular hosting cities. The Election Commission, it is understood, will come up with the dates on March 1 and the IPL authorities may make the adjustments to the schedule after the announcement.
