IPL 2019 schedule announced; CSK to take on RCB in opening match

IPL 2019 schedule: IPL 2019 will kickstart on March 23 with the defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chennai.

BCCI announced the schedule of first two weeks of IPL 2019 in which 17 matches will be played. IPL 2019 will kickstart on March 23 with the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Chennai.

All teams will play a minimum of 4 matches with Delhi Capitals (DC) and RCB playing 5 matches. Every team will play a minimum of 2 home and 2 away matches with DC playing 3 home matches, while RCB will play 3 away matches.

🚨 Announcement 🚨: The #VIVOIPL schedule for the first two weeks is out. The first match of the 2019 season will be played between @ChennaiIPL and @RCBTweets

Details - https://t.co/wCi6dYHlXL pic.twitter.com/TaYdXNKVSx

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) February 19, 2019

The schedule, however, is subject to change if the dates clash with Lok Sabha 2019 election. “Once these 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,” BCCI said in a release.

On March 24, Kolkata Knight Riders will host Sunrisers Hyderabad in the afternoon encounter of a doubleheader in which Mumbai Indians will take on Delhi Capitals in Mumbai. Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab will meet each other in Jaipur to complete the first round of games.

A total of 17 matches will be played during the two-week period from March 23 to April 5 across the eight home venues of the respective franchises.