IPL 2019 schedule: CSK plays RCB in first match

Chennai Super Kings, the IPL 2018 champion, takes on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first match, on March 23, 2019.

Published : Feb 19, 2019 15:40 IST

The rest of the schedule will be announced after the dates for the Lok Sabha elections are announced. Photo: K. V. S. Giri

Chennai Super Kings will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in the inaugural fixture of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019, on March 23. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced the schedule for the first two weeks, which is 17 matches — keeping the general elections in mind.

"Once the dates for the Lok Sabha elections are announced, we will decide on the future course of action and come up with the fixture for the remainder of the tournament," a BCCI official told Sportstar.

In this two weeks — each team will be playing minimum of four matches with the exception being Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, who would be playing five matches. Every team will play minimum of two home and two away matches with Delhi playing three home matches, while RCB will play three away matches.

"It is not possible to come out with a complete fixture without knowing what the dates for general elections are. We are in touch with all concerned authorities. Once we get clarity, the remaining fixture can be discussed," the official said.

The final of IPL 2019 is also scheduled to be played in Chennai as the Chennai Super Kings won the 11th edition of the cash-rich league.

This will be the first time that the league will be played without a chairman as the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) disbanded all committees and sub-committees after the registration of the new constitution.

There were not much clarity earlier on whether Jaipur and Mohali will remain as home grounds for Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, but for the first phase, both the venues will host matches.

IPL 2019

Mar 23: Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai

Mar 24: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata

Mar 24: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals, Mumbai

Mar 25: Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab, Jaipur

Mar 26: Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings, New Delhi

Mar 27: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata

Mar 28: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians, Bengaluru

Mar 29: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, Hyderabad

Mar 30: Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians, Mohali

Mar 30: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, New Delhi

Mar 31: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Hyderabad

Mar 31: Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, Chennai

Apr 1: Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Capitals, Mohali

Apr 2: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Bengaluru

Apr 3: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai

Apr 4: Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, New Delhi

Apr 5: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Bengaluru