The IPL 2023 goes back to the home and away format.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on February 17, 2023, announced the schedule for the upcoming IPL 2023 season, which will begin on March 31. The final will also be held in Ahmedabad, on May 28.
The Indian Premier League season 16 will go back to the home-and-away format with all ten franchises playing at their home grounds as well. This practice had to be abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as IPL 2020 was held in UAE, IPL 2021 partially in India and UAE, and IPL 2022 was held in Maharashtra with the final played in Ahmedabad.
But with the pandemic on its decline and the majority of the adult Indian population being vaccinated against the virus, the BCCI has decided to go back to the home-and-away format.
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The opening match of the IPL 2023 will see defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT), facing off against MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 31, 2023.
That will be followed by a doubleheader on the very next day on April 1 with Punjab Kings taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in the first game of the day followed by a clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals.
Sunrisers Hyderabad takes on Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore play Mumbai Indians on Sunday, April 2nd.
There will be a total of 74 matches in the IPL 2023 including the playoffs and the final. The 70 league matches in the tournament will include 18 double-headers and will be played from March 31 to May 21, across 12 cities.
In addition to the ten regular venues - Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Mohali - some matches will be played in Guwahati (Royals' second home), and Dharamsala (Kings' second home).
Here is the IPL 2023 schedule: