The schedule for the IPL 2024 was announced only for the first 21 matches without actually revealing the groups, which was introduced in the 2022 season to see which team plays the other two times in the league phase.
Since IPL 2022, the BCCI has split the 10 teams into 2 groups of five teams each based on their seeding or title wins and tournament performance since the inaugural edition.
The remaining fixtures are likely to be revealed soon after the election dates across states was finalized last week, but before that we have got an idea of which team will face the other twice after the groups for IPL 2024 was revealed on Saturday (March 23).
Traditionally, the eight teams used to play each other home and away resulting in a total of 56 fixtures in the league stage in seasons prior to 2022, but from season 14 with the addition of two new teams, the format was tweaked to reduce the total number of matches.
As per the format since 2022, the 10 teams will play a total of 14 matches each – seven home and seven away. Each team will play the five teams of the other group twice and the other four from their own group one time – two at home and two away.
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians top the groups, while new entrants Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans are also in different groups every year, pitting them to face each other twice.
MI is in Group A alongside Kolkta Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants, while Royal Challenger Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and GT are all in Group B with CSK. Here is a look at the groups:
IPL 2024 Groups
Group A Group B
Mumbai Indians (MI) Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Delhi Capitals (DC) Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Gujarat Titans (GT)
Going by the above table, we can kind of predict which team plays the other twice and one time in the league phase in IPL 2024. Everything will be clear when the full schedule is released, but going by 21-match schedule and the groups, here is a look at who will play who two times and once:
IPL 2024 Schedule For League Phase
CSK: The defending champions will take on MI, KKR, RR, DC and LSG in home and away games, while they will meet RCB and GT at home and travel to face PBKS and SRH.
MI: The joint record champions will take on CSK, RCB, SRH, PBKS and GT two times in home and away matches, while they will take on DC and RR at home, and KKR and LSG away from home.
RCB: The Royal Challengers, who have already travelled to CSK, will face PBKS at home, and either SRH or GT in their other home fixture, while the Bengaluru-based side will face MI, KKR, DC, RR and LSG in home and away fixtures.
KKR: The two-time champions will face SRH, CSK, RCB, GT and PBKS in home and away fixtures, while they meet DC away from home, KKR will face MI, LSG and RR in either home or away matches.
RR: The inaugural champions will face RCB, CSK, SRH, GT and PBKS in home and away matches, while they will take on MI away from home, LSG and DC at home, and face KKR away.
GT: The 2022 champions will take on MI, LSG, RR, DC and KKR in home and away fixtures, the Gujarat Titans will take on CSK away from home, and SRH as well as PBKS at home. Plus, they will face RCB away from home.
DC: The Capitals will take on PBKS, RCB, CSK, SRH and GT two times in home and away matches, while they will take on RR and MI away from home, and host KKR as well as LSG at home.
SRH: The Orange army will take on CSK at home and GT away from home, and face RCB and PBKS in either home or away matches, while they will face MI, KKR, DC, RR and LSG in home and away matches.
PBKS: The Punjab side will take on RCB and GT away from home, and host SRH and CSK at home, while they will face MI, KKR, RR, DC and LSG in home and away matches.
LSG: The Lucknow-based side will take on RR away from home, and face MI, DC and KKR either in home or away fixtures, while they will take on GT, CSK, RCB, PBKS and SRH in home and away fixtures.
Mark Hoover Mykhel
source: mykhel.com