The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will commence at the Eden Gardens on March 22, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening match. The tournament will consist of 74 matches, including the playoffs, spread over 65 days with 12 double-headers. Sunrisers Hyderabad will host Rajasthan Royals in the first double-header on March 23, followed by a clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Hyderabad will host the first playoff match, with the final taking place in Kolkata on May 25.
Three franchises, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals, have named second venues for their home matches. Punjab Kings will split their home games between the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur and Dharmsala. Rajasthan Royals will play two matches in Guwahati and the rest in Jaipur. New captains will lead several teams, including RCB, PBKS, and Lucknow Super Giants, with KKR and DC also having new leadership. Mumbai Indians have signed Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman as a replacement for injured player Allah Ghazanfar. The tournament promises exciting matches and new beginnings for many teams.
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