IPL 2022: All you need to know about the latest format
The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin from 26th March. For the first time after 2011, we will be seeing 10 teams in the action. Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans are the latest entrants. In order to limit the size of the tournament, the governing council has decided to divide the teams into two groups. Here is how the mega event will pan out.
The grouping of the 10 teams has been finalised on the basis of the number of IPL championships won and their appearances in the IPL final. Mumbai Indians take the top spot in the A group whereas Chennai Super Kings find themselves in the other group. Kolkata, Rajasthan, Delhi and Lucknow are paired with Mumbai. Hyderabad, Bangalore, Punjab and Gujarat complete group B.
The teams will face all their group participants twice. Each team will play one match against four teams from the other groups and will play their corresponding team in the other group twice. For example, Kolkata shall square off against Mumbai, Rajasthan, Delhi and Lucknow two times. They will also take on Hyderabad two times while confronting Chennai, Bangalore, Punjab and Gujarat only once. Thus each team will play 14 matches in total as is the norm.
This format was used in IPL 2011 when there were 10 participating teams. Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Pune Warriors India played for the first time. A total of 70 matches will be played in the group stages and it will be followed by four playoff matches. All matches shall be played in Maharashtra across four venues – Wankhede Stadium and Brabourne Stadium (CCI) in Mumbai, DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and MCA International Stadium, Pune.
Each team will play four matches in Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium whereas they will be playing three matches in MCA International Stadium and Brabourne Stadium.
“The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League will be played in a bio-secure environment at a single hub to avoid air travel which is considered as a major threat for the spread of COVID-19 infection, thereby affecting the players and the League/matches,” the BCCI explained.
