Kolkata Knight Riders will play five consecutive IPL games at Eden Gardens following their away league match against Chennai Super Kings on April 8.
That match in Chennai will launch the second part of the IPL schedule, comprising 52 matches, including the playoffs. The IPL had released the first phase of the schedule on February 22, a set of 21 matches.
KKR’s five home matches are against Lucknow Super Giants (April 14), Rajasthan Royals (April 17), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (April 21), Punjab Kings (April 26) and Delhi Capitals (April 29).
The matches against LSG and RCB will begin at 3.30pm.
Chennai will host the final on May 26. The MA Chidambaram Stadium, defending IPL champions Chennai Super Kings’ home venue, has hosted IPL finals in 2011 and 2012.
Chennai will also host the second qualifier on May 24. The first qualifier on May 21 and the Eliminator on May 22 will take place in Ahmedabad.
The 10 teams have been divided into two groups of five each. Each team plays the other four teams in their group twice and four teams in the other group once while playing the remaining team from the other group — picked via a draw — twice.
CSK are grouped with Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings. The second group comprises Mumbai Indians. KKR, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants.
As per the schedule, a couple of games are scheduled at Dharamsala, a traditional second venue for Punjab Kings. The HPCA Stadium will host the home games of the Punjab franchise, on May 5 (vs CSK) and May 9 (vs RCB).
There are two games in Guwahati, the Rajasthan Royals’ preferred second base. They play Punjab Kings on May 15 and KKR on May 19, the last match of the league phase.
CSK are set to play their last home game on May 12 against the Royals. Their last league game will be in Bangalore on May 18. If they fail to make the playoffs, the matches could be the last for Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Chennai and in the IPL, respectively.
CSK and Mumbai Indians, the two most successful teams in the IPL, will meet only once in the league phase, at the Wankhede on April 14.
Delhi Capitals, after hosting the second leg of WPL 2024, will play their first game at Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 20, against Sunrisers Hyderabad.