Reports: IPL 2024 likely to begin on March 22; WPL to be played in New Delhi and Bengaluru

The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to commence on March 22 and will be played in home and away format. Despite general elections, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have decided to felicitate the entire tournament in the subcontinent by managing the schedule of respective venues.

Notably, during the 2009 general elections, the entire tournament was shifted to South Africa while in 2014, it started in the UAE as the first 20 matches were played there, and resumed in India after the elections. In 2019, the entire tournament was hosted in the subcontinent despite the elections, and the governing body is once again planning for something similar.

As per Dainik Jagran, BCCI secretary Jay Shah is working closely with the central and state government bodies to organise the tournament without any hiccups. Security is one such major aspect that needs to be taken care of but just like in 2019, it is expected that the matches will not collide with the cities that will conduct elections at that particular point.

On the other hand, the second edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is likely to be hosted in New Delhi and Bengaluru. Mumbai and Navi Mumbai hosted the inaugural edition in March 2023 and now, BCCI aims to strengthen it by taking it to different cities. Previously, it was stated that the tournament would be hosted by one state and because of the same, Uttar Pradesh was leading the race but as things stand, BCCI have changed their stance on the matter.

Reportedly, the tournament is planned to start around the last week of February and will finish before the 17th edition of the IPL begins. Meanwhile, WPL will not coincide with the upcoming general elections. Even though the election commission hasn’t released a date, it is expected to take place somewhere between late March and May. 

The governing body is also working on the schedule of both tournaments, and it is expected to be finalised shortly after the election commission releases the dates of the general elections.