Reports: KKR-RR fixture on April 17 at Eden Gardens could be rescheduled

The round-robin stage of IPL 2024 kicked off on March 22, with the Chennai Super Kings hosting the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Like every season since the tournament's inception, the group-stage fixtures occur every single day, with there being a mix of a-match-a-day and double-headers incorporated.

However, in light of Ram Navami festivities taking place on April 17 this year, it seems highly likely that the match between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals which is scheduled to be played at the Eden Gardens on the same day might face the prospect of rescheduling or relocating. This comes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India came up with a proposal which has been put forward to both the franchises, the state association, and the broadcasters. 

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Ram Navami is a festival dedicated to honoring the birth of Rama, a beloved figure in Hindu mythology. Nationwide, this annual festival is celebrated fervently, raising concerns among authorities about their ability to provide sufficient security for the IPL game scheduled for that evening. The enthusiastic participation in religious ceremonies and parades during Ram Navami often bring traffic to a standstill in many parts of Kolkata.

Adding to the complexity, the country is concurrently undergoing a general election. Considering these factors, the BCCI is deliberating the possibility of postponing the game. The BCCI and the Cricket Association of Bengal are reportedly in ongoing communication with the Kolkata police regarding the matter. While a final decision has not yet been reached, the BCCI has initiated discussions with the two franchises and broadcasters to gauge the possibility of a probable change in schedule.

The BCCI has divided the schedule into two phases. Initially, it released the programme for the first 21 games, followed by the announcement of dates for the remaining 53 matches after the declaration of the general election dates. 

"The discussions are on with the police authorities and we will take a decision soon," a top official working closely with the IPL said.

KKR, RR; only franchises yet to lose a game in IPL 2024

With 13 matches already done, there are only two franchises out of the ten with an unbeaten streak maintained as of the afternoon of April 1, 2024, with KKR and RR winning their two games respectively. RR are set to play their first away game of the season against MI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on the same day, and it remains to be seen whether they will be able to keep their winning streak intact against a strong Mumbai side which has won five out of their eight matches against the Royals at their own den.

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