IPL 2022: Ten teams, groups, new format, venues and all you need to know
The teams have been divided into two virtual groups based on a seeding system formulated by the number of titles won and the number of finals played.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on February 25 key decisions taken in the IPL Governing Council meeting, held virtually a day before, regarding the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.
With the addition of two new members – Lucknow Supergiant and Gujarat Titans – in the previously existing family of eight, the IPL has rewound to the 2011 model when the league had opened doors to two new teams – Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala (both defunct).
Much like in 2011, the 2022 system has left plenty scratching their heads as it was confirmed on February 25 that the ten teams have been divided into two groups of five each, with the league extending to 70 matches followed by four playoffs. All that and a bit more simplified below:
What are the groupings for IPL 2022?
The teams have been divided into two virtual groups based on a seeding system formulated by the number of titles won and the number of finals played.
Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions, fall in group A, which has two former champions in Kolkata Knight Riders (three titles) and Rajasthan Royals (one title) alongside two-time finalists Delhi Capitals and new entrant Lucknow Supergiants.
Group B, on the other hand, includes four-time winners Chennai Super Kings stacked alongside Sunrisers Hyderabad (one title), three-time finalists Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings (one final) and Gujarat Titans.
| No. | Group A | No. | Group B |
| 1 | MI (5) | 2 | CSK (4) |
| 3 | KKR (2) | 4 | SRH (1) |
| 5 | RR (1) | 6 | RCB |
| 7 | DC | 8 | PBKS |
| 9 | LSG | 10 | GT |
*Titles won in bracket
What will be the pattern of fixtures?
Each team will play twice against their respective group members and the team in the same row in the second group. Against the remaining teams of the other group, each team will play only once.
Put simply, MI plays its group A counterparts – KKR, RR, DC and LSG – twice and also CSK (slotted in the same row in Group B). MI will play other Group B teams – SRH, RCB, PBKS and GT – only once.
Similarly, RCB will play its Group B counterparts twice but the team also RR, slotted in the same row in Group A. RCB will play other Group A teams only once.
Therefore, the ten teams will play 14 fixtures each in the league stage (7 home and 7 away). Each team will play five teams twice and four teams once (twice at home and twice away). Although, the Covid-19 situation means the concept of away and home games will only come into the application later, as the tournament will be held in only two cities of Maharashtra in 2022.
When will the IPL 2022 season start and end?
The BCCI confirmed the dates of the tournament as March 26-May 29, with a total of 70 league games to be played across four venues – Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium, DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai and the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
What is the venue-wise breakup of league matches?
Mumbai will host 55 games, while 15 will be played in Pune. A decision on the venue for the playoffs is yet to be taken, with Ahmedabad likely in contention.
As for the venue-wise distribution, each team is scheduled to play four games each at Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium, and three each at Brabourne Stadium and MCA Stadium.
| Venue | Matches |
| Mumbai – Wankhede Stadium | 20 |
| Mumbai – Brabourne Stadium (CCI) | 15 |
| Mumbai – DY Patil Stadium | 20 |
| Pune-MCA International Stadium | 15 |
IPL 2022 schedule matrix
| Team | MI | KKR | RR | DC | LSG | CSK | SRH | RCB | PBKS | GT | Total |
| Opponent | Season -> | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | |
| MI | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| KKR | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| RR | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| DC | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| LSG | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| CSK | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| SRH | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| RCB | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| PBKS | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| GT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Total Matches/Team | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Download Our App