NEW DELHI โ Following a reduction in tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to resume on Saturday. The resumption comes after a brief suspension of the Twenty20 cricket league due to military hostilities between the two neighboring nations.
IPL officials announced on Monday that the league, renowned as the wealthiest in the world for the Twenty20 format, would restart with no games being lost. The Punjab Kings versus Delhi Capitals match, halted midway in the town of Dharamsala at the 11th over last Thursday, will be rescheduled for play.
Chandigarh and Dharamsala, initially part of the tournamentโs venues, have been excised from hosting further matches due to security and logistical issues. The Punjab Kings will instead complete their final two round-robin fixtures in Jaipur. Although 32 airports in Indiaโs north-west corridor, previously closed, have been reopened, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to limit the number of venues to six once the league restarts.
The grand finale of the league, which was initially slated for May 25, has now been shifted to June 3. The first two knockout rounds are set to take place on May 29 and 30, with the Qualifier 2 occurring on June 1.
When the IPL action resumes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face Kolkata Knight Riders in a thrilling contest set in Bengaluru. Fans will see Indiaโs cricketing icon Virat Kohli return to action after he announced his retirement from test cricket earlier on Monday.
The final round-robin match before the playoffs is scheduled for May 27, featuring Lucknow Super Giants hosting Bengaluru. Seven teams remain in contention for the coveted four playoff positions, while Hyderabad, Rajasthan, and Chennai have already been eliminated.
Due to ongoing concerns about security and logistics, Chennai and Hyderabad will not host their remaining home games at their usual stadiums.