If you are a cricket lover, you might have heard about the IPL or Indian Premier League. But the thing is, there are more than just a few IPL teams to keep an eye on. There are two seasons with schedules and matches to look forward to.
Chennai Super Kings vs. Kings XI Punjab
There will be no shortage of hype around the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings. Both teams are strong but with a few notable differences.
While Chennai has won 15 matches, Punjab has managed to win 12. They have played each other 28 times in total. The two have played each other in the IPL more than any other team.
In the IPL, only three matches have been won by the team batting first. This is due to the dew factor. It helps to keep the ball on the pitch longer and allows the batsman to be more effective.
When the team bats first, it can score a lot of runs. Despite the score, the bowlers have to defend the target. So, a lot of pressure is placed on them to get the desired number of runs.
Rajasthan Royals vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) will play a Qualifier 2 match in the Indian Premier League on May 27. The winners will face Gujarat Titans in the IPL final on Sunday night. These two teams have a long history of clashing in the IPL. They have played each other 24 times, won 13 matches, and lost six. This game will be held at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Both teams are on a good run. They have won three of their last four games and are one match away from the IPL final. Their average first innings score at Ahmedabad across T20s is 165.
Delhi Capitals vs. Kolkata Knight Riders
Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders will play at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on April 28. It will be the 41st match of the season. DC will be looking to extend their win streak to two games. KKR, on the other hand, will want to improve its performance. Both teams have changed their strategy and batting order.
Earlier in the season, DC won a game against KKR. But the KKR batters had a good run. The team had scored 153 runs in the first inning.
Nevertheless, the team restricted the score to 146 for nine. A fine bowling effort from Sunil Narine and the middle overs of Varun Chakravarthy helped them. This allowed them to win by four wickets.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad
KKR and SRH will face each other in Match 61 of the Indian Premier League on Saturday. It will be a must-win for both teams to make the playoffs. However, a win will be nothing without good results from the other groups.
The Kolkata Knight Riders are coming into this match with mixed results. They have won two games in a row and have moved to sixth place in the table. Meanwhile, the Sunrisers have lost four straight matches.
The last time these two sides met, SRH waltzed to a seven-wicket victory. But that was mainly due to the middle order.
IPL 2021 matches will be played simultaneously
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the final two matches of IPL 2021 will be played simultaneously. It is the first time in tournament history that two games will be played at the same time.
The last league stage match will be played in the United Arab Emirates. The rest of the IPL 2021 matches will be played in neutral locations. In addition, a consortium of English counties has written to the England and Wales Cricket Board expressing interest in hosting the rest of the tournament.
This has led to the formation of the so-called Future Tours Program, which is expected to kick off in 2023. These will include doubleheaders in which teams play each other twice.
IPL 2022 schedule
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the IPL 2022 schedule. The league will kick off on March 26 and end on May 29. It will feature ten teams in two groups of five. Each team will play 14 matches, with the top four qualifying for the playoffs.
Each team will play seven home games and play one away match. Matches will be held in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Bangalore. A total of twelve double-headers will be played.
There will be two qualifiers in the IPL 2022 playoffs. The first qualifier will feature the Gujarat Super Giants and the Rajasthan Royals. These teams will compete for a place in the final.