IPL BB Mishra Sport fixing
Top player in touch with the bookies says IPL investigator BBC Mishra. Photo Credit: IPL.

The opening ceremony of IPL 2018 has been pushed by a day, and now the event will take place on April 7, instead of April 6.

As per the reports, the event has been delayed by a day to cut the budget.

Earlier, the budget for the event for Rs 50 Lakh but now, the expenditure will be around Rs 30 Crore.

The event has also been shifted to the Wankhede Stadium from Cricket Club of India, which will automatically have an impact on the cost.

The ceremony will take place before the start of the first game of IPL.

IPL 2018, VIV0, Brand Ambassador, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh
Wankhede stadium will host the opening ceremony and first game of IPL Photo Credit: Getty Images.

In the IPL opening, Mumbai Indians will face Chennai Super Kings, with the game starting at 8:00 PM.

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Since RCB, KKR, Kings XI Punjab and DD are scheduled to play their opening contest the very next day, many of the players could give the ceremony a miss as well.

As per the scheduled announced earlier, the ceremony was to take place a day ahead of the commencement of IPL.

The budget cut though has seen the opening affair getting tweaked.

Surprisingly, last year, COA proposed the idea of holding eight opening ceremonies to celebrate ten years of IPL, which also saw heavy budged being spent.

The change in the day of the opening ceremony will have no impact on the fixtures of IPL, and it has not been changed.

Both, opening game and final, will be played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The final will be played on May 27.

BCCI, though, is yet to announce the venues of the eliminator and second qualifier.

IPL 2018: IPL Opening Ceremony Delayed By a Day to Cut Cost
The CAB had requested to h host IPL playoffs. Photo credits: Associated Press

A total of three state associations have sent a request to BCCI to stage these games, and any decision on the matter is still to be taken.

As per the rules, Maharashtra Cricket Association should be allocated the games, as Rising Pune Supergiant ended last IPL as runner-up.

The home ground of runner-up team has always staged these games in the history of IPL.

Here is the newsfeed:

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