IPL 2020
IPL Trophy (Credits: Twitter)

Cricket Australia (CA) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have confirmed the availability dates of their player for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The thirteenth edition of the league will take place from March 29 with defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings in the tournament-opener at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The upcoming edition will start only 11 days after India’s home ODI series against South Africa ends on March 18 in Kolkata. On a very expected note, the BCCI has minimised the number of double headers. There are only six double-headers in the upcoming season and all of them are on Sunday.

IPL
MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma with the IPL trophy (Credits: Twitter)

The league phase ends on May 17 – stretching 50 days this season as compared to 44 previously – with Royal Challengers Bangalore taking on Mumbai at home. The schedule of the knockouts is yet to be announced.

Players from Australia and New Zealand, meanwhile, will miss the March-leg of the competition. Their cricket boards have confirmed that the players will be available to participate in the IPL 2020 only after March 30.

Australia will host New Zealand for a three-match ODI series that ends on March 20. Both the teams will then lock horns in a three-match T20I series that ends on March 29.  Also, some of the Australian players will be engaged in the Sheffield Shield finals in Australia, scheduled between March 27-31.

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Apart from Australia and New Zealand, England players will also miss the first few days of the IPL. The ECB has intimated the IPL governing body that their players would also be available from April 1. They play Sri Lanka in a 2-match Test series that will end on March 31.

The last day of the March-leg of the tournament will witness Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. All six teams will miss the international stars from Australia, New Zealand, and England, for their first games.

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