Cricket fans, the wait is almost over. The Indian Premier League is set to begin on March 28, and like every year, excitement is already building across the cricketing world. The opening match promises to be a blockbuster as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The very next day, the action shifts to Mumbai’s legendary Wankhede Stadium, where fans will witness an electrifying clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). You could say it’s almost like an “East vs West” battle in the early stage of the tournament.
With the first 20 matches of the schedule now announced, let’s take a closer look at what stands out and what fans should keep an eye on.
A Different Start: One Match Per Day
Interestingly, the opening week of the IPL will follow a single-match-per-day format. From the opening Saturday until the following Friday, fans will see only one game each day instead of the usual double headers.
Even the first weekend—Saturday and Sunday—will feature just one match per day.
At first glance, it might feel unusual since IPL weekends are usually packed with multiple matches. But from a broadcasting and viewership perspective, this strategy makes sense. A single marquee match each evening helps build anticipation and keeps fans focused on one big contest.
And honestly, when the first game itself is RCB vs SRH, you hardly need anything more to get the tournament off to a thrilling start.
Star Power Right From Day One
The opening matches will showcase some of the biggest names in world cricket.
In the first clash:
- Virat Kohli will lead the charge for RCB.
- Abhishek Sharma and a power-packed SRH lineup will look to counter him.
The next match between MI and KKR will be equally star-studded:
- Rohit Sharma
- Hardik Pandya
- Tilak Varma
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Rinku Singh
Many of these players are World Cup winners, which means the tournament will begin with high-quality cricket right from the start.
The First 20 Matches: Who Gets the Home Advantage?
Another interesting aspect of the schedule is how the home and away matches are distributed.
In the first phase of 20 matches:
- Every team plays four matches each.
- But the number of home games varies significantly.
Teams With Only One Home Match
Two teams have received just one home game in their first four matches:
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Gujarat Titans
For SRH, this could be tricky. Hyderabad traditionally prefers flat batting-friendly pitches, and last season they didn’t always get the kind of surface they liked at home.
This time, their only home match is an afternoon game against Lucknow Super Giants, which may or may not provide the kind of pitch they prefer.
However, things could still start explosively for them. Chinnaswamy Stadium is famous for high-scoring games, and SRH once smashed 250+ runs there in the past. With players like Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, and Liam Livingstone, their batting lineup certainly has the firepower.
Could Fewer Home Games Actually Be an Advantage?
While having only one home game early might seem unfair, there’s another side to it.
If a team manages to win a couple of away games early, they could build strong momentum. Later in the tournament, when several home matches come consecutively, that momentum could turn into a serious winning streak.
So the early imbalance in the schedule could either:
- Hurt a team if they struggle away from home, or
- Help them massively if they start strong.
In short, it’s a double-edged sword.
Teams With Three Home Matches
Only two teams have three home games in the first phase.
Rajasthan Royals
Interestingly, Rajasthan Royals’ “home” matches will be played in Guwahati rather than Rajasthan.
This always raises a curious question: why?
Rajasthan is in the western part of India, while Guwahati is in the northeast. Geographically and culturally, the connection isn’t obvious.
That said, Guwahati fans bring incredible energy. The stadium fills up, and supporters stay engaged throughout the match. Even if it isn’t a traditional home base, the atmosphere is always fantastic.
With Riyan Parag, who hails from Assam, now playing a bigger role, perhaps the connection makes a little more sense.
Kolkata Knight Riders
The other team with three home games is Kolkata Knight Riders.
But interestingly, KKR’s biggest concerns aren’t about home or away matches. Their focus seems to be on team combinations, especially in the bowling department.
Questions remain around:
- Which fast bowlers will feature regularly
- Squad fitness concerns
- Overseas player combinations
They also have several batting lineup decisions to make. Balancing players like Sunil Narine, Cameron Green, and other overseas stars will be key.
Other Early Matchups to Watch
Several intriguing contests appear early in the schedule:
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings (Guwahati)
This match will feature big names such as:
- MS Dhoni
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Sanju Samson
Both teams have explosive batting orders, making this clash especially exciting.
Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants
This match adds an interesting storyline.
A player who once captained Delhi is now leading Lucknow, while Axar Patel takes on greater responsibility in the Delhi setup. These internal connections often add a little extra intensity to IPL encounters.
Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans
Punjab will rely heavily on its strong Indian core, including:
- Shashank Singh
- Prabhsimran Singh
- Harpreet Brar
- Nehal Wadhera
Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans will need to finalize their overseas combination, especially after some squad changes.
A Season Full of Possibilities
At the moment, we only have the first 20 matches of the IPL schedule. But even this early glimpse is enough to spark plenty of discussion.
To summarize:
- Two teams have only one home game
- Two teams have three home games
- The remaining teams have two home games each
Whether this distribution turns out to be fair or not is something only time will tell. IPL seasons are unpredictable, and sometimes the most unexpected teams end up dominating the tournament.
For now, the focus is simply on enjoying the cricket.
If the opening matches live up to expectations—with stars like Virat Kohli, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and others in action—the tournament could begin with an absolute bang.
And that’s exactly what every cricket fan is hoping for.
