The Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played entirely in India, according to Secretary Jay Shah of the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI).
This news comes after speculation that the tournament might be moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Shah assured fans that the BCCI is working closely with the government and security agencies to address any scheduling conflicts arising from the elections. The board will finalize the remaining schedule after consulting with local authorities.
The IPL season kicks off on March 22nd, with the first 21 matches already announced. The full schedule, including the second leg, will be revealed soon.
Is Shreyas Iyer Playing IPL 2024?
Shreyas Iyer Cleared for IPL 2024 with a Caution: KKR Skipper Can Play But Needs to Avoid Overextending Back
Shreyas Iyer, captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has been declared fit to play in IPL 2024, but with a condition.
While Iyer is good to go, he has been advised to be cautious while stretching his leg while defending the ball to avoid aggravating a back issue.
This comes after Iyer missed the final two days of the Ranji Trophy finals due to back pain. He consulted with a specialist spine doctor in Mumbai and the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore. The doctor cleared him to play but with the restriction above.
“He is fit to play. A specialist spine doctor was consulted in Mumbai, and he has advised him not to stretch his leg too forward while defending the ball. He has joined IPL franchise KKR and can play,” a source informed The Indian Express.
Back Issues Touched Iyer in the Last Months
This information is a sigh of relief because it is the case for Iyer and the KKR franchise. Recently, Iyer’s back problems have become a significant worry for them.
He had surgery for a back injury in 2022 last year, which made him miss IPL 2022. He showed his form in the Asia Cup in 2023 and again started feeling back pain during the Test series against England; hence, he was dropped from the squad.
The NCA declared Iyer fit and even missed the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals, which added to the overall stir. BCCI then removed him from the central contract list to be renewed annually.
The BCCI has now been tasked with recruiting a new coach for the national team. He again turned up for Mumbai in the tournament’s semi-final and final.
The news was confirmed, and KKR was cleared to lead the IPL 2024 season opener.
With the doctor’s clearance, Iyer can now divert all his attention towards leading the KKR team in IPL( Indian Premier League) 2024. The opening match will be against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens on March 23rd.