IPL 2022 New Format, Dates: League set to return to group structure

The IPL 2022 season is set to begin with the ten teams having finalized their squads at the mega-auction over February 12 and 13. The BCCI is yet to release an official schedule for the season, but they have announced that a new format will be introduced to accommodate the two new teams - Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans.

IPL 2022 Format

Instead of increasing the number of matches, the IPL will have a new format with 74 league matches. This had been announced in the press release announcing the two new teams last year.

"The IPL 2022 season will comprise ten teams and will have 74 matches, wherein each team will play 7 home and 7 away matches," the BCCI said in a statement.

READ | IPL 2022 Auction: Ishan Kishan leads 11-member 10-crore club

In IPL 2011, the last time when there had been 10 teams, teams were split into two loose groups of 5 teams.

One team played teams in its own group twice, home and away. As for the other group, a random draw was used to determine one team which this team would play twice, while they would play the other teams once. 1 team played 14 matches, 7 home and 7 away. There were 70 league matches, followed by four Playoff games.

IPL 2022 Groups

The Teams for IPL 2022 have been divided according to the number of titles they have won. Each team will play teams in their group twice and one team from the opposite group twice, while facing the remaining four team once.

For example, Mumbai Indians will face all teams in their group twice and will face the Chennai Super Kings twice as well. They will play the likes of RCB, SRH, PBKS and GT only once.

Similarly, RCB will play the teams in their group twice and they will face Rajasthan Royals twice. Rest of the teams including MI, KKR, DC and LSG will clash against RCB once.

IPL 2022 Start Date

The IPL 2022 will kickoff from 26th March 2022 and will last until 29th May 2022.

READ | IPL 2020 Full Squads, Unsold Players