No more Saturday double-headers, IPL begins on 29 March

• Chennai to play holders Mumbai in opener

(Agencies) Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Mumbai Indians will host three-time winners Chennai Super Kings in the first match of this year’s edition on March 29, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Tuesday.

The IPL will run six days longer than last year, it added, with the extra days necessitated by the decision to do away with double-headers on Saturdays, limiting them to only Sundays.

While the BCCI revealed the league fixtures it did not disclose the venue of the 24 May final for the eight-team tournament, which begins 11 days after India’s home ODI series against South Africa. 

The Steve Smith-led Rajasthan Royals begin their campaign at Chennai on 2 April with Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler expected to join the side after England wrap up a two-test series in Sri Lanka in late March.

The 38-year-old MS Dhoni, Chennai’s captain, has not appeared for club or country since the 50-over World Cup last year and speculation has swirled over his international retirement.

But cricketers and pundits believe the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman’s performance in the cash-rich IPL could be key if he is eyeing a last hurrah at the T20 World Cup in October and November in Australia.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the IPL fixtures yesterday but have yet to reveal the venue of the 24 May final. The popular tournament, which began in 2008, will run for 57 days – six more days than the last edition.