The 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League is set to begin from March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, with the finals being staged on May 24. The 57-day long tournament will see no doubleheaders, with reports even suggesting that the matches will begin from 7.30 pm IST instead of the earlier 8 pm IST.
Sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed the news and added, “While the full schedule isn’t ready yet, the final is set to be played on May 24 and with the tournament starting on March 29, you obviously get a longer window than say 45 days. So, there should be no issue in accommodating one game a day. In fact, it should be a walk in the park for those chalking out how matches will be played over 57 days,” the source said.
On the change in timing of the games, the source added that an 8 pm start means that the matches end late, which becomes an issue for the spectators. “See, TRP is an issue for sure, but let us not just put it on that as you can for yourself go back and see how late the games finished last season. Even for those coming into the stadium, it was quite an issue going back home after the game. While it is being discussed, but looks like we may start at 7.30 p.m. this edition onwards,” the source pointed.
The afternoon games to have been done away with, as both the broadcasters and the franchise owners have trouble filling in the ground for the 4 pm start. With heat being another major issue, fans, often, shy away from attending the evening games.
“Do you believe that it is just the broadcasters who have a problem? Let us be real. Even franchises have a problem filling the stands for the afternoon games. So, it is best that we do away with the afternoon games and focus on one game a day,” the source explained.