Indian Premier League 2021 to begin on April 9 in Chennai with games initially staged behind closed doors
Defending champions Mumbai Indians to begin IPL season against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai on April 9 as tournament returns to India; competition will begin behind closed doors with call on fans attending to be made at later stage; watch every game live on Sky Sports
Sunday 7 March 2021 13:44, UK
The 2021 Indian Premier League will begin in Chennai on April 9 with games initially being staged behind closed doors.
The tournament will return to India - having been held in the United Arab Emirates in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic - with games to take place across Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
The BCCI says a call on allowing fans to attend will be taken at a later stage of the tournament.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians - who beat Delhi Capitals in the 2020 final in November to win the IPL for a fifth time - kick off the season against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The 110,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the largest cricket ground in the world, will host the play-offs as well as the final on Sunday, May 30.
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No sides will play at their respective home venues with all games to be played at neutral stadiums.
Teams will only travel three times during the league phase to "reduce commute and minimise risk" of the spread of Covid-19, says the BCCI.
The tournament will finish three days before England host New Zealand in the first Test match of the summer at Lord's.
IPL SCHEDULE 2021
Friday, April 9 - Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Saturday, April 10 - Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals
Sunday, April 11 - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Monday, April 12 - Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings
Tuesday, April 13 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians
Wednesday, April 14 - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Thursday, April 15 - Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals
Friday, April 16 - Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings
Saturday, April 17 - Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunday, April 18 - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders; Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings
Monday, April 19 - Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
Tuesday, April 20 - Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians
Wednesday, April 21 - Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad; Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai
Thursday, April 22 - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals
Friday, April 23 - Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians
Saturday, April 24 - Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Sunday, April 25 - Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore; Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals
Monday, April 26 - Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Tuesday, April 27 - Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Wednesday, April 28 - Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Thursday, April 29 - Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals; Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Friday, April 30 - Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Saturday, May 1 - Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
Sunday, May 2 - Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad; Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals
Monday, May 3 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Tuesday, May 4 - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians
Wednesday, May 5 - Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings
Thursday, May 6 - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Kings
Friday, May 7 - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings
Saturday, May 8 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals; Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians
Sunday, May 9 - Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings; Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Monday, May 10 - Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Tuesday, May 11 - Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals
Wednesday, May 12 - Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Thursday, May 13 - Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings; Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals
Friday, May 14 - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals
Saturday, May 15 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings
Sunday, May 16 - Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore; Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians
Monday, May 17 - Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Tuesday, May 18 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals
Wednesday, May 19 - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings
Thursday, May 20 - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians
Friday, May 21 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad; Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings
Saturday, May 22 - Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
Sunday, May 23 - Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals; Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings
Tuesday, May 25 - Qualifier 1
Wednesday, May 26 - Eliminator
Friday, May 28 - Qualifier 2
Sunday, May 30 - IPL FINAL (Ahmedabad)
Every game from the 2021 Indian Premier League will be shown live on Sky Sports.
