IPL 2024 likely to take place in India despite Lok Sabha Election, says report

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to be held by India this year even as the country is set for the general elections. The 17th edition of the world’s biggest T20 league is likely to begin from 22 March this year, according to reports, with the Lok Sabha elections set to commence shortly after.

“There is nothing like that, to shift the tournament outside the country, as the general election will also be at the same time. If any state doesn’t want to host the match at that time, with any justified reason, the match could be shifted to another venue,” a BCCI source was quoted as telling ANI.

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The 2009 and 2014 editions of the Indian Premier League had to be moved outside the country due to general elections in those years. While the second edition of the cash rich league in 2009 took place entirely in South Africa, the seventh edition took place partly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the latter half of the tournament including the playoffs taking place in India.

IPL 2009 was won by the now-defunct Deccan Chargers, their only title in their brief existence in the league before getting replaced by Sunrisers Hyderabad. While the Kolkata Knight Riders would win their second title under Gautam Gambhir’s leadership five years later after defeating Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) in the final.

IPL 2019, however, took place entirely in India despite coinciding with the general elections. Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians would win the fourth of their five IPL titles that year, beating Chennai Super Kings in the final that took place in Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

CSK enter this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League as the defending champions, having defeated Gujarat Titans in last year’s final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium to win their fifth title.

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Skipper MS Dhoni, who was widely expected to call time on his playing career after leading CSK to victory last season, is set to lead the highly-successful franchise for another season.