IPL 2019: Games will begin at new prime time

The much-awaited franchise-based T20 league is all set to begin on March 23 as the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taken on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Chennai. The speculations surrounded whether the Indian Premier League (IPL) games will start at 7 pm or 8 pm. However, to put everything to rest the COA chief Vinod Rai on Thursday said that encounters will begin at usual prime time, that is, 8 pm.

The afternoon matches will start at 4 pm and night matches at 8 pm. 

There was speculation that the BCCI was under pressure to change the timings of the night matches to 7 pm when most teams wanted the Board to stick to the 8 pm slot.

"Matches will begin at 8 pm," said Rai after the COA meeting here.

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Even last year, there was speculation that the matches will have an earlier 7 pm start but all league games began at 8 pm. However, the playoffs including the final began at 7 pm.

"We welcome BCCI's decision to retain the match timings. Like last year, we wanted the games to have an 8 pm start. This time, we were not yet approached by the BCCI regarding match timings but we were eagerly awaiting its decision," a team official told PTI.

Last month, the BCCI announced the schedule for the first two weeks of IPL while the full schedule will be announced after dates of general elections are made public.

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will face Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL opener on March 23 in Chennai. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The first game is scheduled to be played between CSK and RCB. 
• Vinod Rai, the COA chief said that games will start at regular prime time - 8 pm. 
• The schedule for the first two weeks has been announced by the BCCI.