On March 22nd, India's popular sporting spectacle, the Indian Premier League, will return with 10 teams taking part in the 17th edition of the tournament.
Royal Challengers Bangalore will start the season against defending champions Chennai Super Kings, who won their fifth trophy last year, hoping to finally break their winning streak.
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are tied for the most wins in the tournament and both teams are aiming to take the lead this season.
Friday's clash between Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's teams will begin a jam-packed 74-game season, including the playoffs.
So far, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has only announced the initial schedule for the first two weeks, with 21 matches scheduled to be played between March 22 and April 7. .
Further dates will be announced by the BCCI in coordination with the Election Commission in view of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held from April 19 to June 1.
The election will be held in seven stages and the cricket body is finalizing the remaining dates in consultation with the government and security agencies.
Delhi Capitals will play the first match in Visakhapatnam, but there are concerns about the pitch at their home ground Arun Jaitley Stadium, which recently hosted the Women's Premier League.
The first few days of the tournament will feature four doubleheaders, including night games starting at 7:30 p.m.
The IPL final is scheduled for May 26, leaving just five days before the T20 World Cup begins between the US and West Indies.
This is not the first time that IPL and elections have clashed, with the 2019 general elections also coinciding with the league. The BCCI took a similar approach five years ago, releasing only the schedule for the first two weeks when it was first revealed. The remaining matches were announced at a later date.
Check out the list of games by franchise over the first 15 days of the tournament.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) match schedule:
March 22: CSK vs RCB (Chennai)
March 26: CSK vs GT (Chennai)
March 31: DC vs CSK at Visakhapatnam
April 5: SRH vs CSK (Hyderabad)
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) match schedule:
March 22: CSK vs RCB (Chennai)
March 25: RCB vs PBKS in Bengaluru
March 29: RCB vs KKR in Bengaluru
April 2: RCB vs LSG in Bangalore
April 6: RR vs RCB in Jaipur
Punjab Kings (PBKS) fixtures:
March 23: PBKS vs DC at Mullanpur
March 25: RCB vs PBKS in Bengaluru
March 30: LSG vs PBKS in Lucknow
April 4: GT vs PBKS (Ahmedabad)
Delhi Capitals (DC) fixtures:
March 23: PBKS vs DC at Mullanpur
March 28: RR vs DC at Jaipur
March 31: DC vs CSK at Visakhapatnam
April 3: DC vs KKR at Visakhapatnam
April 7: MI vs DC in Mumbai
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Match Schedule:
March 23: KKR vs SRH (Kolkata)
March 29: RCB vs KKR in Bengaluru
April 3: DC vs KKR at Visakhapatnam
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Match Schedule:
March 23: KKR vs SRH (Kolkata)
March 27: SRH vs MI in Hyderabad
March 31: GT vs SRH (Ahmedabad)
April 5: SRH vs CSK (Hyderabad)
Rajasthan Royals (RR) match schedule:
March 24: RR vs LSG in Jaipur
March 28: RR vs DC at Jaipur
April 1: MI vs RR in Mumbai
April 6: RR vs RCB in Jaipur
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) match schedule:
March 24: RR vs LSG in Jaipur
March 30: LSG vs PBKS in Lucknow
April 2: RCB vs LSG in Bangalore
April 7: LSG vs GT at Lucknow
Gujarat Titans (GT) fixtures:
March 24: GT vs MI (Ahmedabad)
March 26: CSK vs GT (Chennai)
March 31: GT vs SRH (Ahmedabad)
April 4: GT vs PBKS (Ahmedabad)
April 7: LSG vs GT at Lucknow
Mumbai Indians (MI) match schedule:
March 24: GT vs MI (Ahmedabad)
March 27: SRH vs MI in Hyderabad
April 1: MI vs RR in Mumbai
April 7: MI vs DC in Mumbai