The Indian cricket board announced on Sunday that the famous Indian Premier League (IPL) would begin on April 9 in Chennai and will be played across six venues, initially without spectators. Last year, as India battled the COVID-19 pandemic, the world's richest Twenty20 tournament was moved to the United Arab Emirates. The IPL governing council agreed to send the tournament home on Sunday, but the pandemic forced some changes to the format. In a tweet, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah said, "The IPL this year at home will be played behind closed doors to begin with, and a decision on allowing spectators will be taken at a later stage of the tournament."
The playoffs and final will be held in Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on May 30, with other venues in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. In the first match, defending champions Mumbai Indians will face Royal Challengers Bangalore, led by India captain Virat Kohli. All eight teams in the tournament will play their matches at neutral venues. After withdrawing from last year's tournament due to backlash against Chinese companies in India, smartphone manufacturer Vivo has returned as the league's title sponsor. Last month, Rajasthan Royals paid $2.22 million for South African Chris Morris, making him the most expensive player in the IPL's history.