IPL 2024: Playing Format, New Rules, Groups - All You Need To Know

Samrat

IPL 2024 Playing Format (X.Com)IPL 2024 Playing Format (X.Com)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has evolved in the recent past with two new franchises and a new format being put in the place. The IPL 2024 took centre stage on March 22 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) hosting Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the inaugural contest. 

Much like the configuration in the IPL 2023, the playing format of the ongoing season remains unchanged. The 10 franchises in the lucrative tournament have been divided into two groups, A and B, consisting of five teams each. 

Group A includes Mumbai Indians (MI), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants while Group B consists of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Gujarat Titans (GT). 

Each franchise will face the other five teams in opposite group twice in a home and away from while these franchise will play once against the team in its own group.  

For example: Mumbai Indians will face Chennai Super Kings twice (home and away) while they will play against Kolkata Knight Riders once in the league. 

Following the group stage, the top four franchises based on aggregate points will qualify for the playoffs. In the playoffs, the top two franchises will face off in the Qualifier 1 while the remaining two teams will face off in the Eliminator. 

The winner of the Qualifier 1 will directly book a spot in the final while the losing side will take on the winners of the Eliminator match in Qualifiers 2. The winners of this contest will book the second spot in the final. 

The team which wins the final will be crowned the IPL champions while the other teams will finish as runners-up. 

Interestingly, the IPL 2024 will also feature a new rule which will allow bowlers to bowl two bouncers per over.