The much-awaited sixth season of the Indian Premier League is all set to begin in the month of April 2013. The first match will take place between last year’s winners Kolkata KnightRiders and Delhi Daredevils in Kolkata’s backyard, the Eden Gardens at 20:00 IST.
The schedule of the clashes among all the 9 teams have been finalized. While the first match will be played on the 3rd of April 2013, the finals will be played on the 26th of May 2013. The league stage will have 72 matches played among these 9 IPL franchisee teams. The last of the league match will be played on May 19th, 2013. The league matches will follow 2 qualifier matches and 1 eliminator, as part of the new knockout schedule of the Indian Premier League. Qualifier 1 will be played between the first placed team and the second placed team. This will follow the eliminator match played between the third and fourth placed team.The winner of the eliminator match and the loser of the 1st qualifier will them compete for a place in the final.
The Governing Council of the IPL got over with the traditional semi-final format of the tournaments to decide the teams that will compete in the finals. This new format of qualifiers and eliminator has made the tournament altogether more interesting. Another interesting thing to note is the fact that the first and last match of the tournament will be played at the same ground, the Eden Gardens.