The IPL 4 season is set to have 10 teams playing 74 matches. The 74 matches will be split into 70 league matches and four playoff games. Read on as iSporter Jigar Mehta throws some light on this season's format.
There will be two groups comprising of five teams each, but these teams will be ranked together in a combined league table.
Every team will play 14 league games, but this time around with two groups being formed, each team will play the other four teams in its group both home and away which brings the count to eight matches, then each team will lock horns with four of the teams of the other group once, either home or away (four matches) and then will battle with the remaining one team of the other group both home and away (two matches).
A random draw will take place, which will decide how the teams will be grouped, as well as who plays whom across the groups once and twice.
The play-offs will be played based on league standings with the Play-off 1 (Team 1 vs. Team 2) and Play-off 2 (Team 3 vs. Team 4) in the semi-finals.
The winner of play-off 1 will automatically qualify for the grand finale. However, the losers of play-off 1 will get a second chance to make amends as they will take on the victorious team of play-off 2 in a preliminary final, and the winner of this preliminary final will progress to the grand finale which will be held on 28th May at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.
Full list of IPL Teams:
Foreign Players rule: A franchise is allowed to have up to ten foreign players in their squad and is allowed to play only four players during an IPL match.
Player contracts: Players contracts will be valid for a period of two years and will have the right to extend their contracts to the third year.
Catchment areas
With the addition of two new franchises, The IPL has announced multiple catchment areas for the existing franchises. All the teams will have to compulsorily include four players from their catchment area in the squad of 30 players.
Mumbai Indians: Mumbai, Baroda
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Karnataka, Goa
Deccan Chargers: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa
Chennai Super Kings: Tamil Nadu, Railways
Delhi Daredevils: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal
Kings XI Punjab: Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir
Kolkata Knight Riders: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Tripura, Sikkim, Manipur
Rajasthan Royals: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Saurashtra
Pune Warriors: Maharashtra, Vidarbha
Kochi: Kerala, Services, Madhya Pradesh