Tournament to begin on March 23
Tuesday 8 January 2019 12:14, UK
The 2019 IPL will remain entirely in India despite the tournament clashing with elections in the country, the BCCI has confirmed.
The competition will begin on March 23 with the full schedule and venues to be released in due course - the final is expected to be in mid-May with the World Cup starting in England on May 30.
The IPL was staged in South Africa in 2009 due to elections, while a part of the 2014 competition was held in the UAE for the same reason.
"Based on the preliminary discussions with the appropriate central and state agencies/authorities, it was decided that the 12th edition of the world's most popular and competitive T20 tournament will be scheduled to be played in India," read a BCCI statement.
"It is proposed that the VIVO IPL 2019 will commence on March 23, 2019. The detailed schedule will be finalised in consultation with the appropriate authorities."
Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer were retained by Rajasthan Royals for the 2019 season, while Chennai Super Kings kept David Willey and Sam Billings and Moeen Ali remains with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Sam Curran was signed for a million dollars by Kings XI Punjab at December's auction in Jaipur, with Jonny Bairstow purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad, Joe Denly and Harry Gurney joining Kolkata Knight Riders and Liam Livingstone picked up by Rajasthan.
Chennai Super Kings are the defending IPL champions after defeating Sunrisers by eight wickets in the 2018 final thanks to Shane Watson's 117 not out from 57 deliveries.
