It has been over four months since the stadium lights last lit up for the 2021 IPL season, however this weekend the world’s most popular limited overs cricket tournament returns to finish off the season.
Now staged out of the United Arab Emirates and likely acting as a dry run for the world’s greatest short-form cricketers as they prepare for the T20 World Cup, starting next month and also played out of the UAE, the 2021 IPL conclusion will be like no other.
How to watch the 2021 IPL season
The rest of the 2021 IPL season will be streamed on ESPN+.
- Dates: Matches from Sept. 19 to Oct. 15, including the Final.
- Streaming: All matches in the U.S. will be streamed on ESPN+
Click here to learn more about how to stream on ESPN+.
2021 IPL schedule
| Match | Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians | Sept. 19 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
| Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | Sept. 20 | 10 AM ET | Abu Dhabi |
| Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | Sept. 21 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
| Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Sept. 22 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
| Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Sept. 23 | 10 AM ET | Abu Dhabi |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings | Sept. 24 | 10 AM ET | Sharjah |
| Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals | Sept. 25 | 6 AM ET | Abu Dhabi |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings | Sept. 25 | 10 AM ET | Sharjah |
| Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Sept. 26 | 6 AM ET | Abu Dhabi |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians | Sept. 26 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals | Sept. 27 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
| Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals | Sept. 28 | 6 AM ET | Sharjah |
| Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings | Sept. 28 | 10 AM ET | Abu Dhabi |
| Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | Sept. 29 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings | Sept. 30 | 10 AM ET | Sharjah |
| Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Oct. 1 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
| Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals | Oct. 2 | 6 AM ET | Sharjah |
| Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Oct. 2 | 10 AM ET | Abu Dhabi |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Kings | Oct. 3 | 6 AM ET | Sharjah |
| Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Oct. 3 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
| Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings | Oct. 4 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
| Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Oct. 5 | 10 AM ET | Sharjah |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Oct. 6 | 10 AM ET | Abu Dhabi |
| Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | Oct. 7 | 6 AM ET | Dubai |
| Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals | Oct. 7 | 10 AM ET | Sharjah |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians | Oct. 8 | 6 AM ET | Abu Dhabi |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals | Oct. 8 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
| Qualifier 1 | Oct. 10 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
| Eliminator | Oct. 11 | 10 AM ET | Sharjah |
| Qualifier 2 | Oct. 13 | 10 AM ET | Sharjah |
| Final | Oct. 15 | 10 AM ET | Dubai |
More: What the Taliban's takeover means for Afghanistan cricket and women players
2021 IPL season: Where we left off
It was an electrifying start to the 2021 campaign for the Delhi Capitals, winning six from eight. Shikhar Dhawan certainly helped, pacing the entire tournament with 380 runs at a 66.20 clip and a 136.21 strike rate.
Where are the IPL stars?
It’s the IPL, so each team is stacked. However, with Test cricket during the IPL’s break, a T20 World Cup looming fast and inevitable injuries, not all of cricket’s brightest stars will return.
A short list of the biggest stars missing from the remainder of the tournament:
- Pat Cummins (Kolkata/Australia)
- Jos Buttler (Rajasthan/England)
- Adam Zampa (RCB/Australia)
- Riley Meredith (Punjab/Australia)
- Daniel Sams (RCB/Australia)
- Jofra Archer (Rajasthan/England)
- Ben Stokes (Rajasthan/England)
- Jonny Bairstow (Sunrisers/England)
- Chris Woakes (Delhi/England)
- Dawid Molan (Rajasthan/England)
Will players have to quarantine?
All players had to complete six days of quarantine upon arriving in the UAE.
Will fans be allowed inside stadiums?
For the first time since 2019, fans will be allowed into IPL stadiums, with the defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium the first opportunity for fans.
“This match will be a momentous occasion as IPL will welcome the fans back to the stadiums after a brief hiatus owing to COVID-19 situation," an IPL statement said.
“Matches will be played at Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi with limited seating available keeping in mind the COVID protocols and UAE government regulations.”
2021 IPL table
Here is the 2021 IPL table as play resumes Sept. 19:
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC | 8 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 0.547 |
| CSK | 7 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 1.263 |
| RCB | 7 | 5 | 2 | 10 | -0.171 |
| MI | 7 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 0.062 |
| RR | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -0.190 |
| PBKS | 8 | 3 | 5 | 6 | -0.368 |
| KKR | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | -0.494 |
| SRH | 7 | 1 | 6 | 2 | -0.623 |