What time are IPL matches in UAE and how can we watch it?

All you need to know about the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League

Workers in PPE disinfecting the practice area at Abu Dhabi Cricket in order for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders to train ahead of the IPL. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

Workers in PPE disinfecting the practice area at Abu Dhabi Cricket in order for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders to train ahead of the IPL. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

Mahela Jayawardene issues instructions. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

Bowling coach Shane Bond gives advice. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

Workers in PPE disinfecting the practice area at Abu Dhabi Cricket in order for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders to train ahead of the IPL. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

Shane Bond and Hardik Pandya. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

Zaheer Khan and Nathan Coulter-Nile. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

Workers in PPE disinfecting the practice area at Abu Dhabi Cricket in order for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders to train ahead of the IPL. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

Jasprit Bumrah and Mahela Jayawardene. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

Workers in PPE disinfecting the practice area at Abu Dhabi Cricket in order for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders to train ahead of the IPL. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

IPL COO Hemang Amin and Abu Dhabi Cricket curator Mohan Singh. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket

The 2020 IPL starts at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, when defending champions Mumbai Indians face Chennai Super Kings in a repeat of last year’s final.

The competition will take place across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, culminating in the final on November 10.

The new season of the 20-over competition had been scheduled to start in March. It was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The increase of Covid cases in India led to the decision to switch to the UAE, which previously hosted 20 matches of the 2014 tournament.

What time are the matches?

The majority of fixtures start at 6pm UAE time, which suits the prime time TV viewing audience back in India. That equates to 7.30pm Indian Standard Time.

There are also 10 matches starting at 2pm. They are on Saturday and Sundays, starting with Royal Challengers Bangalore against Rajasthan Royal on October 3.

How to watch on TV?

All matches will be shown live on BeIN Sports 13.

Tickets?

As of now, all the matches are scheduled to be played behind closed doors as per coronavirus safety measures.

Mubashshir Usmani, the general secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board, did say last month that there was a chance the grounds could be opened to 30 to 50 per cent of capacity at some point.

However, that seems extremely unlikely at this stage.

Where are the matches?

Dubai International Stadium will host 24 matches in the group phase of the competition.

Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi will stage 20, while the other 12 will be at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

When is Virat Kohli on?

The India captain also leads Royal Challengers Bangalore. Their first match is against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai on Monday September 21.

Is Ben Stokes playing?

Stokes is due to play for Rajasthan Royals. However, the star all-rounder left the England side to travel to New Zealand midway through the international summer of cricket in the UK.

He travelled to Christchurch to be with his family. His father has been diagnosed with brain cancer.

His availability for the IPL remains unclear.

Fixtures