IPL 2021: Schedule, TV and stream details as Indian Premier League resumes

The 14th season of the Indian Premier League is set to return Sunday 19 September 2021 having been postponed in May due to a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in India and amongst the franchises.

The IPL is the most high-profile and lucrative cricket tournament in the world, and attracts a host of big names from across the globe.

The remainder of this year’s tournament, however, will be missing a number of star players due to Covid, injury and T20 World Cup preparations.

When is the Indian Premier League taking place?

Four months after its postponement, the IPL will kick off in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on the Mumbai Indians on Sunday 19 September 2021 at 2pm GMT (7.30pm local time)

The following day in Abu Dhabi will see the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) face the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

The first game to be hosted in Sharjah will be on 24 September when RCB face CSK.

The first qualifier has been scheduled for 10 October in Dubai, while the eliminator and the second qualifier will take place on 11 October and 13 October respectively in Sharjah.

Dubai will then host the final of the VIVO IPL 2021 on Friday 15 October 2021.

Click here for the full schedule.

The current schedule had been set around England and India’s recent Test match series that had to be cut short due to a number of positive coronavirus cases in the Indian camp.

Where is the Indian Premier League being held?

Due to the pandemic, this year’s IPL is being held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Matches in Dubai will take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The matches in Abu Dhabi will be hosted at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium and Sharjah’s Sharjah Cricket Stadium will also be used.

How can I watch the Indian Premier League? TV and stream details

The IPL will be available to watch on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event.

Sky customers can watch the action unfold live on the satellite television provider’s dedicated cricket channel, as part of the full sports package.

Sky Sports packages range from £18 per month for the dedicated Premier League and Football channels to £25 for the complete sports package.

Alternatively, viewers can purchase a day or month passes from NOW TV from £9.99.

All evening matches will start at 2.30pm GMT (7.30 local time).

Which England players are likely to play in the Indian Premier League?

Several English players have already pulled out of the IPL’s return. Jos Buttler missed the last test against India in order to be present for the birth of his second child and has decided to miss the rest of the IPL so as to spend more time with his family and prepare for the T20 World Cup 2021.

Dawid Malan, Johnny Bairstow and Chris Woakes have also taken the decision to miss the remainder of the IPL in order to rest before the World Cup.

Jofra Archer will also sit out the tournament due to a returning stress fracture in his right elbow. Additionally, Ben Stokes will continue his leave of absence from cricket to focus on his mental health and recovering his left index finger.

Players who have been named in the squad of the upcoming T20 World Cup will end their commitments with their IPL franchises after the group stages on 8 October. The franchises that qualify for the playoff stages may be able to request special permission to keep their England players, however it is unknown whether the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will allow the requests.

The franchise that looks most likely to suffer from this would be CSK, captained by the legendary MS Dhoni, as left-arm fast bowler Sam Curran and right-arm off-spinner Moeen Ali both play for this team that has already had five wins from seven matches.

Other players who have announced they will not participate are Australian fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Riley Meredith and Jhye Richardson, Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa and Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams as well as New Zealand batsman Fin Allen.