The IPL 2022 edition will see 'virtual groups' of two, with MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli in one same group
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The IPL 2022 league stages format has been announced by the Governing Council in the meeting in Mumbai. This edition will see a new ‘virtual group’ with 10 teams being divided into two groups. However, the catch is in the word virtual. The format in IPL 2022 will be slightly different. Mumbai Indians have been paired with Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants.
On the other hand, there is another group that has Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gujarat Titans, and Punjab Kings. This is where the format might be different. Each team will play twice with the teams in their group and with the team in the same row in the second group. With the rest of the teams in the second group, they will play only once during the season.
For example, Mumbai Indians will play Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants twice. However, since Mumbai Indians are in the same row as Chennai Super Kings in the other group, they will play MS Dhoni’s side twice. With Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings, and Gujarat Titans, they will play only once.
If one has to stretch the example to other teams, Royal Challengers Bangalore will play two Kaveri Derbys with Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, and Gujarat Titans. But, since they are in the same row with Rajasthan Royals, they will play RR twice. However, they will play Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants only once.
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The venue allocation has also been done. Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium and DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai will host 20 matches each. Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai and the MCA Stadium in Pune will host 15 games each. All teams will have to play four matches in Wankhede and DY Patil. Brabourne and Pune will see all teams play three matches.
The prime reason for playing all the league matches in one state is to avoid air travel. In IPL 2021, the maintenance of several bio-bubbles and air travel amidst the pandemic had seen logistical issues. The bio-bubbles in Delhi and Ahmedabad were breached. Thus, with the BCCI determined to host all the matches in India, they have decided to play all the games in Maharashtra. The BCCI have not yet announced the IPL 2022 playoff match venues. That decision might be taken around April. However, it is likely that Ahmedabad will be the venue for all the playoffs.
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