Change in IPL 2017 schedule due to Delhi elections

The Indian Premier League (IPL) season 10 kicks off on April 5, but before the start of the tournament, the BCCI has been forced to make a change in the schedule. Three matches, two of which involve the Delhi-based franchise Delhi Daredevils have been moved out of the national capital and also switched in time slots. The reason that has forced this change is Municipal Elections in New Delhi.

The Rising Pune Supergiants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match that was scheduled to be played on April 22 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune and start at 8:00 PM IST while the Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians game at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi was an evening game and scheduled for start at 4:00 PM have been switched.

DD vs MI match, the first encounter between the two teams in this edition of the tournament will now be hosted at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and will be played in the evening slot – an 8:00 PM start. DD will turn back on May 6 and host MI at the Kotla. Their home game is an away match now and that in the last part of the league stages will be a home game for the team against the two-time champion team.

In the past as well IPL matches have been hurt due to elections as it had to be moved to South Africa in 2009 and the first leg of the 2014 edition was played in the United Arab Emirates and this time the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections clash with the April 22, IPL game and it has been moved out of the city since the security agencies will all be deployed on election duties.

New IPL 2017 schedule:

April 22: Rising Pune Supergiants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Pune (4 PM IST)

April 22: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Daredevils in Mumbai (8 PM IST)

May 6: Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians in Delhi (8 PM IST)