MUMBAI: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the Pepsi IPL 2014 winners, will commence their defence of the title, on home turf, on 8 April 2015. The opening encounter of the Pepsi IPL 2015 will see them play Mumbai Indians, at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

A total of 60 matches (including the four playoffs) will be played over a period of 47 days, in the eighth season of the flagship tournament.

The Maharashtra Cricket Association International Stadium at Pune will host three home games of Kings XI Punjab, whilst the Dr. YSR ACA-VDCA Stadium at Visakhapatnam will host three home games of Sunrisers Hyderabad. After a hiatus in 2014, the Shahid Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium at Raipur will once again stage two home games of Delhi Daredevils. Rajasthan Royals will play their home games at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad, and another venue that will be confirmed shortly.

The Pepsi IPL 2015 Final will be played at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on 24 May 2015. The schedule is available at http://www.iplt20.com/schedule.

IPL Governing Council chairman Ranjib Biswal said, “The top players from all over the world will be seen in action this year at the Pepsi IPL 2015. I am looking forward to some exciting contests in the middle. Over the next couple of weeks, the teams will strengthen their squads in preparedness for the 2015 edition of the Pepsi IPL. I am excited to join the fans to see a lot of exciting cricket over the next three months.”