The IPL Governing Council has decided to change the time of the playoffs and the finals of the Indian Premier League 2018. The playoffs and the finals are about to start an hour early. IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla confirmed the news about the change in timings. He said that the playoffs and summit showdown will now start at 7 pm instead of 8 pm.

With this, the games will conclude an hour early. The games that conclude at 11.30 will end at 10.30. Earlier the Maharashtra Cricket Association was supposed to host the playoffs but since it became the Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) home ground, the IPL governing council decided the shift the matches to Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

“The IPL is what it is because of its fans and the tournament has over the years been followed avidly both on the ground and on television at homes. So, keeping the interest of the fans in mind, it was decided that the playoff games and the final will start an hour earlier. So, instead of the 8 pm start, the games will start at 7 pm,” Shukla was quoted as saying by News18.

“It gets difficult not only for those at the stadium but also for those watching on television as students and office-goers also need to get back to their respective stuff next morning and it helps if the game starts an hour earlier,” he added. The Qualifier 1 and finals will go ahead as scheduled at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on May 22 and May 27 respectively.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 10, 2018 09:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).