IPL 2018: BCCI contemplating advancing start time for playoffs and final by an hour to 7 pm

The BCCI is mulling over the possibility of advancing the start time for the IPL playoffs and final to 7 pm after a number of matches have gone beyond midnight this season. According to a report in  The Indian Express, the IPL Governing Council, led by chairman Rajeev Shukla, is thinking about shifting the timing for the last four games to 7 pm from the traditional 8 pm slot. [caption id=“attachment_4324129” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representative image. Image credit: Official Facebook page of Indian Premier League[/caption] Currently, IPL matches start at 8 pm on weekdays with double headers on weekend starting at 4 pm and 8 pm. According to the report, ahead of the new season, IPL broadcasters Star Sports had proposed scheduling the 4 pm matches to 5.30 pm while advancing the timing of the 8 pm match to 7 pm. The GC accepted the proposal but the franchises shot it down. Had the matches started at 5.30 pm and 7 pm on weekends, they would have overlapped and the franchises were uncomfortable with a potential drop in viewership. However, with only one match per day in the final stage of the season, the matches can start at 7 pm. Speaking to the newspaper, Shukla said, “We wanted to start the games early from the beginning, but some of the franchises didn’t agree to it. They especially had a problem with them on weekends, which generally have a double header scheduled. The playoff stage has a single game on the day and we can start at 7 pm so that the people who come to the ground can enjoy the match and also reach home on time.”