Ending days of anxious wait, the BCCI on Sunday released the schedule for the upcoming IPL, and in keeping with tradition, defending champions Mumbai Indians will take on runners-up Chennai Super Kings in the opener in Abu Dhabi on September 19.

Moved out of India due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, the upcoming edition of the world's biggest T20 league will be held in the three venues of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the UAE.

After the tournament-opener, Dubai will host its first game the next day when Delhi Capitals take on Kings XI Punjab followed by the third match on Monday between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The action will then shift to Sharjah on September 22 when Rajasthan Royals will host Chennai Super Kings.

There will be 10 double headers, with the first match starting at 3:30pm IST and the second 7:30pm, according to the BCCI release.

In all, 24 matches will be held in Dubai, 20 in Abu Dhabi and 12 in Sharjah.

Venues for the playoffs and the IPL 2020 final will be announced later.

The final is slated for November 10.

The IPL operations team, which is currently in Dubai, took time to finalise the schedule because of different quarantine rules in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The schedule was finalised after the Abu Dhabi government changed its quarantine rules for visitors allowing them to enter the emirate within 48 hours of a negative Covid-19 test.

That Chennai Super Kings players have passed the additional two tests during their extended quarantine period also helped in finalising the schedule.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men have already started practice.