IPL 2024: Preview, fixtures, schedule, teams & how to follow on the BBC

The Indian Premier League - the world's biggest T20 franchise tournament - returns for its 17th edition on Friday.

As usual there are a host of stars involved, but there are some big-name English absentees.

Here is everything you need to know.

It gets under way on Friday, 22 March with defending champions Chennai Super Kings hosting Royal Challengers Bangalore from 14:30 GMT.

We could see MS Dhoni v Virat Kohli in the opening game. Box office.

The group stage runs until 19 May, with the knockout stages starting on 21 May.

The final takes place on 26 May in Chennai.

The teams are split into two groups of five and each play 14 group games. They play the teams in their group once and the other group twice (home and away). The results form one table.

The play-offs begin with first v second from the group stage for a place in the final on 21 May.

Third and fourth then play on 22 May with the loser eliminated. The winner of that match faces the loser of the first play-off for the second final place on 24 May.

Just one. Players are now allowed to bowl two bouncers per over, instead of one.

The sides will continue to name their teams after the toss, including five substitutes. The 'impact player' rule, which allows one of those subs to be used, has been kept. The player coming in must be Indian, unless the team has not used their four overseas players.

Wide and no-ball calls can still be reviewed.

There are 13 English players signed to teams, including powerful Somerset wicketkeeper Tom Kohler-Cadmore for the first time. Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks may also play, having been unused last year.

Lancashire left-arm seamer Luke Wood is also involved for the first time having joined Mumbai Indians as an injury replacement for Australia's Jason Behrendorff.

There are plenty of absentees though.

Batter Harry Brook has pulled out following the death of his grandmother, while bowlers Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson and batter Jason Roy have opted out to manage their workload.

Test captain Ben Stokes and batter Joe Root opted not to enter the auction for the same reasons.

One of the big changes has seen Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya return to Mumbai Indians and take the captaincy from Rohit Sharma.

MS Dhoni, in what could be his final IPL as a player,has stood down as Chennai Super Kings captain, to be replaced by Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Australia left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc has joined Kolkata Knight Riders for a record £2.3m, while international team-mate Pat Cummins has taken the captaincy at Sunrisers Hyderabad.

India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is expected to play for the first time since a car crash in December 2022, and will captain Capitals.

New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra (Chennai Super Kings) is involved for the first time after an impressive 50-over World Cup in the country last year, but Sri Lanka seamer Dilshan Madushanka (Mumbai Indians) has been ruled out through injury.

Mumbai and Chennai both have five titles and will be looking to win a record sixth.

There will be commentary on more than 40 games, including the opener and final, on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app (UK only).

You can get match and wicket alerts for your favourite team straight to your phone via the app, plus live scorecards of every game, major news stories and match reports on the website.