Mumbai, Feb 16 (Reporter) Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will set the ball rolling in the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they host Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the tournament opener at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on March 22, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Sunday. Aa per the schedule released by the BCCI, the final is slated for May 25. A total of 74 matches will be played across 13 venues during the tournament, including 12 double-headers. The afternoon fixtures will begin at 3-30 P.M. The evening matches begin at 7-30 p.m. The season's first double-header will take place on March 23, featuring Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) taking on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in an afternoon fixture at Hyderabad, followed by a high-voltage encounter between five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, in the evening. Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will open their campaign against each other in Visakhapatnam on March 24. Gujarat Titans (GT) will play their first home game at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on March 25. Three franchises will split their home games between two venues. Delhi Capitals will play their matches in Visakhapatnam and at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Rajasthan Royals will host two games in Guwahati against KKR and CSK before moving to their primary home venue, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. Punjab Kings will play four home matches at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, while the remaining three home fixtures—against LSG, DC, and MI—will be staged at Dharamsala's picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. Following the conclusion of the league stage, the playoffs will be held across Hyderabad and Kolkata. Hyderabad will host Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator on May 20 and 21, respectively, while Kolkata will stage Qualifier 2 on May 23. The grand finale of the tournament is scheduled for May 25, bringing down the curtain on yet another edition of the premier T20 league. The venue for the final will be announced later...////...