Kolkata Knight Riders have been placed in group A for the 15th edition of the IPL along with five-time champions Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants.

The teams have been grouped on the basis of a seeding system determined by the number of times they have won the IPL or made the finals. The tournament begins on March 26.

Group B features four-time winners Chennai Super Kings at the top followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans.

While Mumbai Indians are the top seeds, Chennai Super Kings are placed at No.2 position in the seedings. Knight Riders are third by virtue of winning the title twice and having made the final on three occasions. Sunrisers Hyderabad are placed fourth, Rajasthan Royals fifth and Royal Challengers Bangalore sixth.

The format is similar to that used for the 2011 edition, when IPL had two new teams in Pune Warriors and Kochi Tuskers Kerala. The only difference this time is the seeding of the teams on the basis of their past performances.

The IPL said in a media release that the 10 teams will play a total of 14 matches each — seven home and seven away — during the league phase that comprises 70 games. Each team will play five other sides twice, both home and away. These five sides will comprise the four other teams from the same group and one team from the other group from the corresponding row as per the seedings.

The other four games for each side will be against the remaining teams from the other group, “two only at home and two only away”.

For example, Knight Riders will play twice in the league stages against Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad (the team in the same row in the other group). The Shreyas Iyer-led franchise will play only once against Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans.

However, the home-and-away formula will not be relevant this season because the IPL has decided to restrict the league phase to four venues across two cities, Mumbai and Pune. While Mumbai will host the bulk of the matches (55), the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Gahunje, on the outskirts of Pune, will host 15 matches.

Every franchise will play four times each at Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Sports Academy, and three times each at Brabourne Stadium and the MCA Stadium. The fixtures are expected to be announced next week.