JYNEWS: IPL 2025 Schedule : The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dropped the bombshell IPL 2025 schedule, setting the stage for a two-month cricketing carnival starting March 22. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will clash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the season opener, while last year’s finalists Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and KKR could reignite their rivalry in a high-stakes playoff. Here’s everything you need to know about the fixtures, venues, and blockbuster matchups.
IPL 2025 Schedule : Key Dates & Highlights
- Start Date: 22 March , 2025
- End Date: 25 May , 2025
- Total Matches: 74
Playoffs: Qualifier 1 (May 20), Eliminator (May 21), Qualifier 2 (May 23)
Final: May 25 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The tournament retains the 10-team format, with league matches spread across 12 venues, including Guwahati and Dharamsala. The schedule avoids overlapping with India’s general elections, ensuring uninterrupted action.
IPL 2025 Opening Match: KKR vs RCB
- When: March 22, 7:30 PM IST
- Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Shreyas Iyer’s KKR will kick off their title defense against Faf du Plessis’ RCB, a team still chasing its maiden IPL trophy. The clash promises fireworks, with RCB’s revamped squad (featuring Lockie Ferguson and Cameron Green) taking on KKR’s spin-heavy lineup led by Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.
SRH’s Redemption Arc
Sunrisers Hyderabad, runners-up in 2024, begin their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 23 in Hyderabad. Under Pat Cummins’ leadership, SRH will rely on Travis Head’s explosive batting and Umran Malik’s raw pace. A potential KKR vs SRH rematch in the playoffs could be the season’s defining moment.
IPL 2025 Venues
- The tournament will light up 12 stadiums, including.
- Eden Gardens (Kolkata): Hosts the opener and final.
- Rajiv Gandhi Stadium (Hyderabad): Qualifier 1 and Eliminator.
- Dharamsala & Guwahati: Secondary home venues for Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
Other key venues:
- Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai)
- MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai)
- Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad)
IPL 2025 Format
Groups: Teams split into two groups of five.
Matches: Each team plays 14 games (7 home, 7 away).
Playoffs: Top four teams advance, with the top two battling in Qualifier 1 for a direct final entry.
Key Matches to Watch
CSK vs MI (March 23): The El Clásico at Chepauk. Hardik Pandya faces boos as MI’s new captain.
GT vs LSG (March 24): Shubman Gill vs KL Rahul in a battle of young Indian skippers.
RCB vs CSK (April 6): Virat Kohli vs MS Dhoni – possibly Thala’s farewell season.
KKR vs SRH (April 15): A 2024 final rematch. Can Cummins outsmart Narine again?
Teams to Watch
Kolkata Knight Riders: Title favorites with Shreyas Iyer, Narine, and Mitchell Starc.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Revamped squad seeks first trophy.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Travis Head and Pat Cummins aim for redemption.
Chennai Super Kings: Dhoni’s potential swansong and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s leadership test.
https://x.com/Royshib25/status/1891097802513547617
Key Highlights of the Schedule
Opening Ceremony and Match:
- Date: March 21, 2025
- Fixture: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
As the reigning champions, KKR will host RCB in the inaugural match, marking the beginning of a highly anticipated season.
Notable Clashes:
KKR vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):
- Date: March 15, 2025
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
This fixture rekindles the rivalry from the previous season’s final, where KKR clinched their third IPL title by defeating SRH.
Mumbai Indians (MI) vs. Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
- Date: April 16, 2025
- Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Dubbed the “El Clásico” of the IPL, this match is always a fan favorite, showcasing two of the most successful franchises in IPL history.
Playoffs and Final:
Qualifier 1 and Eliminator:
- Dates: May 21 and May 22, 2025
- Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad
Qualifier 2 and Final:
- Dates: May 24 and May 25, 2025
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The decision to host the final in Kolkata honors KKR’s championship victory in the 2024 season.
Team Preparations and Player Movements
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):
- Head Coach: Chandrakant Pandit
- Captain: To Be Announced
KKR enters the season with momentum from their 2024 triumph. The team management has retained key players and is focusing on strengthening their squad depth to defend their title successfully.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):
- Head Coach: Daniel Vettori
- Captain: Pat Cummins
After finishing as runners-up in 2024, SRH has made strategic acquisitions to bolster their lineup, aiming to go one step further this season.
Final Word
The IPL 2025 schedule sets up a season of rivalries, comebacks, and farewells. From KKR’s title defense to Dhoni’s likely curtain call, every match is a spectacle. Mark your calendars for March 22 – cricket’s greatest festival is back!
IPL 2025 Q&A
Q: When is the IPL 2025 final?
A: May 25 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Q: Which teams have secondary home venues?
A:Rajasthan Royals: Jaipur (primary), Guwahati (2 matches vs KKR and CSK).
Punjab Kings: Mullanpur (primary), Dharamsala (3 matches).
Delhi Capitals: Arun Jaitley Stadium (primary), Visakhapatnam (2 matches).
Q: Will MS Dhoni play IPL 2025?
A: Likely! Reports suggest Dhoni will mentor CSK but may retire mid-season.
Q: Why is the final in Kolkata?
A: Tradition dictates the defending champion’s home hosts the final.
Q: Which newcomers could shine?
A: Watch out for PBKS’s Rs. 23.75 crore buy Venkatesh Iyer and LSG’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman.