The highly anticipated 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to begin on March 22, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) kicking off the tournament at their home ground, Eden Gardens, in Kolkata.
They will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a team still chasing their maiden IPL title. Adding further intrigue, RCB recently appointed Rajat Patidar as their new captain, setting the stage for an electrifying opener.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, last season’s runners-up, will also begin their campaign at home. They will take on Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal on March 23 in an afternoon encounter.
While the full IPL 2025 schedule has been highly anticipated, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to officially announce the complete program. However, sources indicate that key match dates have already been shared with franchises. Following tradition, the final will be held in the defending champions’ city, with Eden Gardens hosting the grand finale on May 25.
Last month, during a Special General Meeting in Mumbai, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla hinted at a March 23 start for IPL 2025. However, due to broadcaster requests, the board has advanced the season opener to March 22. The full schedule is expected to be released this week.
In addition to the 10 regular venues, IPL 2025 will feature matches in Guwahati and Dharamsala. Rajasthan Royals have designated Guwahati as their second home venue, hosting Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders there on March 26 and March 30, respectively. Meanwhile, Dharamsala, which hosted Punjab Kings’ home games in 2024, may get three matches this season.
As previously announced, Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator will be held in Hyderabad, while Qualifier 2 and the final will take place in Kolkata. With a thrilling lineup of matches and new venues added to the mix, IPL 2025 promises to deliver another action-packed season for cricket fans worldwide.
