The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially released the much-anticipated schedule for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Cricket fans around the world can mark their calendars for an action-packed tournament starting from March 14 and concluding with the grand finale on May 25, 2025.
Tournament Overview
The IPL 2025 promises to be an exhilarating cricket spectacle, featuring 10 teams competing in a total of 74 matches over approximately 10 weeks. This 18th edition of the IPL, branded as TATA IPL 2025, will showcase the best cricketing talent from India and around the globe.
Key Dates
- Tournament Start: March 14, 2025
- Tournament End: May 25, 2025
- Duration: 73 days
Team Lineup
The following 10 teams will battle it out for the coveted IPL trophy:
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Gujarat Titans (GT)
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Rajasthan Royals (RR)
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Match Format
The tournament will follow a round-robin format, where each team plays every other team twice – once at home and once away. This structure ensures a fair competition and gives fans the opportunity to see their favorite teams in action multiple times
Detailed Schedule
Opening Match
The tournament kicks off on March 14, 2025, with a highly anticipated clash between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chennai.
League Stage
Here’s a glimpse of the initial matches in the league stage:
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar | CSK vs RCB | Chennai | 8:00 PM |
| 15 Mar | PBKS vs DC | Mohali | 3:30 PM |
| 15 Mar | KKR vs SRH | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 16 Mar | RR vs LSG | Jaipur | 3:30 PM |
| 16 Mar | GT vs MI | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 17 Mar | RCB vs PBKS | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 18 Mar | CSK vs GT | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
The league stage will continue with matches scheduled almost daily, featuring both afternoon (3:30 PM) and evening (7:30 PM) games.
Playoffs
The top four teams from the league stage will qualify for the playoffs. The playoff schedule is as follows
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 May | Qualifier 1 | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 21 May | Eliminator | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 23 May | Qualifier 2 | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 25 May | Final | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
Venue Distribution
Matches will be played across various cities in India, showcasing the country’s cricketing infrastructure and giving fans across the nation a chance to experience the IPL fever. Some of the key venues include:
- Chennai (M.A. Chidambaram Stadium)
- Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium)
- Bengaluru (M. Chinnaswamy Stadium)
- Kolkata (Eden Gardens)
- Delhi (Arun Jaitley Stadium)
- Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium)
- Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium)
- Mohali (IS Bindra Stadium)
- Jaipur (Sawai Mansingh Stadium)
- Lucknow (Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium)
Player Highlights
The IPL 2025 will feature some of the biggest names in cricket. Following the mega auction, here are some key players to watch out for:
- Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants) – Sold for a record-breaking ₹27 crore
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- Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings) – Fetched ₹26.75 crore
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- Venkatesh Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders) – Secured for ₹23.75 crore
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- Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
- Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
- MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
Broadcast and Streaming Information
Cricket enthusiasts can catch all the action live on various platforms:
- Television: Sports 18 network
- Live Streaming: JioCinema app and website
The coverage will begin at 3:30 PM IST on match days
Impact on Cricket Calendar
The IPL 2025 schedule has been carefully planned to avoid clashes with major international cricket events. The BCCI has also released tentative dates for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, demonstrating long-term planning for the league.
Economic Impact
The IPL has consistently been a major economic driver for the Indian economy. With the 2025 edition featuring 74 matches, it is expected to generate significant revenue through ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and sponsorships. The player auction alone saw franchises spend a combined ₹467.95 crore on 72 players during the first day.
Fan Engagement
To enhance fan experience, the IPL organizers are introducing new initiatives:
- Enhanced digital engagement through social media platforms
- Virtual reality experiences for remote viewers
- Fan zones in host cities with interactive activities
Conclusion
The IPL 2025 schedule promises an exciting season of cricket, bringing together the best talents from around the world. With strategically planned matches, state-of-the-art venues, and a mix of established stars and emerging talents, the tournament is set to captivate cricket fans globally. As the countdown begins, teams will be gearing up for intense competition, and fans can look forward to over two months of cricketing extravaganza.