The highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is set to begin with an electrifying clash between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens on March 22. This historic venue, where KKR claimed the IPL 2024 title, will also host the grand finale on May 25, promising an exciting end to the tournament.
This season, the IPL will see a total of 74 matches played over a span of 65 days, with 13 cities playing host to the action. Along with the 10 regular host cities, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Dharamsala will also be part of the tournament schedule, adding to the excitement. Hyderabad, the home ground of last year’s runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), will host two of the crucial playoff matches—Qualifier 1 on May 20 and the Eliminator on May 21. Eden Gardens, in addition to the final, will stage Qualifier 2 on May 23.
Fans can look forward to intense matchups right from the start. On March 23, SRH will take on Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad, while later that evening, cricket enthusiasts will witness one of the biggest rivalries in IPL history as five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) face off against fellow five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The two teams will meet again for a much-anticipated rematch at the Wankhede Stadium on April 20.
Other teams are also set to kick off their campaigns in style. Delhi Capitals (DC) will begin their journey against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Visakhapatnam on March 24, while 2022 champions Gujarat Titans (GT) will take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Ahmedabad on March 25. Visakhapatnam and Guwahati will serve as home venues for DC and Rajasthan Royals (RR) for two matches each, while PBKS will play three of their home games in Dharamsala.
While most teams have confirmed their leadership for the season, KKR and DC are yet to announce their captains. Meanwhile, RCB has named Rajat Patidar as their new skipper, and Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant have taken up leadership roles for PBKS and LSG, respectively.
With 12 double-header matchdays, games will follow the familiar schedule—afternoon matches starting at 3:30 PM IST, while evening fixtures will begin at 7:30 PM IST. As IPL 2025 approaches, fans across the country and beyond are eagerly counting down to what promises to be yet another thrilling season of the world’s most celebrated T20 league.
