Kolkata: The highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is set to commence on March 22 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The opening clash will feature defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). This season promises thrilling cricketing action with 74 matches to be played over a span of 65 days.
Key Highlights of IPL 2025 Schedule
- The first qualifier and the eliminator will be held in Hyderabad on May 20 and 21.
- Kolkata will also host the second qualifier on May 23 and the grand finale on May 25.
- This marks the third time Eden Gardens will host an IPL final, having previously done so in 2013 and 2015.
Double Headers and Match Distribution
A total of 12 double-header matchdays have been scheduled. The first of these will take place on March 23, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) facing Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) playing Mumbai Indians (MI).
- RR, Delhi Capitals (DC), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Gujarat Titans (GT) will each play three afternoon matches.
- The remaining seven teams will participate in two afternoon matches each.
- Afternoon matches last season started at 3:30 PM IST.
Venues and Home Grounds
This season will see matches played across 13 venues, including all ten franchise home grounds:
Primary Home Grounds:
- Ahmedabad (GT)
- Mumbai (MI)
- Chennai (CSK)
- Bengaluru (RCB)
- Lucknow (LSG)
- Mohali (PBKS)
- Delhi (DC)
- Jaipur (RR)
- Kolkata (KKR)
- Hyderabad (SRH)
Additional Venues:
- Guwahati (RR’s second home venue) – 2 matches
- Visakhapatnam (DC’s second home venue) – 2 matches
- Dharamshala (PBKS’ second home venue) – 3 matches
Punjab Kings (PBKS) has been allotted an extra match at Dharamshala, where they will play against DC, MI, and LSG between May 4 and May 11. PBKS is the only team to get a stretch of three consecutive home games.
Excitement Builds for IPL 2025
With a well-structured schedule and an array of electrifying fixtures, IPL 2025 is set to captivate cricket fans worldwide. The inclusion of additional venues like Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Dharamshala adds diversity to the tournament, ensuring that fans across the country get a taste of the action.
As teams gear up for an intense season, fans eagerly await the showdown between KKR and RCB at Eden Gardens, setting the stage for another thrilling edition of the Indian Premier League.
