Key Dates and Timings

The IPL 2025 cricket will commence on the 22nd of March and conclude on the 25th of May. The tournament will be divided into two stages: the group stage and the play-off stage. In the first group, teams will be divided into two groups of five, where they will play each other twice and also play additional matches against teams from the other group.

Tournament Start Date

The opening match of the new season will be played on March 22, 2025. The inaugural match will be held at the renowned Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata, where the reigning champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The match promises to be a real spectacle, with both teams having strong squads and big plans.

Final Match Date

The IPL 2025 final will take place in Kolkata on May 25, with the season’s strongest teams battling for the coveted trophy. By then, only two of the 10 original participants will have survived the grueling play-off stages.

Complete Match Schedule

The IPL 2025 cricket schedule will adhere to the same format as the previous season, wherein 10 teams will be divided into two groups, with each team playing their group opponents twice, while the majority of the teams in the other group will play once. One of the key matches in the group stage will be the mandatory clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal on March 23rd.

The format of the play-offs remains the same:

• The first qualifier will be held in Hyderabad on May 20 and will pit the top two teams of the season against each other. The winner shall proceed straight to the final. On the same day, Eliminator 1 will be conducted between the third and fourth-placed teams.
• The winner of Eliminator 1 will face the winner of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 to determine the second finalist.
• The final on May 25 will be the final of the season at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

TOP Players to Watch

The IPL has always been known for its stellar lineups, and the 2025 season will be no exception. The following are the players to keep an eye on:

• Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – A stalwart of Indian cricket, Kohli remains a juggernaut in the IPL arena.
• Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders) — Known for his fast bowling, he can turn the tide of any match.
• Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans) — A legendary spin bowler from Afghanistan who can be a key figure for his team.
• Quinton de Kock (Lucknow Super Giants) — A South African wicketkeeper and opener with great big-game experience.

Where to Watch IPL 2025?

Cricket fans will be able to enjoy the IPL 2025 live matches through the tournament’s official broadcasters. In India, matches will be shown on Star Sports, and the digital broadcast will be available on the JioCinema platform. The matches will be aired worldwide on Sky Sports (UK), Fox Sports (Australia) and ESPN (USA) Additionally, only on the major websites.

Interesting Facts and Stats

Since its inception, the International Premier League has become not only a sporting phenomenon, but also a financial one. The league annually attracts millions of viewers and generates billions of dollars in revenue. Some interesting facts:

• In the year 2024, the aggregate IPL television audience surpassed 450 million viewers.
• The average value of an IPL franchise is estimated at around $1 billion.
• Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are the most successful teams in IPL history, winning 5 games each.

Historical Stats

In 18 seasons, the IPL has come a long way from being a pioneering idea to a global cricketing phenomenon. Interesting facts:

• The highest total for a single match is 263/5 (Royal Challengers, Bangalore, 2013).
• The fastest inning is Chris Gayle’s (30 innings, 2013).
• Most successful captain — MS Dhoni, who has led Chennai Super Kings to five titles.

The 2025 season is set to be another exciting one.