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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the complete schedule for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), confirming a March 22 start date with the league stage running through May 18, followed by playoffs culminating in the May 25 final.
The tournament opens with Kolkata Knight Riders hosting Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Kolkata on March 22 at 7.30 PM. The 74-match schedule features 70 league games followed by four playoff matches, with most games scheduled for the 7.30 PM timeslot, while Sunday matches typically feature a 3.30 PM afternoon game followed by an evening fixture.
- Also read: IPL 2025 Expectations LIVE
Ten franchises will compete across multiple venues with Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, New Chandigarh, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Dharamsala hosting matches. Notably, Kolkata will host the Qualifier 2 on May 23 and the Final on May 25.
First week schedule:
March 22: Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kolkata, 7.30 PM
March 23: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals, Hyderabad, 3.30 PM
March 23: Chennai Super Kings vs. Mumbai Indians, Chennai, 7.30 PM
March 24: Delhi Capitals vs. Lucknow Super Giants, Visakhapatnam, 7.30 PM
March 25: Gujarat Titans vs. Punjab Kings, Ahmedabad, 7.30 PM
March 26: Rajasthan Royals vs. Kolkata Knight Riders, Guwahati, 7.30 PM
March 27: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants, Hyderabad, 7.30 PM
March 28: Chennai Super Kings vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Chennai, 7.30 PM
March 29: Gujarat Titans vs. Mumbai Indians, Ahmedabad, 7.30 PM
March 30: Delhi Capitals vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, 3.30 PM
March 30: Rajasthan Royals vs. Chennai Super Kings, Guwahati, 7.30 PM
March 31: Mumbai Indians vs. Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai, 7.30 PM
Playoff schedule:
May 20: Qualifier 1, Hyderabad, 7.30 PM
May 21: Eliminator, Hyderabad, 7.30 PM
May 23: Qualifier 2, Kolkata, 7.30 PM
May 25: Final, Kolkata, 7.30 PM
The tournament structure maintains its established format with each team playing 14 league matches. Double-headers will feature prominently on weekends, with 17 instances where two matches are scheduled on the same day. The league phase’s first half runs through April 19, with the second half continuing until May 18.
Most teams will play a balanced mix of home and away matches, though some teams including Punjab Kings will play in multiple home venues. Punjab has scheduled matches in both New Chandigarh and Dharamsala, with three fixtures set for the latter venue on May 4, May 8, and May 11.
This season marks the continuation of the expanded ten-team format that has been in place since 2022, when Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants joined the competition.
The 2025 IPL season is expected to draw massive viewership both in stadiums and via broadcasting platforms, continuing the tournament’s tradition as cricket’s premier T20 league. The BCCI has advised that match timings and venues remain subject to potential adjustments, with fans and franchises encouraged to monitor official channels for any updates as the tournament progresses.
