The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) is set to commence on Saturday, March 22, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. This season opener will mark the start of Rajat Patidar’s captaincy era at RCB, following his unexpected appointment as the franchise’s new leader.
The action will continue the next day, on March 23, with last season’s runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) facing Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal. These opening clashes will set the stage for an intense and thrilling IPL season.
IPL 2025 Final at Eden Gardens on May 25
While the BCCI has yet to officially release the full schedule, sources have confirmed that the IPL 2025 Final will take place on May 25 at Eden Gardens, in accordance with the tradition of hosting the final in the reigning champions’ city.
Initially, the tournament was set to begin on March 23, but following requests from broadcasters, the start date was advanced to March 22. The complete IPL 2025 schedule is expected to be released soon, but key match dates and venues have already been shared with the franchises.
Expanded Venues – IPL 2025 to be Played Across 12 Cities
One of the biggest highlights of IPL 2025 is the expanded list of venues, with matches set to be played across 12 cities.
Confirmed Venues:
🏟 Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Mullanpur, Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.
🏟 New host cities: Guwahati & Dharamsala.
Two additional cities, Guwahati and Dharamsala, will also host IPL matches, adding a fresh element to the league’s already extensive footprint.
- Guwahati will be the second home venue for Rajasthan Royals and will host two evening matches:
📆 March 26: Rajasthan Royals 🆚 Kolkata Knight Riders
📆 March 30: Rajasthan Royals 🆚 Chennai Super Kings - Dharamsala, which served as Punjab Kings’ second home ground last season, will also host at least two matches, with a possibility of adding a third fixture.
IPL 2025 Playoff Venues Announced
🚨 The playoffs will be held in two major cities:
✔️ Hyderabad will host Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator.
✔️ Kolkata will host Qualifier 2 and the Final.
With this arrangement, the tournament ensures that key knockout matches are played at high-capacity venues, creating an electrifying atmosphere for fans.
Key Storylines Heading into IPL 2025
Can Kolkata Knight Riders Defend Their Title?
KKR had a dominant run in IPL 2024, winning their third IPL title under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. With a strong core of match-winners including Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Varun Chakravarthy, the team will be aiming to continue their dominance in the 2025 season.
Will RCB’s Captaincy Gamble Pay Off?
RCB’s decision to appoint Rajat Patidar as captain surprised many, as the franchise bypassed Virat Kohli, who had previously led the team from 2013 to 2021. With eight different captains in IPL history, RCB’s hunt for their maiden title continues. Can Patidar handle the pressure and finally lead RCB to glory?
The Redemption of Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH had a strong IPL 2024 campaign, finishing as runners-up after an impressive season under Pat Cummins’ leadership. They will be looking to go one step further this year and lift the trophy.
CSK’s New Era Under Ruturaj Gaikwad
After MS Dhoni stepped down as CSK’s full-time captain, the team appointed Ruturaj Gaikwad as their leader. With Dhoni still in the squad, will Gaikwad be able to step out of his mentor’s shadow and lead CSK to another championship?
Delhi Capitals and KKR Yet to Announce Captains
While RCB has confirmed Patidar as their captain, the Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are yet to name their leaders.
- DC released Rishabh Pant, with reports suggesting that KL Rahul is the front-runner to lead the team.
- KKR let go of Shreyas Iyer, and potential replacements include Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane.
IPL 2025 – What to Expect?
With new captains, new venues, and returning superstars, IPL 2025 promises to be one of the most unpredictable seasons yet.
Things to Watch Out For:
🔹 Rivalries Heating Up – Expect fiery encounters, especially between KKR and RCB, CSK and MI, and RCB vs. LSG.
🔹 Emerging Young Players – Every IPL season unearths new stars, and IPL 2025 will be no different.
🔹 Impact of New Captains – With multiple teams undergoing leadership changes, captaincy decisions will be key to success.
🔹 The Playoff Race – With 10 teams battling it out, competition for the top four spots will be fierce.
Will IPL 2025 Be the Best Season Yet?
With KKR aiming to defend their title, RCB banking on their new leader, and CSK entering a new era under Gaikwad, IPL 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting season filled with surprises.
🚨 What are your predictions for IPL 2025? Will KKR dominate again, or is this finally RCB’s year? Who will be the standout performer of the season?
