IPL 2025 Schedule From Start to Finish

The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off on March 22, 2025, and runs until May 25, 2025, featuring 74 matches across 13 venues in India. The season begins with a blockbuster opener at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, and concludes with the grand final at the same iconic venue. Here’s how it unfolds:

League Stage: March 22 – May 18
- 70 matches, with each of the 10 teams playing 14 games (7 home, 7 away).
- Teams are split into two groups:
  - Group A: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
  - Group B: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Titans (GT), Mumbai Indians (MI), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Format: Each team plays twice against teams in their group and the same-row team in the other group, plus once against the rest.
- 12 double-headers (afternoon games at 3:30 PM IST, evening at 7:30 PM IST).
Playoffs: May 20 – May 25
- Qualifier 1: May 20 (Hyderabad) – Top 2 teams battle for a direct final spot.
- Eliminator: May 21 (Hyderabad) – 3rd vs. 4th, loser exits.
- Qualifier 2: May 23 (Kolkata) – Qualifier 1 loser vs. Eliminator winner.
- Final: May 25 (Eden Gardens, Kolkata) – The ultimate showdown.

Key Opening Matches (March 22 – March 24, 2025)

March 22: KKR vs. RCB (Eden Gardens, Kolkata, 7:30 PM IST)
- Defending champs KKR take on RCB in a high-voltage opener.
March 23:
- SRH vs. RR (Hyderabad, 3:30 PM IST) – Afternoon clash.
- CSK vs. MI (Chennai, 7:30 PM IST) – The “El Clasico” of IPL.
March 24: DC vs. LSG (Visakhapatnam, 7:30 PM IST) – New captains face off.

Full schedule details are available on iplt20.com as the season progresses.

Teams and Key Players with Details

Here’s a snapshot of the 10 IPL 2025 teams, their captains, marquee players, and what to watch for. Squads are finalized post the Jeddah mega-auction (Nov 24-25, 2024), with a mix of retained stars and fresh buys.

1. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Captain: Ajinkya Rahane (replaces Shreyas Iyer)
Key Players:
- Rinku Singh (Batter) – Retained, explosive finisher, INR 13 crore.
- Andre Russell (All-rounder) – West Indian powerhouse, INR 12 crore.
- Sunil Narine (Spinner/All-rounder) – Mystery spin king, INR 11 crore.
- Quinton de Kock (Wicketkeeper/Batter) – New signing, INR 8 crore.
Vs. Matchups: RCB (Mar 22), MI (Mar 31), CSK (Apr 14).
Storyline: Can Rahane’s experience lead KKR to back-to-back titles?

2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Captain: Rajat Patidar (replaces Faf du Plessis)
Key Players:
- Virat Kohli (Batter) – Retained, INR 21 crore, chasing that elusive IPL trophy.
- Phil Salt (Wicketkeeper/Batter) – England’s aggressive opener, INR 11 crore.
- Josh Hazlewood (Pacer) – Lethal with the new ball, INR 12 crore.
- Liam Livingstone (All-rounder) – Big-hitting power, INR 8 crore.
Vs. Matchups: KKR (Mar 22), MI (Apr 7), PBKS (Apr 20).
Storyline: Kohli’s last shot at glory with a revamped squad?

3. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Key Players:
- MS Dhoni (Wicketkeeper/Batter) – Retained uncapped at INR 4 crore, 43 and still clutch.
- Ravindra Jadeja (All-rounder) – Spin and finish king, INR 18 crore.
- Sam Curran (All-rounder) – England star returns, INR 10 crore.
- Matheesha Pathirana (Pacer) – Slingy death bowler, INR 13 crore.
Vs. Matchups: MI (Mar 23, Apr 20), KKR (Apr 14).
Storyline: Dhoni’s final dance at Chepauk?

4. Mumbai Indians (MI)

Captain: Hardik Pandya (Suryakumar Yadav for Match 1 due to ban)
Key Players:
- Rohit Sharma (Batter) – Retained, INR 16 crore, opening firepower.
- Jasprit Bumrah (Pacer) – World’s best, INR 18 crore.
- Trent Boult (Pacer) – Swing maestro, INR 12 crore.
- Will Jacks (All-rounder) – England’s rising star, INR 6 crore.
Vs. Matchups: CSK (Mar 23, Apr 20), KKR (Mar 31).
Storyline: Can Hardik reclaim MI’s dominance?

Doodle Cricket Game: Why This Quirky Hit Is Your 2025 Must-Play

5. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Captain: Pat Cummins
Key Players:
- Travis Head (Batter) – Retained, INR 14 crore, aggressive opener.
- Heinrich Klaasen (Wicketkeeper/Batter) – IPL’s priciest retention, INR 23 crore.
- Mohammad Shami (Pacer) – New signing, INR 10 crore.
- Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper/Batter) – INR 11 crore, explosive energy.
Vs. Matchups: RR (Mar 23), MI (Apr 6).
Storyline: Cummins’ leadership meets SRH’s batting might.

6. Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Captain: Sanju Samson (Riyan Parag for first 3 games due to injury)
Key Players:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (Batter) – Retained, INR 18 crore, young gun.
- Jofra Archer (Pacer) – Back with RR, INR 12 crore.
- Wanindu Hasaranga (Spinner) – Sri Lankan spin wizard, INR 9 crore.
- Nitish Rana (Batter) – New addition, INR 6 crore.
Vs. Matchups: SRH (Mar 23), KKR (Apr 4).
Storyline: Can RR finally break their title drought?

7. Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Captain: Shreyas Iyer
Key Players:
- Yuzvendra Chahal (Spinner) – INR 18 crore, wicket-taking machine.
- Marcus Stoinis (All-rounder) – INR 11 crore, power hitter.
- Glenn Maxwell (All-rounder) – INR 9 crore, big-game player.
- Arshdeep Singh (Pacer) – Retained, INR 18 crore.
Vs. Matchups: RCB (Apr 20), CSK (Apr 25).
Storyline: Iyer’s redemption with a star-studded XI.

8. Delhi Capitals (DC)

Captain: Axar Patel
Key Players:
- KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper/Batter) – INR 14 crore, new DC anchor.
- Mitchell Starc (Pacer) – INR 11 crore, Aussie spearhead.
- Jake Fraser-McGurk (Batter) – Retained, INR 6 crore, young talent.
- Kuldeep Yadav (Spinner) – INR 13 crore, wrist-spin magic.
Vs. Matchups: LSG (Mar 24), MI (Apr 3).
Storyline: Axar’s spin-heavy squad aims for playoffs.

9. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Captain: Rishabh Pant
Key Players:
- Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper/Batter) – IPL’s priciest buy, INR 27 crore.
- Nicholas Pooran (Wicketkeeper/Batter) – Retained, INR 14 crore.
- Mitchell Marsh (All-rounder) – INR 10 crore, Aussie firepower.
- Mayank Yadav (Pacer) – Retained, INR 11 crore, raw pace.
Vs. Matchups: DC (Mar 24), SRH (Apr 1).
Storyline: Pant’s captaincy debut with LSG’s big spenders.

10. Gujarat Titans (GT)

Captain: Shubman Gill
Key Players:
- Jos Buttler (Wicketkeeper/Batter) – INR 15.75 crore, top overseas buy.
- Shubman Gill (Batter) – Retained, INR 16 crore, captain cool.
- Kagiso Rabada (Pacer) – INR 12 crore, pace leader.
- Rashid Khan (Spinner) – Retained, INR 18 crore, spin ace.
Vs. Matchups: MI (Apr 10), CSK (Apr 17).
Storyline: Gill’s young brigade vs. IPL’s best.

Matchups to Watch

CSK vs. MI (Mar 23, Apr 20): The ultimate rivalry—Dhoni vs. Rohit.
KKR vs. RCB (Mar 22): Title holders vs. Kohli’s redemption arc.
DC vs. LSG (Mar 24): Pant vs. Patel, a captaincy clash.
MI vs. RCB (Apr 7): Rohit-Bumrah vs. Kohli-Salt fireworks.

Beyond the Basics

Venues: Eden Gardens (Kolkata), Wankhede (Mumbai), Chepauk (Chennai), plus secondary homes like Dharamsala (PBKS), Guwahati (RR), and Visakhapatnam (DC).
New Rules: Second dry ball for dew, expanded DRS, ICC Code of Conduct.
Streaming: JioHotstar (digital), Star Sports (TV).
Prize Money: Historically ~INR 50 crore for winners—expect a bump in 2025.

FAQ:

What Is the Format of IPL 2025?

The IPL 2025 follows a familiar yet exciting format with 10 teams split into two groups of five:

Group A: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Group B: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Titans (GT), Mumbai Indians (MI), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Each team plays 14 matches in the league stage: twice against teams in their own group (8 matches), twice against one designated team from the other group (2 matches), and once against the remaining four teams (4 matches). That’s 70 matches total, running from March 22 to May 18. The top 4 teams advance to the playoffs: Qualifier 1 (1st vs. 2nd), Eliminator (3rd vs. 4th), Qualifier 2, and the Final on May 25 in Kolkata. Same thrill, bigger stakes!

Who Is the CSK Captain in 2025?

Ruturaj Gaikwad is leading Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025. He took over from the legendary MS Dhoni in 2024 and is back to steer the five-time champs. At 28, Gaikwad’s calm demeanor and batting prowess (like his 53 off 26 in the opener vs. MI on March 23) make him a fan favorite. With Dhoni still in the squad at 43, mentoring from behind the stumps, CSK’s got a blend of youth and experience lighting up Chepauk!

Is Any IPL Match in Delhi 2025?

Yes, Delhi Capitals (DC) will host matches in New Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, but they’re also splitting their home games with Visakhapatnam. Out of their 7 home matches, at least 2 are scheduled in Visakhapatnam (e.g., vs. LSG on March 24), leaving 5 for Delhi. Exact Delhi dates are still rolling out, but expect classics like DC vs. MI or DC vs. CSK to hit the capital later in the season. Stay tuned to iplt20.com for the full breakdown!

आईपीएल 2025 का फाइनल कहां है? (Where Is the IPL 2025 Final?)

आईपीएल 2025 का फाइनल कोलकाता में होगा, खास तौर पर ईडन गार्डन्स स्टेडियम में, 25 मई को। यह तीसरी बार है जब कोलकाता फाइनल की मेजबानी करेगा (पहले 2013 और 2015 में), और मौजूदा चैंपियन KKR के घर में यह मुकाबला और भी रोमांचक होगा!

आईपीएल 2025 का प्रारूप क्या है? (What Is the Format of IPL 2025?)

आईपीएल 2025 का प्रारूप ऐसा है: 10 टीमें, दो ग्रुप में बंटी—ग्रुप A (KKR, CSK, PBKS, RR, RCB) और ग्रुप B (SRH, DC, GT, MI, LSG)। हर टीम 14 लीग मैच खेलेगी: अपने ग्रुप की टीमों से दो-दो बार (8), दूसरे ग्रुप की एक टीम से दो बार (2), और बाकी चार से एक-एक बार (4)। कुल 70 लीग मैच 22 मार्च से 18 मई तक। फिर प्लेऑफ: टॉप 4 टीमें—क्वालिफायर 1, एलिमिनेटर, क्वालिफायर 2, और फाइनल 25 मई को कोलकाता में। आसान, लेकिन धमाकेदार!

IPL 2025 Schedule: From Start to Finish | आईपीएल 2025 का प्रारूप क्या है?