The Indian Premier League, also known as IPL, is one of the most anticipated events in the cricketing world. With the 18th season just around the corner, fans are eagerly waiting for the official schedule to be announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, or BCCI. Although the BCCI has not made an official announcement yet, it is expected that the tournament will kick off in the third week of March. This season, fans can expect to see several big changes in the teams, with some players switching to new teams after a long period with their current ones.
First Match to be Played Between KKR and RCB
According to a report by CricketBuzz, the first match of the season is likely to be played between the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22. The second match is expected to be played between last season’s runners-up, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals on March 23 at the Hyderabad team’s home ground. Although the BCCI has not officially announced the schedule yet, all the franchises have been informed about the dates of their key matches. After the BCCI’s special general meeting on January 12, Rajeev Shukla hinted that the IPL would start on March 23, but now the BCCI has decided to start the tournament a day earlier.
IPL 2025 to Feature Matches in Guwahati and Dharamshala
In addition to the home grounds of the franchises, the upcoming IPL season will also feature matches in Guwahati and Dharamshala. According to CricketBuzz, Rajasthan Royals have been using Guwahati as one of their home grounds for the past few seasons, while Punjab Kings have been playing some of their matches at the Dharamshala stadium, apart from their home ground in Mohali. This season, the Qualifier 1 and Eliminator matches are expected to be played in Hyderabad, while the Qualifier 2 and the final match will be played at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata.
