Kolkata will host the start of the 18th Season of IPL

The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will start on March 21 in Kolkata. The title match is planned for May 25 in the same city. These dates were officially announced by the Indian Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI). The competition was previously expected to start a week early.

First dates from BCCI  

On November 22, 2024, BCCI in initial chatting with clubs had noted that the competition will take place from March 14, to May 25, 2025. They also shared timelines for the next two tournaments. This information was released before the auction in Jeddah. 

Timetable Debate  

The information has sparked discussions. Some argue that it’s just a sample. Others believe the dates of the games were changed due to an inquiry from broadcasting networks. They wanted to exclude overlapping with the Champions Trophy decisive match. In the original timetable, there would have been only five days between the two events. But broadcasters deny making such an inquiry. 

Important Matches and Stadiums  

The opener and the title match will be held at the arena of the IPL 2024 crowning champion, KKR. It is a long-standing IPL tradition that the first and last matches of the competition are scheduled to be played at the winner’s venue. This practice will be extended in the upcoming 18th season. The SunRisers Hyderabad venue will also host two playoff clashes. This club finished second at the end of the previous year’s IPL edition. 

Additional News  

The whole dates have not been revealed yet. It was expected to be published after the BCCI’s new secretary and treasurer, Devjit Saikia, and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia were elected. 

The BCCI also noted that the Champions Trophy squad will be published on January 17 or 18. Information about Women’s Premier League game arenas will be unveiled in the near future. All the venues have already been decided.