EXPLAINER
From big-name gamers to key speaking factors, Al Jazeera’s lowdown on cricket’s most profitable franchise T20 league.
The Indian Premier League is ready to return for its 18th season on Saturday because the Kolkata Knight Riders open their title defence at their residence floor, the Eden Gardens.
The match will see 10 groups vying for the prospect to win the world’s most profitable franchise Twenty20 cricket league.
Right here’s what you should learn about IPL 2025:
What’s the schedule of IPL 2025?
The 2-month-long match will start on March 22 in Kolkata and conclude on Might 25 in the identical metropolis.
Day matches will start at 3:30pm (10:00 GMT) and evening matches will get beneath manner at 7:30pm (14:00 GMT).
- Spherical-robin part: March 22 to Might 18
- First qualifier: Might 20, 7:30pm (14:00 GMT) at Rajiv Gandhi Worldwide Stadium, Hyderabad
- Eliminator: Might 21, 7:30pm (14:00 GMT) at Rajiv Gandhi Worldwide Stadium, Hyderabad
- Second qualifier: Might 23, 7:30pm (14:00 GMT) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Ultimate: Might 25, 7:30pm (14:00 GMT) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Mark your calendars, people! 🥳🗓#TATAIPL 2025 kicks off on March 2️⃣2️⃣ with a conflict between @KKRiders and @RCBTweets 🤜🤛
When is your favorite group’s first match? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/f2tf3YcSyY
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) February 16, 2025
What’s the format of IPL’s 2025 season?
The match’s schedule has modified on just a few events. The league began in a round-robin format, however it was modified to a gaggle format and this season all 10 groups will play one another twice with the return of the league-style format.
The highest two groups on the finish of the league video games will play the primary qualifier whereas the third- and fourth-placed groups will face off within the eliminator.
The winner of the primary qualifier will e-book a spot within the last, whereas the loser will play the winner of the eliminator within the second qualifier. The winner of this match will change into the second group to qualify for the ultimate.
Who’re the group captains for IPL 2025?
There was some chopping and altering forward of this season, with a number of new leaders taking cost. Listed here are the groups and their captains:
- Chennai Tremendous Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel
- Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill
- Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane
- Lucknow Tremendous Giants: Rishabh Pant
- Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya
- Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer
- Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins
“𝘞𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘵” 💙 pic.twitter.com/ms7Ij1vWZ5
— Lucknow Tremendous Giants (@LucknowIPL) January 20, 2025
Who’re the most important signings of IPL 2025?
Wicketkeeper-batter Pant was the most costly signing on the IPL 2025 public sale held in November. The Lucknow captain was bagged for $3.2m.
The $3m threshold was first damaged by Punjab, as they purchased Iyer for $3.17m, however Pant topped the checklist by the tip of the public sale.
The most costly international participant was Jos Buttler. The previous England white-ball captain was signed by Gujarat for $1.8m.
What are the important thing speaking factors forward of IPL 2025?
- Jasprit Bumrah’s health: The world’s main tempo bowler has been on the sidelines since sustaining a again harm in January, and whereas India managed to bag the ICC Champions Trophy with out him, Mumbai Indians will sorely miss their spearhead. Bumrah is predicted to return to the Mumbai facet after the primary few video games, however his absence might deal a considerable blow to the five-time champions, who completed final within the earlier season.
- RCB’s voodoo: The franchise that’s been residence to arguably India’s largest cricket star, Virat Kohli, has didn’t cross the ultimate hurdle in 17 years. They’ve come shut on 9 events and ended up with the picket spoon twice. Can the well-balanced squad ship a trophy for its trustworthy fanbase after practically twenty years?
- MS Dhoni’s current and future: The previous India captain enjoys a legendary standing amongst the Chennai followers. Regardless of having hung up his boots for India six years in the past, Dhoni has been going robust for his franchise and has led them in all 5 of their IPL titles. The wicketkeeper now performs as a specialist batter and whereas questions could also be raised about his future, Dhoni is predicted to show up within the Chennai yellow as soon as once more.
- The Gill-Buttler present: Shubman Gill will lead the 2022 champions for the second season in a row, and after a disappointing season in 2024 that noticed Gujarat end eighth, the world’s main one-day worldwide batter will depend on a power-packed opening partnership with Jos Buttler will kind the bottom of a powerful season for the Titans.
What are the venues for IPL 2025?
As every group will play the opposite 9 groups twice, the match will probably be performed in a home-and-away format. Along with the ten residence grounds, three impartial venues may even host some video games.
Staff residence grounds:
- MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai – Chennai Tremendous Kings
- Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi – Delhi Capitals
- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad – Gujarat Titans
- M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru – Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata – Kolkata Knight Riders
- BRSABV Ekana Stadium, Lucknow – Lucknow Tremendous Giants
- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai – Mumbai Indians
- Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Worldwide Cricket Stadium, Punjab – Punjab Kings
- Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur – Rajasthan Royals
- Rajiv Gandhi Worldwide Stadium, Hyderabad – Sunrisers Hyderabad
Impartial venues:
- Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
- Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh
What’s the prize cash for IPL 2025?
The prize cash breakdown for the knockout rounds is:
- Champion: $2.32m
- Runners-up: $1.5m
- Third place: $810,800
- Fourth place: $752,894
Who’re previous IPL champions?
Chennai Tremendous Kings: 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023
Mumbai Indians: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020
Kolkata Knight Riders: 2012, 2014, 2024
Rajasthan Royals: 2008
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 2016
Gujarat Titans: 2022
Deccan Chargers: 2009
