IPL 2025, the 18th season of the Indian Premier League, is about to start, so all eyes are on its schedule, venues, and team lineups. If you are wondering when the action will begin, who will play the first match, or which stars your favorite team has retained, then you are at the right place. Let’s understand it in detail!
IPL 2025 Start Date
Mark your calendars! The IPL 2025 season is set to begin on March 22, 2025, giving fans two months of high-octane T20 action. The tournament will run until May 25, 2025, with a total of 74 matches scheduled across various cities in India.
This slight date change, which was originally rumored to start on March 21, will give the players some extra time after the ICC Champions Trophy. Smart scheduling by the BCCI confirms that all the teams take the field without any major international clashes.
Opening Match: Who’s Playing First?
The opening clash of IPL 2025 is set to be a blockbuster! Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
- KKR, led by Shreyas Iyer, will be enthusiastic to defend their title.
- RCB, with new captain Rajat Patidar, will look to shake off their past disappointments.
- Expect an explosive contest between power hitters like Sunil Narine and Virat Kohli!
March 23 brings another thrilling face-off between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Hyderabad.
Retention list IPL 2025
All teams have finalized the IPL 2025 retention list ahead of the mega auction scheduled to be held on October 31, 2024. Each team can retain a maximum of six players (five capped and two uncapped) from their 2024 squads, amounting to ₹120 crore.
This amount is deducted from the salary of the retained players, and the remaining amount will be used in the auction scheduled to be held on November 24-25, 2024.
| Team | Players |
|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Ruturaj Gaikwad ₹18cr, Ravindra Jadeja ₹18cr, Shivam Dube ₹12cr, Matheesha Pathirana ₹13cr, MS Dhoni ₹4cr (Uncapped) |
| Delhi Capitals | Axar Patel ₹16.5cr, Kuldeep Yadav ₹13.25cr, Tristan Stubbs ₹10cr, Abishek Porel ₹4cr (Uncapped) |
| Gujarat Titans | Shubman Gill ₹16.5cr, Rashid Khan ₹18cr, Sai Sudharsan ₹8.5cr, Rahul Tewatia ₹4cr, Shahrukh Khan ₹4cr (Uncapped) |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Sunil Narine ₹18cr, Andre Russell ₹14cr, Rinku Singh ₹13cr, Varun Chakravarthy ₹12cr, Harshit Rana ₹4cr, Ramandeep Singh ₹4cr (Uncapped) |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Nicholas Pooran ₹21cr, Ravi Bishnoi ₹11cr, Mayank Yadav ₹11cr, Mohsin Khan ₹4cr, Ayush Badoni ₹4cr (Uncapped) |
| Mumbai Indians | Jasprit Bumrah ₹18cr, Suryakumar Yadav ₹16.35cr, Hardik Pandya ₹16.35cr, Rohit Sharma ₹16.3cr, Tilak Varma ₹8cr |
| Punjab Kings | Shashank Singh ₹5.5cr (Uncapped), Prabhsimran Singh ₹4cr (Uncapped) |
| Rajasthan Royals | Sanju Samson ₹18cr, Yashasvi Jaiswal ₹18cr, Riyan Parag ₹14cr, Shimron Hetmyer ₹11cr, Sandeep Sharma ₹4cr, Dhruv Jurel ₹4cr (Uncapped) |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | Virat Kohli ₹21cr, Rajat Patidar ₹11cr, Yash Dayal ₹5cr |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Heinrich Klaasen ₹23cr, Pat Cummins ₹18cr, Abhishek Sharma ₹14cr, Travis Head ₹11cr, Nitish Kumar Reddy ₹6cr |
Highlights
- Highest Retention Price: Heinrich Klaasen (SRH) at ₹23 crore.
- Most Expensive Indian Retention: Virat Kohli (RCB) at ₹21 crore.
- The biggest purse remaining: Punjab Kings with ₹110.5 crore after retaining only two uncapped players.
- Full Retentions: Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals used all six slots, leaving no RTM cards.
IPL 2025 Auction: Who Went Where?
- Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history, joining Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore.
- Punjab Kings bought Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore.
- 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player to be bought in the IPL, picked up by the Rajasthan Royals for ₹1.1 crore.
With a mix of seasoned professionals and fresh young talent, this year’s player list promises an unpredictable and exciting season.
IPL 2025 Venues
The IPL 2025 venues travel to 13 cities across India, with some exciting updates:
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata will host both the opening match and the final.
- Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad gets Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator.
- Qualifier 2 will also be held in Kolkata.
- Guwahati and Dharamsala will perform as alternate home bases for the Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, respectively.
With seven home matches per team, fans across India will get a bunch of chances to see their favorite player in a stadium.
Also read: When Will IPL 2025 Tickets Be Released?
Why IPL 2025 Is a Must-Watch
This season has all-player squads, blockbuster auctions, and new rules that change things. Here’s why you can’t miss IPL 2025:
- The return of MS Dhoni (possibly his final season!)
- The rise of young talents like Vaibhav Suryavanshi
- New captaincy changes, including RCB’s Rajat Patidar
- A balanced schedule to avoid major international clashes
So, get ready for another memorable IPL 2025 season.
FAQ
Which IPL team looks the strongest in 2025?
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), with Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, and Mark Wood, look dangerous. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) also boasts a solid squad with Heinrich Klaasen and Pat Cummins.
When does IPL 2025 start?
IPL 2025 kicks off on March 22, 2025, with KKR vs. RCB at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Which team will Mohammed Siraj play for?
Mohammed Siraj joins Gujarat Titans (GT) for ₹12.25 crore after leaving RCB.
Will MS Dhoni play in IPL 2025?
Yes! MS Dhoni will likely play for CSK as an uncapped player in his final season.
Where will Faf du Plessis play in IPL 2025?
Faf du Plessis was picked by Delhi Capitals (DC) for ₹2 crore after being released by RCB.