IPL 2025 Fixtures Announced: KKR to Face RCB in Tournament Opener on March 22; Full Schedule Inside
IPL 2025 Fixtures Announced: KKR to Face RCB in Tournament Opener on March 22; Full Schedule Inside
The stage is set for the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, with the official fixtures now revealed. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will lock horns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening clash at Eden Gardens on March 22. The tournament will culminate with the final on May 25, also at Eden Gardens.
Double-Header Drama on March 23
Runners-up SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), known for their explosive batting in the previous season, will begin their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 23. On the same day, a high-voltage showdown awaits as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) take on Mumbai Indians (MI), reigniting one of IPL’s fiercest rivalries.
Hardik Pandya to Miss MI Opener
In a setback for Mumbai Indians, skipper Hardik Pandya will miss the first match due to a one-match ban for multiple over-rate violations in IPL 2024.
Venues and Playoff Schedule
- Qualifier 1 & Final: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Qualifier 2 & Eliminator: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
- Other Venues: Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Dharamsala, along with regular IPL cities Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Mullanpur, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Jaipur.
KKR’s Triumph in IPL 2024
Kolkata Knight Riders clinched their third IPL title in 2024, defeating SunRisers Hyderabad by eight wickets. A stellar bowling effort, led by Andre Russell’s three-wicket haul and crucial contributions from Mitchell Starc and Harshit Rana, restricted SRH to 113. Venkatesh Iyer’s unbeaten 52 off 26 balls sealed the win in just 10.3 overs.
However, KKR have opted not to retain their 2024 captain Shreyas Iyer for the upcoming season, marking a major change in their leadership.
