IPL 2025 to begin on March 22; check full schedule and UK timings
The tournament’s 18th edition will feature 74 matches played across 13 venues, culminating in the final on May 25, also at Eden Gardens.
Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has generated billions in revenue, solidifying the BCCI’s position as one of the wealthiest governing bodies in sport. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE (IPL) 2025 will start on March 22, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Sunday.
The tournament’s 18th edition will feature 74 matches played across 13 venues, culminating in the final on May 25, also at Eden Gardens.
All ten teams will compete for the title, with top international players, including India’s Virat Kohli, Australia’s Pat Cummins, and England’s Jos Buttler, joining their respective franchises.
The IPL auction for this season saw record-breaking bids. Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history, bought for £2.54 million by Lucknow Super Giants, who later named him captain.
Shreyas Iyer, who led Kolkata to the title last season, was picked by Punjab Kings for £2.52 million, making him the second-most expensive signing.
Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has generated billions in revenue, solidifying the BCCI’s position as one of the wealthiest governing bodies in sport.
Mark your calendars, folks! 🥳🗓#TATAIPL 2025 kicks off on March 2️⃣2️⃣ with a clash between @KKRiders and @RCBTweets 🤜🤛
The league has also contributed to the global popularity of T20 cricket, inspiring similar leagues worldwide.
IPL 2025 Full Schedule (BST)
March
March 22 (Saturday), 2:00 PM – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Kolkata)
March 23 (Sunday), 10:00 AM – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals (Hyderabad)
March 23 (Sunday), 2:00 PM – Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians (Chennai)
March 24 (Monday), 2:00 PM – Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants (Visakhapatnam)
March 25 (Tuesday), 2:00 PM – Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings (Ahmedabad)
March 26 (Wednesday), 2:00 PM – Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Guwahati)
March 27 (Thursday), 2:00 PM – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants (Hyderabad)
March 28 (Friday), 2:00 PM – Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Chennai)
March 29 (Saturday), 2:00 PM – Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians (Ahmedabad)
March 30 (Sunday), 10:00 AM – Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Visakhapatnam)
March 30 (Sunday), 2:00 PM – Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings (Guwahati)
March 31 (Monday), 2:00 PM – Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Mumbai)
April
April 1 (Tuesday), 2:00 PM – Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings (Lucknow)
April 2 (Wednesday), 2:00 PM – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans (Bengaluru)
April 3 (Thursday), 2:00 PM – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Kolkata)
April 4 (Friday), 2:00 PM – Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians (Lucknow)April 5 (Saturday), 10:00 AM – Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals (Chennai)
April 5 (Saturday), 2:00 PM – Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals (New Chandigarh)
April 6 (Sunday), 10:00 AM – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants (Kolkata)April 6 (Sunday), 2:00 PM – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans (Hyderabad)
April 7 (Monday), 2:00 PM – Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Mumbai)
April 8 (Tuesday), 2:00 PM – Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings (New Chandigarh)
April 9 (Wednesday), 2:00 PM – Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals (Ahmedabad)
April 10 (Thursday), 2:00 PM – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals (Bengaluru)
April 11 (Friday), 2:00 PM – Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Chennai)
April 12 (Saturday), 10:00 AM – Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans (Lucknow)
April 12 (Saturday), 2:00 PM – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings (Hyderabad)
April 13 (Sunday), 10:00 AM – Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Jaipur)
April 13 (Sunday), 2:00 PM – Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians (Delhi)
April 14 (Monday), 2:00 PM – Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings (Lucknow)
April 15 (Tuesday), 2:00 PM – Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (New Chandigarh)
April 16 (Wednesday), 2:00 PM – Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals (Delhi)
April 17 (Thursday), 2:00 PM – Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Mumbai)
April 18 (Friday), 2:00 PM – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings (Bengaluru)
May
May 3 (Saturday), 2:00 PM – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings (Bengaluru)
May 4 (Sunday), 10:00 AM – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals (Kolkata)
May 4 (Sunday), 2:00 PM – Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants (Dharamsala)
May 5 (Monday), 2:00 PM – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals (Hyderabad)
May 6 (Tuesday), 2:00 PM – Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans (Mumbai)
May 7 (Wednesday), 2:00 PM – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings (Kolkata)
May 8 (Thursday), 2:00 PM – Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals (Dharamsala)
May 9 (Friday), 2:00 PM – Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Lucknow)
May 10 (Saturday), 2:00 PM – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Hyderabad)
May 11 (Sunday), 10:00 AM – Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians (Dharamsala)
May 11 (Sunday), 2:00 PM – Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans (Delhi)
May 12 (Monday), 2:00 PM – Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals (Chennai)
May 13 (Tuesday), 2:00 PM – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Bengaluru)
May 14 (Wednesday), 2:00 PM – Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants (Ahmedabad)
May 15 (Thursday), 2:00 PM – Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals (Mumbai)
May 16 (Friday), 2:00 PM – Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings (Jaipur)
May 17 (Saturday), 2:00 PM – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Bengaluru)
May 18 (Sunday), 10:00 AM – Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings (Ahmedabad)
May 18 (Sunday), 2:00 PM – Lucknow Super Giants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Lucknow)
May 20 (Tuesday), 2:00 PM – Qualifier 1 (Hyderabad)
May 21 (Wednesday), 2:00 PM – Eliminator (Hyderabad)
INDIAN cricket faces a scramble to find a new main sponsor after Dream11 pulled out of its three-year partnership worth £33 million ($43.6m) following the government's sweeping ban on online gambling platforms.
Representatives from Dream11, India's biggest fantasy sports platform, visited the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters on Monday (25) to inform chief executive Hemang Amin they could no longer continue the sponsorship deal. The company's logo currently appears on jerseys worn by both the men's and women's national teams.
The withdrawal comes after parliament last week passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, which criminalises the offering and financing of real-money online games. The new law carries severe penalties, with offenders facing up to five years in prison and hefty fines.
"As a result, they won't be the team's sponsors for the Asia Cup. The BCCI will float a new tender soon," a BCCI official said. The timing creates significant pressure for cricket bosses, with the T20 Asia Cup beginning on September 9 in the United Arab Emirates.
Dream11 originally signed the three-year agreement in July 2023, taking over as jersey sponsor in a deal worth £31m. The fantasy sports giant, valued at $8 billion (£6.1bn), also sponsors several Indian Premier League franchises and international competitions including Australia's Big Bash League and the Caribbean Premier League.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had indicated the board's position last week, "The BCCI will not violate any of the laws enforced in the country. That's very clear. The BCCI will not do anything that is not permitted by the government or by any law of the country."
Industry sources suggest the exit wasn't straightforward, with one telling Reuters: "These are watertight agreements and cannot be exited unilaterally. It will have to be a mutual decision since the law of the land doesn't permit advertising of banned games."
The new legislation prohibits advertising, promotion and sponsorship of online gaming platforms, making Dream11's continued association with Indian cricket legally impossible. The ban affects a wide range of platforms including card games, poker and fantasy sports apps that have become hugely popular across India.
Government officials justified the crackdown by citing concerns over widespread financial distress, addiction and even suicide among young people. Authorities also linked online gambling to fraud, money laundering and terrorism financing, prompting the decisive legislative action.
"There's not much time left for the Asia Cup, but we are exploring options," a board official said, highlighting the urgency facing cricket administrators.
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Afghanistan, who have not played a T20 international in 2025, will face Pakistan in the opening match of the tri-series on Friday. (Photo: Getty Images)
AFGHANISTAN on Sunday named a spin-heavy squad led by Rashid Khan for the upcoming T20 tri-series in Sharjah and the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
The squad includes spinners Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar and Mohammad Nabi alongside captain Rashid Khan.
Nineteen-year-old Ghazanfar has yet to play a T20I but has featured in domestic cricket and one-day internationals.
Fazlhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib are the pace options.
Afghanistan, who have not played a T20 international in 2025, will face Pakistan in the opening match of the tri-series on Friday.
The six-team Asia Cup begins on September 9, where Afghanistan are in Group B with Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. They will face Hong Kong in their first match in Abu Dhabi.
Defending champions India, Oman, Pakistan and the UAE are in Group A. After the Asia Cup, Afghanistan will play three ODIs and three T20Is against Bangladesh in the UAE in October.
Afghanistan squad: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Bangladesh also announced their 16-member squad for the Asia Cup, leaving out Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Allrounder Saif Hassan and wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan have been picked. The squad will be led by Litton Das.
Mehidy, who was appointed Bangladesh’s ODI captain in June, and opener Saif Hassan were both part of the team that defeated Pakistan 2-1 last month but did not retain their spots for the Asia Cup.
Bangladesh will play three T20 internationals against the Netherlands before opening their Asia Cup campaign against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi on September 11.
CHETESHWAR PUJARA on Sunday (August 24) announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket, bringing to a close an international career that lasted more than a decade.
Pujara played 103 Test matches and five One Day Internationals for India. His last appearance came in the World Test Championship final against Australia in 2023.
He made his Test debut in 2010 and went on to score 7,195 runs in the format at an average of 43.60.
The 37-year-old said it was time to end his playing career. "Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the anthem, and trying my best each time I stepped on the field -- it's impossible to put into words what it truly meant," Pujara said in a post on social media.
"But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and with immense gratitude, I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket."
Pujara recalled his early journey in the game. "As a little boy from the small town of Rajkot, along with my parents, I set out to aim for the stars; and dreamt to be a part of the Indian cricket team," he wrote.
"Little did I know then that this game would give me so much -- invaluable opportunities, experiences, purpose, love, and above all a chance to represent my state and this great nation."
Known for his Test match focus in an era dominated by T20 cricket, Pujara had often spoken about the routines that helped him sustain his career.
"I have certain routines, fitness, little bit of meditation, yoga and pranayama (a breathing technique) because it is necessary to shut the outside noise, even if it is positive," he told reporters in 2023.
"We play nine Tests on an average, and when you go back home, unless you have domestic cricket, you are not in touch with the game. Keep challenging yourself, keep training, looking forward."
(With inputs from agencies)
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The tournament begins on September 30 and the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will host up to five fixtures - including the tournament opener, a semifinal and potentially the final on November 2. (Photo: Getty Images)
MUMBAI will host next month’s Women's ODI World Cup, instead of Bengaluru, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Friday (22), citing "unforeseen circumstances".
Eleven people died on June 4 at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's victory celebrations in the Indian Premier League.
"While unforeseen circumstances required us to adjust the schedule and replace a venue, we are pleased to now have a line-up of five world-class venues that will showcase the very best of the women's game," ICC chairman Jay Shah said in a statement.
"The stage is set, and I am confident this tournament will capture imaginations and inspire a new generation of fans," he added.
The tournament begins on September 30 and the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will host up to five fixtures - including the tournament opener, a semifinal and potentially the final on November 2.
Though no reason was cited, the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru failed to secure the required administrative and security clearances.
The ICC Women's ODI World Cup returns to India after a 12-year hiatus.
Shah noted Navi Mumbai's reputation as a hub for women's cricket.
"Navi Mumbai has emerged as a genuine home for women's cricket in recent years. The support it has received during international fixtures and the Women's Premier League has been remarkable, creating an atmosphere that elevates the players and inspires fans.
"I am certain that the same energy will define the big matches of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as it returns to India after 12 years," Shah said.
The other confirmed venues for the eight-team tournament include Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, and Colombo.
Colombo is a neutral venue to host the India-Pakistan clash.
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Harry Brook leads his team off the field during the 2nd ODI between England and the West Indies at Sophia Gardens on June 01, 2025 in Cardiff. (Photo: Getty Images)
ENGLAND on Wednesday confirmed the dates for their white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in January and February next year, which will form part of their build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Harry Brook’s side will begin the tour with the first of three one-day internationals on January 22, two weeks after the scheduled fifth day of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney. Brook, who is now England’s white-ball captain, is expected to feature in that match.
The ODI series will conclude on January 27, followed by three T20 internationals starting on January 30 and finishing on February 3.
Sri Lanka Cricket is yet to confirm the venues for the fixtures.
The T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February and March.