IPL 2025 to start on March 21, Eden Gardens to host final on May 25: Reports

IPL 2025 is all set to get underway on March 21. The iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata is likely to host the tournament opener as well as the final, which will be played on May 25. Meanwhile, WPL 2025 is likely to take place between February 7 and March 2. Along with Mumbai and Bangalore, matches are also likely to be played in Baroda and Lucknow.

IPL organizers had earmarked a window between March 15 and May 25 for IPL 2025. As per a report in ESPNcricinfo, with the Champions Trophy final scheduled to be played on March 9, the BCCI was keen on having a gap of around two weeks between the tournaments. The report added that the full IPL schedule is expected to be released later in the month.

As has been the norm for a number of seasons, the home venue of the defending champions will host the opening game as well as the final of IPL 2025. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the IPL in 2024. Hence, Eden Gardens is set to host the first match of IPL 2025 as well as the final. The Kolkata stadium is also likely to host Qualifier 2, while Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator will be played in Hyderabad.

A total of 74 matches are set to be played as part of IPL 2025, the same as the last three editions of the T20 league.

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Kolkata Knight Riders dominated IPL 2024

Looking at the previous edition, Kolkata Knight Riders dominated IPL 2024. Led by Shreyas Iyer and mentored by Gautam Gambhir, the Kolkata franchise lifted the coveted title for the third time.

KKR topped the points table, with 20 points. They won nine of their 14 league games, losing only three, while two matches produced no result. In Qualifier 1, Kolkata Knight Riders hammered Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets in Ahmedabad. The same two sides met in the final in Chepauk, with KKR thumping SRH by the same margin.

Kolkata, however, released Shreyas ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. He was subsequently purchased by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a whopping ₹26.75 crore. As for Gambhir, he is the current head coach of the Indian men's team.