IPL 2025 Returns: Action Resumes May 17, Final Set for June 3
SPORTS
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to restart on May 17, with the final scheduled for June 3, following a revised schedule announced by the BCCI on Monday night. The tournament, paused on May 9 due to India-Pakistan cross-border tensions, will now feature 17 matches across six venues: Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad.
Revised Schedule and Key Matches
The IPL will resume with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru on May 17. The schedule includes 13 league games and four playoff matches, with Qualifier 1 on May 29, the Eliminator on May 30, Qualifier 2 on June 1, and the final on June 3. Playoff venues are yet to be confirmed.
Two double-header Sundays will add excitement:
May 18: Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs. Punjab Kings (PBKS) at 3:30 PM IST, followed by Delhi Capitals (DC) vs. Gujarat Titans (GT) at 7:30 PM IST.
May 25: GT vs. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad during the day, and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) vs. KKR in Delhi at 7:30 PM IST.
The last league match will see Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) take on RCB in Lucknow on May 27. Notably, the abandoned PBKS vs. DC match from May 8 in Dharamsala will be replayed on May 24 in Jaipur, now PBKS’s temporary home base. PBKS will also face Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 26 in Jaipur, replacing their originally planned Dharamsala game.
Venue Changes and Team Impacts
The revised schedule affects three teams—PBKS, CSK, and SRH—who will not play at their original home grounds. With CSK and SRH out of the playoff race, PBKS, third on the points table with 15 points from 11 matches, faces the challenge of playing two home games at neutral venues.
Logistical and International Challenges
The BCCI finalized the resumption after extensive consultations with government, security agencies, and stakeholders. However, the extended IPL timeline, originally set to end on May 25, now overlaps with the England-West Indies ODI series (May 29–June 3). This clash impacts players like Romario Shepherd (RCB), Shamar Joseph (LSG), and Sherfane Rutherford (GT) from the West Indies, and potentially England’s Jos Buttler (GT), Phil Salt (RCB), and others, depending on playoff qualifications.
The IPL final’s proximity to the World Test Championship (WTC) final (June 11, Lord’s) leaves just seven days between events, affecting players like Pat Cummins, Travis Head (both SRH), and others from Australia and South Africa. The India A tour of England, starting May 30, may also face disruptions due to IPL commitments for fringe players.
Franchise Challenges
Reassembling squads poses a significant hurdle, as many overseas players and staff began returning home during the suspension. Gujarat Titans, leading the table, are best positioned, with only Jos Buttler and Gerald Coetzee having left. Mumbai Indians also gain a slight advantage, with their first game on May 21, giving them four extra days to regroup.
Looking Ahead
As the IPL 2025 gears up for its restart, fans can expect intense competition and logistical maneuvering. With the revised schedule in place, the race to the playoffs and the final in early June promises to keep cricket enthusiasts on the edge of their seats.