The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is back on track. After a dramatic one-week suspension triggered by tensions between India and Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the tournament will resume on May 17. The final is to take place on June 3.
The revised schedule includes 17 matches—13 league games and four crucial playoffs. They are set to unfold across six cities: Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. The playoff venues will be announced later, with Qualifier 1 slated for May 29, the Eliminator on May 30, Qualifier 2 on June 1, and the grand finale on June 3.
The season will reignite with a marquee encounter between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The two double-headers lined up for May 18 and May 25 will see franchises battle not just opponents but also the tight turnaround time.
A key adjustment in the revamped fixture list is the replay of the May 8 PBKS vs DC match. The initial match was interrupted mid-innings in Dharamsala. That game will now occur on May 24 in Jaipur, becoming PBKS’s home turf for the event. Their second ‘home’ fixture—originally set for May 11 in Dharamsala against Mumbai Indians—will now take place in Jaipur on May 26.
The schedule shift also strips PBKS, CSK, and SRH of their home-ground advantage for the rest of the season. CSK and SRH are already out of the playoff picture. But PBKS, who were sitting third with 15 points from 11 games, will have to push for a playoff spot from neutral venues.
BCCI emphasized that it had undertaken “consultations with government and security agencies” before finalizing the new calendar. The compressed schedule has caused ripples across the international cricket landscape.
West Indies’ ODI series in England, from May 29 to June 3, now overlaps with IPL playoffs. Romario Shepherd, Shamar Joseph, and Sherfane Rutherford may have to exit IPL duties early. Several England players, including Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, also face a selection dilemma.
Further complications arise from the World Test Championship final, scheduled for June 11. As Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Kagiso Rabada will represent their countries, the race to manage player workload is on.
Adding to the scheduling crunch is India A’s tour of England, beginning May 30. It may see key players unavailable due to IPL commitments. For now, the spotlight returns to cricket as franchises scramble to regroup, refocus, and race to the finish line.
