The BCCI has announced that the 2025 IPL season will resume on May 17 and conclude with the final on June 3, after a brief suspension due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. A total of 17 matches remain, including 13 league games and 4 playoffs.
Six Venues, Neutral Grounds
The remaining matches will be hosted across six cities: Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. The playoff venues are yet to be confirmed. The knockout schedule is as follows:
- Qualifier 1: May 29
- Eliminator: May 30
- Qualifier 2: June 1
- Final: June 3
The resumption match will feature RCB vs KKR on May 17 in Bengaluru.
PBKS Lose Home Advantage
Three franchises—Punjab Kings (PBKS), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)—will no longer play on their home grounds. Jaipur will temporarily host PBKS home games, including their rescheduled match against Delhi Capitals on May 24.
This change may significantly affect PBKS, who were third on the table with 15 points from 11 matches before the break. CSK and SRH are already out of playoff contention.
Double-Headers and Final League Game
Two double-headers are scheduled:
- May 18:
- RR vs PBKS (3:30 PM IST)
- DC vs GT (7:30 PM IST)
- May 25:
- GT vs CSK (3:30 PM IST)
- SRH vs KKR (7:30 PM IST)
The final league match—LSG vs RCB—will take place on May 27 in Lucknow.
International Scheduling Clashes
The new IPL end date overlaps with the England vs West Indies ODI series (May 29 – June 3), affecting players like Romario Shepherd (RCB), Shamar Joseph (LSG), and Sherfane Rutherford (GT). England players such as Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, and Will Jacks may also face availability issues depending on playoff qualifications.
Additionally, the revised IPL finish tightens the gap before the WTC Final 2025 between Australia and South Africa, scheduled for June 11 at Lord’s. Key IPL players from both teams are likely to be selected, including Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada.
India A Tour and Squad Logistics
The India A tour of England, starting May 30, could be impacted as several fringe players remain committed to IPL franchises. The overlap may affect squad preparation for India’s full Test tour beginning June 20.
Meanwhile, franchises are now scrambling to reassemble squads and bring back overseas players. Teams like GT, who had minimal international departures, could benefit from squad continuity. MI may also gain with players like Jacks and Topley already expected to be in India.
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