The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to commence on March 22, featuring the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), facing off against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the renowned Eden Gardens, as reported by Cricbuzz. It is customary for the reigning champions to host the season opener, a tradition that continues this year; KKR secured the 2024 title by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in a largely uncompetitive final.

RCB, who recently appointed Rajat Patidar as their new captain, aims to initiate their new chapter with a strong performance against the defending champions. Additionally, the report indicates that last season's runners-up, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), will launch their campaign at home against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) the following day at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal.

KKR has yet to name a captain for the upcoming season. Shreyas Iyer, who led the team to the IPL title last year, was released by the franchise prior to the mega auction in November. Punjab Kings ultimately acquired Iyer's services, while Venkatesh Iyer emerged as KKR's most expensive player in the auction, with the franchise investing INR 23.75 crore to secure him.

Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not officially announced the complete schedule, essential dates have been communicated to the franchises. The report suggests that the final will adhere to the traditional format and take place in the home city of the defending champions. The grand finale is set to occur at Eden Gardens on May 25, which falls on a Sunday.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla previously indicated a March 23 start date following the board’s Special General Meeting (SGM) on January 12 in Mumbai. However, the start date was adjusted to one day earlier. The full schedule is anticipated to be released soon.

12 venues

This season will see the addition of matches in Guwahati and Dharamsala, alongside the ten regular venues: Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Mullanpur, Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.

The Rajasthan Royals have designated Guwahati as their secondary home ground, where they will compete in two matches against the Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 and the Chennai Super Kings on March 30. Both of these games are scheduled for the evening.

Dharamsala, which hosted two home games for the Punjab Kings last season, is anticipated to accommodate at least two and potentially three matches this season. In the knockout stage, Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator will be conducted in Hyderabad, while Qualifier 2 and the final will be held in Kolkata.

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