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IPL 2025 opening ceremony live news & updates: Check out the full IPL schedule, IPL teams, IPL players list, and star-studded performances as the tournament kicks off in style.
BCCI unveils comprehensive IPL 2025 schedule starting March 22
2025 IPL schedule released by BCCI, featuring 74 matches across multiple venues, with playoffs leading to May 25 final.
2025 IPL schedule released by BCCI, featuring 74 matches across multiple venues, with playoffs leading to May 25 final.
Indian Premier League 2025 will start on March 22, where defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Ahead of the IPL, former Indian player Harbhajan Singh spoke about the rivalry between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI).
Harbhajan Singh
“CSK vs MI is like India and Pakistan of IPL; their fans support them to the core. Many big players have played for both teams; CSK is one of the top teams in IPL, and if you beat them, your team will be in the headlines, and the same goes for Mumbai Indians. High pressure, high voltage game and full of fun.” JioStar expert Harbhajan Singh told the media.
He also praised Riyan Parag, who has been named Rajasthan Royals captain until Sanju Samson gains full fitness.
“Many young players come every season, score runs, and pick up wickets…My eyes are on Riyan Parag, he has been named Rajasthan Royals captain…We have seen what he can do and he has tremendous talent. I want to see him as a grown man who wins matches and tournaments. In bowlers I want to see all the young spinners who have been added in this edition, I want to see their mindset, “ he said.
MI and CSK have a strong fanbase. Fans have waited a whole year for MS Dhoni to return in the yellow jersey. The last time these two teams clashed, CSK got the better of MI. Chennai won the match by 20 runs, with Rohit Sharma scoring a century and Matheesha Pathirana taking four wickets and being awarded Player of the Game. MS Dhoni scored 20 runs off four balls which came to be the exact margin of victory for CSK. (ANI)
Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Indian spin veteran Piyush Chawla said that pressure will still be on star batter Virat Kohli despite his T20I retirement, hailing the 36-year-old legend as a player “full of energy”.
The ‘OG Derby’ which kickstarted the IPL back in its inaugural season in 2008 will once again kickstart the 18th season at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Saturday. The spin bowling attacks of both teams will be in focus. While on one side is KKR’s in-form duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, backed by an experienced Moeen Ali and a young Anukul Roy, the RCB attack relies on the experience of Krunal, who has delivered fine performances in domestic cricket. Backing him will be all-rounders Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell and a young spinner Suyash, who had his first taste of IPL with KKR back in 2023.
Piyush, a JioStar expert on IPL 2025, said that despite his retirement from T20I last year and him no longer being in the national T20I set-up, Virat will still be having “butterflies in his stomach”.
“He is somebody who has always delivered for his team. If you see the numbers, the number speaks for itself. And strike rate, we talk about so much. But his strike rate is always good 130 plus, 140. Because you need one player who wants to, you know, as a team management, you want him to hold the one end. And if somebody, like Virat doing the job for the team and that too at a strike rate of 130, that is really good. 130, 140 around. We talk so much without like, you know, thinking about that much about it,” Piyush told ANI.
Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI05_18_2024_000357B)
“But for me, Virat Kohli, even when he will step onto the field, he will be more than, giving his more than 200 per cent. He is putting his body on the line. That is the kind of character Virat Kohli is. He is always full of energy. And he is ready to do something special for the team all the time. And as we talk about pressure, when you step onto the field, whether you are playing, you are retired from T20 cricket, you want to play for your reputation, for your name. So, Virat would not say that there is no pressure. There is always some pressure that butterflies in the stomach,” he added.
Speaking on his top four teams of the season, Piyush said that while he needs more time to think about the fourth, he named Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), both five-time champions and Punjab Kings (PBKS) as contenders for three playoff spots.
Piyush pointed out that Mumbai’s “balanced” squad, CSK finding ways to reach the knockouts and them having top spinners and PBKS “looking good on paper” makes these teams strong.
“I feel Mumbai Indians look really balanced on paper. And the players are in good form. If you talk about Rohit Sharma, you talk about Hardik Pandya, Tilak Verma has done some wonders. Then the bowling department looks really good. So, Mumbai Indians, one contender,” said Piyush.
“Chennai, they find some way, you know, just to make it to the top four. And looking at their team, they have made their team, looking at their home advantage with three top-quality spinners. And then, obviously, the batters are there to deliver for that. And then another one, this year, Punjab looks really good on paper. So, how they’re gonna shape up, how they’re gonna, you know, get along with that playing 11 combinations.
So, Punjab, is another one that looks really good. So, these are, as of now, for three. And for the other fourth one, you have to give me some time to think about it,” added Piyush.
Piyush, now watching this season as a broadcaster after 192 wickets in 192 matches, said that he is excited to experience the tournament in a new role and said that the tournament will not be an easy one for both batters and bowlers alike.
Speaking about if teams will touch the 300-run mark for the first time this year after the last season which saw eight 250-plus scores and the highest-ever IPL score of 287 by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Piyush said that it is about “one big knock” from someone.
“Bowlers also will come with different plans and different strategies, I feel. 300, it is not going to be that easy. But maybe in, out of so many games, in one, I think just maybe one, that also I doubt,” he added.
Speaking about Shreyas Iyer, who is captaining Punjab Kings (PBKS) after winning the IPL with KKR last year and has had a brilliant 2024 and 2025 so far in domestic and international cricket as a batter and leader, Piyush said that momentum would be important for Punjab and they would need a fine start.
“Shreyas himself has been in brilliant form in the last one odd year. Wherever he has played, he has performed. His numbers are exceptional. So, that will really boost his confidence as well as a player, as a captain. And he has built a good team. The management has built a good team for him to lead. So, I think they have a very strong chance of making it to the top four,” he concluded. (ANI)
A large contingent of police has been deployed for security during the 18th Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal.
The tournament will be held between March 23 and May 21 in Hyderabad.
To ensure a smooth, incident-free event, the Rachakonda police have implemented extensive security measures, said Commissioner G Sudheer Babu.
With nine matches scheduled, around 2,700 personnel have been deployed, police said, adding that 450 CCTV cameras are being installed across the stadium, including at vehicle checkpoints and parking areas, to monitor the venue and its surroundings.
For the safety of players and spectators, security arrangements involve multiple units, including the security wing, traffic police, law and order personnel, TSSP/Armed Reserve forces, two OCTOPUS (elite anti-terror force) teams, mounted police, and four fire tenders with firefighting squads, police said.
A Joint Command and Control Room has been set up to monitor CCTV footage and ensure quick response to any incidents, the release said.
Spectators will not be allowed to carry laptops, banners, water bottles, cameras, cigarettes, umbrellas, sharp metal or plastic objects, binoculars, or bags into the stadium. Outside food and beverages are also prohibited.
Additionally, a dedicated SHE Teams/Anti-Eve-Teasing unit has been established to prevent harassment, police said.
Legendary Indian cricketer and former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni unleashed a flurry of big hits in the nets ahead of his side’s Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign opener against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI).
CSK and MI, both five-time IPL champions, will kickstart their IPL campaign with the league’s ‘El Clasico’ match at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
During his nets session, a snippet of which was posted on the official IPL X handle, Dhoni was seen unleashing some heavy hits that left the net bowlers in awe.
Dhoni will play in the 2025 IPL season for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), chasing his sixth title under Ruturaj Gaikwad’s leadership. Last season, his team missed on playoffs due to a poor net-run rate, finishing at fifth spot.
Whether the upcoming IPL season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be the last for Dhoni is uncertain. But ever since he retired from international cricket in 2020, there have been speculations over when the legend will pull the curtains on a glorious IPL career, in which he has captured five trophies as a captain.
CSK retained Dhoni as an uncapped player at Rs 4 crore ahead of the 2025 season. The IPL introduced a new rule ahead of last year’s auction, allowing franchises to retain players in the uncapped category if they have not played international cricket for five years.
Since he retired from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni has only appeared in the IPL. In the 2024 season, he scored 161 runs at a strike rate of 220 and an average of 53.66 after 11 innings, staying unbeaten eight times and fulfilling the role of a finisher for the five-time champions.
Dhoni is the sixth-highest run-getter in IPL history, with 5.243 runs in 264 matches and 229 innings at an average of 39.12, a strike rate of 137.53 and 24 fifties. His best score is 84*. Other than CSK, he also played for Rising Pune Supergiant (RPG), a now-defunct franchise, from 2016-17. (ANI)
Legendary South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has said that Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings “is the biggest rivalry” of IPL.
Boucher, a former Mumbai Indians coach, said many great players are playing in IPL who like to perform and take the game away from their opponents.
“Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings is the biggest rivalry of IPL. I am not taking any thing away from any franchise, any team on any day can rock it this is a lovely part of T-20 cricket. Many great players are playing in IPL who like to perform and take the game away from their opponents. But I think the biggest rivalry is MI vs CSK because of the titles they have won. And for RCB, they have to win 2-3 IPL titles, then they can be among the biggest rivals.” Mark Boucher, a Jio Star expert for IPL 2025, told the mediaHe was asked if Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians or Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru is the biggest rivalry of the IPL.
MI will take on CSK at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (also known as Chepauk) on Sunday, March 23. Both teams have deep talent and boast of a significant fan following.
CSK Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad,(C), MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rashid, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjanpreet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishnan Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth.
MI squad: Hardik Pandya (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Verma, Trent Boult, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, Shrijith Krishnan, Raj Angad Bawa, Venkat Satyanarayana Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Vignesh Puthhur, Suryakumar Yadav. (ANI)
Virat Kohli might have tweaked his batting approach a bit over the years, but former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has little doubt that the champion batter will have a “big impact” on the fortunes of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025.
Kohli has shown glimpses of his old form during the recent Champions Trophy, and will once again lead the RCB batting line-up from the opening slot.
The 36-year-old will walk out for RCB against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.
“No doubt he’s going to have a big impact again as he has done in almost every season of this tournament. I know he’s extremely motivated with RCB to push for a title and I’m sure this season they’ll be there or thereabouts,” Williamson told media during an interaction on Friday.
Williamson, who went unsold in last year’s IPL auction, observed that Kohli’s changed approach to the game will not affect his batting or effectiveness.
“It’s quite interesting as players kind of go into different stages of their career, different phases. He’s obviously been on the scene for a number of years but his style perhaps adjusts a little bit.
“But the hunger remains and the passion remains and we’ve seen that in his performances recently as well,” he added.
BENGALURU KARNATAKA 04/05/2024 : RCB's Virat Kohli, plays a shot, during the IPL 2024 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Gujarat Titans (GT), at M Chinnaswamy Stadium (KSCA), in Bengaluru on May 04, 2024. Photo MURALI KUMAR K / The Hindu
Williamson was tad sceptical about shining the ball using saliva to bring any noticeable changes in white ball cricket, but he hoped that it would give some breathing space to the bowlers.
“Over my time in white ball cricket it’s always been quite tough to shine the white ball. Whether it (saliva ban removal) has a large impact or not, I guess we’ll find out. I suppose any sort of help in shining might add some benefit.
“If it does swing then it really does bring the seam bowlers, the swing bowlers into the game a lot more. The fantastic pitches to bat on in general in the IPL, the boundaries are often on the smaller side.
“Having the ball swing a little bit more and if saliva can help that, I think will be great for the competition,” said Williamson, who is a JioStar expert.
After much deliberation, the BCCI has decided to retain the Impact Player rule for the IPL 2025, and Williamson said the all-rounders’ role might continue to be a little underwhelming.
Kane Williamson with Virat Kohli
“I mean, it does a little bit. The fact that you decide your team after the toss and therefore shape that Impact Player and how you want to approach the game really. I mean, you go in with five front-liners now and perhaps another sixth option.
“Most teams sometimes have even more than that. And then with the bat, most teams are batting to eight and even deeper. As we know in T20 cricket, the percentage of balls past seven that batsmen face are very, very low.
“So naturally that sort of tells you that the all-round option is perhaps still attractive but not quite as important as it has been in the past.” However, the Kiwi also saw the positive side of the rule.
“But then also there are some positives for sure that it’s changed the game. I saw some numbers recently that naturally run rates have all increased,” he said. (PTI)
With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 set to captivate cricket fans worldwide, Cricket Predicta, India’s leading cricket analytics show, unveiled an exclusive data-driven analysis of the tournament’s evolution. Having meticulously broken down 1,097 matches and 252,383 balls, the study reveals key insights into how fitness, endurance, and data analytics have shaped the modern IPL.
At a curtain-raiser event of Cricket Predicta, Anil Chaudhary (Former International Umpire), Jwala Singh (mentor to Yashasvi Jaiswal), and Sarandeep Singh (Former India Cricketer and National Selector) dissected IPL’s impact on the game, as per a press release from Cricket Predicta.
The analysis highlighted that IPL success is not just about big hits but also endurance and fitness. The staggering numbers reveal:
Former international umpire Anil Chaudhary highlighted how IPL has redefined fitness. “Players today are not just focusing on power-hitting but on overall athleticism. Running between the wickets is a science, and players like Kohli, Rohit, and Dhoni have mastered it,” he said.
The data also revealed that:
Coach Jwala Singh praised Kohli’s consistency. “It is not just about talent; it is discipline. His ability to adapt, coupled with his fitness, sets him apart from others,” he said.
Sarandeep Singh lauded Dhoni’s finishing ability. “Dhoni is a master strategist. He understands when to accelerate when to take singles, and when to finish games in style,” he remarked.
Teams today rely on data analytics for scouting and strategy. Sarandeep Singh noted, “IPL franchises now use in-depth data to track player performance. It’s a key factor in identifying future stars and building winning teams.”
Jwala Singh emphasized IPL’s role in nurturing young talent. “Earlier, T20 cricket was seen as entertainment. Now, IPL is a gateway for young cricketers to make it big,” he said.
Summing up the IPL’s transformation, cricket scholar Sunil Yash Kalra stated, “IPL isn’t just a tournament; it’s a revolution. It has redefined scouting, fitness, and cricket strategy. The numbers prove that we are witnessing the rise of a new era.” (ANI)
A steady drizzle in the evening brought premature end to evening practice sessions of Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on the eve of their IPL 2025 opener at Eden Gardens on Saturday.
Practice began as scheduled at 5pm, but rain set in around 6pm, bringing the ground staff into action while the players had to pack up.
Fortunately, Eden Gardens is one of the few venues with full ground covers, ensuring the playing surface remained protected.
The Indian Meteorological Department’s New Alipore office has issued an “orange alert” for Friday and Saturday, warning of thundersqualls, gusty winds, lightning, hailstorms, and moderate rainfall across several districts, including Kolkata.
“Thundersqualls with gusty winds, lightning, hailstorms, and light to moderate rainfall are likely in Jhargram, Purba and Paschim Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Howrah on Friday,” the IMD stated.
For Saturday, the forecast includes thunderstorms with gusty winds, lightning, and moderate rainfall in Nadia, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, and North and South 24 Parganas.
The match has a 7.30pm start, with the toss scheduled for 7pm.
A glittering opening ceremony featuring Shreya Ghoshal and Disha Patani among others is planned at 6pm, but it remains to be seen if the weather plays a spoilsport.
According to IPL regulations, the league-stage matches have a one-hour extension window, meaning the cut-off time for a five-over match is 10:56pm, with play needing to conclude by 12:06am.
Kolkata has already experienced rain disruptions in the lead-up to the season opener, with a KKR intra-squad practice match being washed out after just one innings.
Ahead of his side’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign opener, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakravarthy expressed excitement for a potential battle against star India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli.
The IPL 2025 will kickstart with a highly-anticipated contest between defending champions KKR and RCB at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the match that started it all 17 years back. One of the most important mini-battles in the game will be between a red-hot Varun against Virat, who will be aiming to go all out guns blazing against spin, having retired last year from T20Is with a T20 World Cup and a match-winning knock in the final.
File photo of Varun Chakravarthy
Speaking ahead of the game in the pre-match presser, Varun said, “Definitely excited to be coming up against Virat. Obviously, he has batted well against me, and I would like to do well against him also,” he added.
Virat has faced Varun in seven innings with a cautious approach, scoring 40 runs in 39 balls at a strike rate of just over 102. Varun has dismissed Virat once and has conceded two fours and a six against the Indian legend.
Fresh from his impressive performance in the ICC Champions Trophy – where he took nine wickets in three matches – Chakaravarthy acknowledged the different challenges that the IPL presents compared to international cricket.
“Confidence is very important, but as in every new tournament, even if you win the last tournament, you have to start from scratch. IPL is a different ball game and it’s a different beast. I very well know what is coming my way,” said the spinner.
The spinner, known for his variations, has been working on adding new deliveries to his arsenal. “Whenever I play domestic cricket, I try to work on a new delivery,” he revealed while keeping his cards close to his chest about what fans might see this season.
The spinner also spoke highly of his teammate Sunil Narine, saying, “He is a legend of the game, one of the greats. We had a few conversations this year, and he looks very well-prepared. He looks to take on the IPL just like how he did last year.”
When asked about how he maintains his mystery despite advances in technology and video analysis, Chakaravarthy offered a thoughtful insight into his approach. “The ball can deviate only in three ways – it can go left, right, or straight. It just depends on how I’m going to choose the sequencing, if I’m going to go off-spin right now or leg-spin right now. That’s where the tactical side of the game comes in, and that’s where I’m trying to improve.”
Despite being defending champions, Chakaravarthy emphasized the need to approach each game with a fresh mindset. “If you saw, we had the biggest victory and the biggest loss. This shows that every match is different. As experts say, you have to take it as a new tournament and start from scratch.”
KKR have strengthened their squad with several international stars ahead of this season. Sharing his thoughts on his new teammates, he said, “We will look to defend the title this year. We have a great squad with great batters like Quinton de Kock, and top bowlers like Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, Moeen Ali and Rovman Powell. This international core will be important,” Chakaravarthy concluded. (ANI)
Ahead of his side’s Indian Premier League (IPL) opener against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Andy Flower opened up on the team’s spin bowling attack, calling Krunal Pandya a “streetwise operator” and adding that it does not expect a young Suyash Sharma to be “Shane Warne” as he starts his career.
The ‘OG Derby’ which kickstarted the IPL back in its inaugural season in 2008 will once again kickstart the 18th season at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Saturday. The spin bowling attacks of both teams will be in focus. While on one side is KKR’s in-form duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, backed by an experienced Moeen Ali and a young Anukul Roy, the RCB attack relies on the experience of Krunal, who has delivered fine performances in domestic cricket. Backing him will be all-rounders Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell and a young spinner Suyash, who had his first taste of IPL with KKR back in 2023.
Speaking ahead of the match in the pre-match presser as quoted by an RCB press release, Andy said, “Krunal was a significant part of our targeted players in the auction, and it’s great to have him on board. He is a smart and courageous cricketer and again he’s got leadership experience as well. He’s a streetwise operator and he is got class as a left-arm spinner, let alone as an all-rounder. That is comforting to have him in our group and leading the way in the spin department.”
Flower further highlighted the variety within the spin attack “Then we have got, on the wrist-spin front, Suyash, who is a very exciting young prospect with limited experience but a really high ceiling. We’re hoping for great things from him, but we are also not expecting him to be Shane Warne from the beginning. We have got to be patient and let him learn from his experiences, and it is good that he has got these experienced cricketers around him and a captain that he will be comfortable working with. To back them up, Swapnil Singh was good for us last year, and Liam Livingstone does a bit of everything.”
Flower also backed captain Rajat Patidar, the newly-appointed skipper with captaincy experience for Madhya Pradesh, saying that he is excited about the challenge.
“We were conscious of building an experienced side in our recruitment, and in saying that, they will be able to give a lot of support to Rajat. I think he is really excited about this challenge, and we are right behind him,” he said in RCB press release.
Speaking on playing KKR, who dominated the last season with a high-scoring and attacking brand of cricket, Flower said that this is a new season and squads are new as well after a mega auction last year.
“We have had a great preparation period. We like the look of our squad. We are pretty much ready,” he added.
Speaking on facing challenges from Varun and Narine, Flower said that such challenges are a reason why players play at such a high level, to test themselves against the world’s best.
“That is one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of playing international cricket or IPL cricket, which the standard is very much like international cricket and all the excitement and energy that comes with playing top-class cricket in India comes with that as well”, he remarked.
On starting the season with two away games against KKR and five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) before a return to Bengaluru on April 2 against Gujarat Titans, Flower said that it is a great challenge for the team to try having fine away games right from the start.
Flower also weighed in on the broader trend of higher scores in the IPL, attributing it to the evolving physicality and approach of modern batters. “A lot of the batters are becoming bigger and stronger and are starting to recognise the importance of it. But there is still a place in the game for players like Virat Kohli as well. Obviously, he is a super fit, strong young man as well. There is still space for high-quality, highly intelligent cricketers like that as well.”
Expanding on this shift, he added, “But there is a shift towards power. There is no doubt about that and we saw that in the scores. But you see just that in the selection of our batting unit, you will see the emphasis on power with just a couple of exceptions. And I think that is the way the game is going.” he signed off. (ANI)
Rajat Patidar might have been a surprise choice to lead star-studded Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but head coach Andy Flower on Friday said the whole team is “right behind” the skipper and the presence of experienced players such as Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be a boon for him.
Flower said Patidar is really excited about leading the side that has some top of the line stars like Kohli, Bhuvneshwar, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt and Krunal Pandya.
“We were conscious of that in our recruitment and they will be able to give a lot of support to Rajat. I think he is really excited about his challenge. And it’s a brilliant challenge for him. We’re right behind him,” he said. (PTI)
Virat Kohli has the skill to score runs at a much better strike-rate like any young T20 star but RCB’s team composition is such that he needs to adopt a risk-free approach and aim for a high scoring season, says former Australia skipper Aaron Finch.
Finch, who led Australia to T20 World Cup victory in UAE back in 2021, feels that high-risk cricket, which someone like Rohit Sharma is playing consistently, has its own pitfalls with regards to consistency.
After some underwhelming seasons, Kohli managed a strike-rate of near 140 in 2023 and his best in all IPL seasons came in 2024 where he scored 741 runs at 154.70.
But Finch, an accomplished opener back in the day, put things in perspective about quality of players in that Mumbai Indians line-up, who can pick up pieces and play with same momentum if things go adrift. (PTI)
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Former Mumbai Indians coach Mark Boucher feels the torrid time endured by Hardik Pandya in the last IPL season added to his already tough character and the “battle-hardened” all-rounder will be at his best in the upcoming edition.
It was a turbulent last season for Pandya after he replaced Rohit Sharma as MI skipper. The decision didn’t go well with MI fans and they booed the all-rounder at the Wankhede Stadium at every opportunity. The results also didn’t go in his favour as MI finished last in the points table.
But things have changed since then and Pandya is expected to get the support of the fans after playing a vital role in India’s T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy triumphs.
“He is a battle-hardened cricketer. He has been through tough times, injuries, form, many things but he overcame everything and achieved success. The greats of the cricket have to be tough and he has shown that,” Boucher said. (PTI)
Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who has been a key player for the Indian team as well as the Kolkata Knight Riders side, believes that consistency is the key to success and he’s working on adding new variations to his craft.
From battling fitness challenges to becoming a key figure in India’s recent Champions Trophy triumph where he took nine wickets, the architect-turned-cricketer has had a remarkable journey.
Chakravarthy formed a deadly spin quartet with Kuldeep Yadav (seven wickets), Ravindra Jadeja (five), and Axar Patel (five) to form a web around the opposition during the Champions Trophy.
“The main thing is working on consistency, which is the toughest thing to master and I am putting in constant work in order to achieve that,” the 33-year-old stated in a release.
“And of course, I am working on a few other deliveries which I’m hoping will come off nicely in the upcoming games.” Reigning champions KKR will kick off their IPL campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens here on Saturday.
One of the most anticipated match-ups of the season will be Chakravarthy’s face-off with RCB’s star batter Virat Kohli.
However, he downplayed any special rivalry with the Bengaluru-based franchise.
“Nothing in specific, just the situation of those matches which helped me pick wickets. In all those games the conditions and the situations were completely favourable towards us so I was able to extract the best possible result,” he said.
Former Mumbai Indians coach Mark Boucher feels the torrid time endured by Hardik Pandya in the last IPL season added to his already tough character and the “battle-hardened” all-rounder will be at his best in the upcoming edition.
It was a turbulent last season for Pandya after he replaced Rohit Sharma as MI skipper. The decision didn’t go well with MI fans and they booed the all-rounder at the Wankhede Stadium at every opportunity. The results also didn’t go in his favour as MI finished last in the points table.
But things have changed since then and Pandya is expected to get the support of the fans after playing a vital role in India’s T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy triumphs.
“It was really tough for him (Pandya) last season. He was being booed by the crowd every time he took the field, he deserves better, he deserves 100 per cent respect,” said Boucher, a JioStar expert for the league starting on Saturday.
“A cricketers never wants such a thing to happen with him. But he is a tough character,” he added.
The former South Africa wicket-keeping star was at the helm in MI when Pandya took over from Rohit and had first-hand access to the all-rounder as he dealt with the public backlash. – PTI
Exciting IPL season ahead with rule changes, new captains, and star players aiming to make an impact.
Ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League 2025, Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Sam Curran said that he will be showcasing his capabilities in this edition in order to make an international comeback for England, as per the ICC.
Curran hasn’t played for England since he featured in a white-ball series against the West Indies in November last year and was recently overlooked for the side’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign that saw skipper Jos Buttler resign as captain following a winless three games in Pakistan.
While Curran is predominantly considered a T20I specialist and was adjudged Player of the Tournament during England’s successful run in Australia in 2022 that saw them claim the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title, the 26-year-old has also played 24 Tests and 35 ODIs for his country since debuting back in 2018.
With Kiwi Brendon McCullum taking over as England coach in all formats from the start of this year and a new white-ball captain set to be announced shortly following the resignation of Buttler, Curran sees plenty of opportunity in front of him in the coming months as the side get set to host the West Indies, India and South Africa at home this summer.
But a two-month stint in the IPL with the Chennai Super Kings is first on the agenda for Curran, with the all-rounder to team up with another Kiwi coach in Stephen Fleming as the side attempts to improve on their fifth-placed finish in the most recent edition of the tournament last year.
Speaking at the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Curran believed some good performances in Chennai will catch the eye of McCullum and help him earn a recall to international cricket.
“My main aim is probably just to get back into the (England white-ball) side. With England, I guess I’ve never really found that perfect role. In the Champions Trophy and the series in India (at the start of 2025), there was no hiding that they stacked the batting in terms of playing a lot of batters and those extra quicks.,” the all-rounder said, as quoted by the ICC official website.
“I feel like if I get my role right with England, I’ll get back into it, who knows what will happen now. The cliche of (needing) runs and wickets is no debate; I’ve got to keep doing that. I feel in a really good space. I was obviously gutted when it happened, but I’m still pretty young and feel like I have matured when it comes to handling the bad stuff. Being a bit more experienced and reading situations better, I really hope I can get back into the team. There is only one way (to do that), hopefully, I can have a really good IPL and see where we are in the summer,” the 26-year-old added.
Curran will also get the chance to further his leadership credentials this summer as he will captain County side Surrey during their T20 campaign in England’s domestic Vitality Blast competition.
It could help push Curran’s name to the front of the queue when England sits down to appoint a new T20I captain in the coming months, with McCullum recently suggesting he would consider appointing separate ODI and T20I skippers going forward.
“If it’s the same person, great; if it’s two, that’s great too. Give me a couple of weeks to work it out and get this thing back on track,” McCullum said of Buttler’s potential replacement as captain after England’s disappointing Champions Trophy campaign.
While Curran is yet to work alongside McCullum, he is looking forward to the chance to prove himself in the coming months should the opportunity arise.
“Baz (McCullum) called me at the start when I did get left out, was clear and honest, and I respected that. I’ve never worked under him, but he seems very honest and clear about (what he wants). He said I won’t be there right now, but that didn’t mean the door was shut. It’s about going away, doing really well and performing,” Curran noted.
“He was very honest in terms of what the balance of the side was and how I could have been in had they done it differently. I respect that more than the classic ‘you’re just a little bit unlucky to miss out’. Sometimes, as a player, those ones that are a bit more brutal can be really good because you want to go and prove them wrong. Fingers crossed, come June, I’ll be back in the squads and performing,” Curran added. (ANI)
Jwala Singh, the formative coach of Yashasvi Jaiswal, believes the IPL season will be key to the opener’s bid to reclaim a spot in India’s squad for next year’s T20 World Cup.
The 23-year-old Jaiswal has impressed in Tests but faces stiff competition in the T20I setup, with openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma in solid form for the national team.
The T20 showpiece will be co-hosted by defending champions India and Sri Lanka from February to March in 2026.
“He has played a lot of T20s for India, with many fifties at a good strike rate, but in the last 2-3 series, he was rested, I can say that.
“But yes, I believe this year’s IPL will give him that opportunity (for the T20 World Cup) because there will be a lot of matches and high-pressure games,” Singh told PTI Videos on Friday.
Jaiswal has so far scored 723 runs in 23 T20Is.
Singh emphasized on IPL’s role as a platform for players to make a mark.
“If you see Indian cricket, IPL is the platform from where we get the season’s big hits because all IPL performances are taken into account, and you get noticed,” he said.
“So yes, I think this is an opportunity because he got selected based on his IPL performance in 2023. So I think this is a fresh start, and if he performs well, scores some runs, that will really help him to get back in the team.” The 18th edition of the IPL is beginning on Saturday.
Jaiswal, however, will be without his former Rajasthan Royals opening partner, England’s Jos Buttler, who has joined Gujarat Titans.
Singh acknowledged that Jaiswal will miss Buttler’s presence but is confident the young opener will adapt.
“I think he will definitely miss Buttler because he used to always call him ‘Jos bhai’ to me on call or whenever he spoke about him,” he said.
“So yes, when you have played cricket with someone for quite some time in a team as an opener, it will take a little bit of time to get adjusted.” Singh, who has mentored Jaiswal, urged the opener not to lose sight of the bigger picture.
“But I think it is always more important to move on and get the right combination because the target is to win matches for your team, hence you are in the team, so these things are always a little uncomfortable at first,” he said.
“But Rajasthan have a good squad, and they have already had a lot of preparation games. I hope they have got the right opening combination with Yashasvi as well.” Singh also expressed confidence in Jaiswal’s ability to end the IPL season as the highest run-scorer.
“I am more than proud of him. The dream which I was chasing as a cricketer, I could not achieve, and my student is doing that. He is more than a student to me,” he said.
“I always say that the journey is not just to play for India but to become the next legend, which I am hoping for.
“So, I expect to see him finishing as nothing more than the highest run-getter of the league. He just needs to take to the field with the mindset of being the best.” (PTI)
After the Kolkata Police requested the Cricket Association of Bengal to reschedule the IPL game scheduled for April 6 at the Eden Gardens on account of Ram Navmi, President of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) Snehasish Ganguly said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have not confirmed yet whether the match will be rescheduled or shifted to a new venue.
President of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) Snehasish Ganguly said that for the match on April 6 on Ram Navami, Kolkata Police has clearly said that they will not be able to provide security.
“They (Kolkata Police) have requested us to reschedule the match. We have requested BCCI but they have not replied whether the match will be rescheduled or shifted to a new location… Kolkata Police has requested the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to reschedule the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Eden Gardens on April 6, citing heavy security deployment across the city for Ram Navami,” Ganguly told ANI.
Meeraj Khalid, Kolkata Police’s Joint CP (HQ), said that they have written to CAB to reschedule the match. “We have requested to reschedule the match, but we have not received any response from them,” he said.
Eden Gardens will mark both the commencement and the conclusion of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League 2025 by hosting the tournament opener between defending Champions Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22 and the final on May 25.at the Eden Gardens, the home ground of KKR, will also play host to Qualifier 2 on May 23. Notably, this is the first time in almost a decade that the IPL will conclude at the iconic Eden Gardens, having done so previously in 2013 and 2015.
The other two playoff matches, Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator, will be played in Hyderabad, home of 2024 runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad, on May 20 and May 21, respectively.
IPL 2025 will consist of 74 matches spread over 65 days, including 12 double-headers. (ANI)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will begin their title defence in IPL 2025 with a highly anticipated clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the ‘OG Derby,’ which also kicked off the tournament in its inaugural edition in 2008.
KKR IPL 2025 squad: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Luvnith Sisodia, Moeen Ali, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Mayank Markande, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Varun Chakaravarthy.
RCB IPL 2025 Squad: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee. (ANI)
The Indian Premier League (IPL-2025) has sanctioned the use of Hawk-Eye technology to assess wides outside the off-stump and above the batter’s head, eliminating subjectivity in umpiring decisions, with the ruling being conveyed to all ten captains during a pre-season meeting in Mumbai on Thursday ahead of the tournament’s commencement on March 22, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
The same technology that was used to assess over-the-waist no-balls in IPL 2024 will now be implemented for over-the-head wides. The ball-tracking technology, which includes Hawk-Eye, will evaluate the ball’s height as it crosses the batter at the popping crease and compare it to the batter’s toe-to-head height in an upright stance.
Each player’s head height will be recorded in the database. The subjective factor in determining wides will be eliminated this season, as the IPL has decided that the wide guideline–typically in blue–will shift along with the batter. The Hawk-Eye system will automatically measure both the extent of the batter’s movement and the corresponding shift in the guideline.
Mumbai Indians (MI) players and staff arrived at Chennai airport for their first IPL match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Surya Kumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Deepak Chahar, Mahela Jayawardene, and others were seen at the Chennai International Airport on Thursday ahead of their clash against the Chennai Super Kings.
The two teams share a long-standing rivalry and have a strong fanbase.
Mumbai Indians are five-time titleholders and have been among the most accomplished teams in the tournament’s past. CSK also has strong credentials.
Fans have waited a whole year for MS Dhoni to return in the yellow jersey. The last time these two teams clashed, CSK got the better of MI. Chennai won the match by 20 runs, with Rohit Sharma scoring a century and Matheesha Pathirana taking four wickets and being awarded Player of the Game. MS Dhoni scored 20 runs off four balls, proving to be the exact margin of victory for CSK.
CSK Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad,(C), MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rashid, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjanpreet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishnan Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth.
MI squad: Hardik Pandya (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Verma, Trent Boult, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, Shrijith Krishnan, Raj Angad Bawa, Venkat Satyanarayana Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Vignesh Puthhur, Suryakumar Yadav. (ANI)
Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan has said that BCCI removing the ban on the use of saliva for IPL will help bowlers but it remains to be seen who will take advantage of it.
Bowlers will be allowed to use saliva on the ball in IPL 2025. The decision was made by IPL following a meeting on Thursday at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, where most of the franchise captains expressed support for the change to the decision-makers of the tournament, as per a report by ESPNcricinfo.
“I don’t know what impact it is going to put, but by using saliva, the ball’s weight will change, and in the slog overs, it will reverse and eventually create difficulty for the batters. Now it is to be seen which bowler can take advantage of this.” Atul Wassan told ANI.
Meanwhile, the much-debated Impact Player rule, introduced in IPL 2023, will continue to be a part of the tournament. The rule allows teams to substitute one player during a match, adding a strategic element to the game.
ICC umpire Anil Chaudhary said earlier there was super subs.
“It is a different angle of the game. Earlier, we had super subs, and now we have impact players. This is what people like in the game, and there is a committee to decide on this,” Anil Chaudhary told ANI.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s coach Jwala Singh also spoke about the impact player rule. He said it gives options.
“Impact players is an option you get in whichever department you fail. You can add bowlers and batters, so in short, you are playing with 12 players. If opening batter is out, you can get any batter on the team as an impact player. This benefits the team but it is important when to use it. It is a rule in IPL as they want to entertain people. At the end of the day, everything has advantages and disadvantages. According to me, the 12th man is playing, that’s all.” Jwala Singh told ANI.
Fast bowlers feel that using saliva will also help add to their craft in the Test matches. (ANI)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made some significant changes in rules for IPL 2025, which begins on March 22.
BCCI has introduced rule changes in IPL 2025, including the lifting of the saliva ban, the continuation of the Impact Player rule and slow over rate ban cannot be imposed on Captains anymore, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal to ANI.
The removal of the saliva ban, introduced as a COVID-19 precautionary measure, is a major move.
The rule against using saliva was introduced in May 2020 as a temporary measure, but the ICC made it permanent in September 2022.
Several fast bowlers have opined that the ban impedes their effectiveness by not allowing reverse swing, which has become uncommon in white-ball cricket, including ODIs, where two new balls are utilized.
Bowlers were only allowed to use sweat to shine the bowl. From time to time, bowlers have raised their voices to revise the saliva ban.
Captains will no longer face a ban for slow over rates.
Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya had received a one-match ban after the team’s last encounter in IPL 2024 against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for maintaining a slow over-rate.
The much-debated Impact Player rule, introduced in IPL 2023, will continue to be a part of the tournament. The rule allows teams to substitute one player during a match, adding a strategic element to the game.
These changes are expected to have a significant impact on team strategies and gameplay in the IPL. (ANI)
IPL 2025 presents a lucrative opportunity for social media advertising, with revenue expected to reach ₹6,000-₹7,000 crore.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the return of the IPL Fan Parks for the 2025 season, expanding the premier cricket viewing experience to 50 cities across 23 states and one union territory, according to an IPL media advisory.The 2025 edition of the IPL Fan Parks will span 10 weekends, starting on March 22 and concluding on May 25. From Tinsukia (Assam) in the northeast to Kochi (Kerala) in the south and from Amritsar (Punjab) in the north to Goa in the west, the Fan Parks will cover the length and breadth of India.
Since their inception in 2015, the IPL Fan Parks have been complete with live match screenings, music, entertainment, food courts, a kids’ play zone, and exciting activations, including a virtual batting zone, bowling through nets, face-painting zones, replica dugouts, a cheer-o-meter, and 360° photo booths. They have aimed to engage fans and bring the thrill of the IPL to every corner of the country.
The first Fan Parks of the season will kick off in Rohtak (Haryana), Bikaner (Rajasthan), Gangtok (Sikkim), Kochi (Kerala), and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu). Each weekend multiple Fan Parks will be held simultaneously across different states, ensuring maximum fan engagement. This will be the first time IPL Fan Parks are held in Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), Dimapur (Nagaland), Karaikal (Puducherry), Manbhum, Purulia (West Bengal), Rohtak and Tinsukia.
Arun Singh Dhumal, Chairman of IPL, said, “The IPL Fan Parks are a crucial part of our vision to bring the tournament closer to fans across India. By hosting these events in multiple cities and towns, we aim to recreate the electrifying stadium atmosphere and allow fans to celebrate the IPL together. This initiative strengthens our bond with cricket enthusiasts nationwide, ensuring they experience the excitement and passion of the sport in a lively and vibrant setting,” as quoted from IPL media advisory.
Devajit Saikia, Honorary Secretary, BCCI, said, “The IPL Fan Parks highlight our commitment to engaging fans beyond the stadiums. Since its launch in 2015, this initiative has brought the thrill of the IPL to millions of fans, creating unforgettable experiences. With the 2025 schedule covering 50 cities, we are excited to take the IPL experience to even more fans, ensuring that the spirit of cricket and the magic of IPL reaches every corner of the country.” (ANI)
IPL franchises optimistic about sponsorship revenue growth despite economic challenges, focusing on renewals and new partnerships for upcoming season.
Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani targets small businesses and unconventional neuroscience studies to boost IPL revenues post-Disney merger.
JioStar partners with Nielsen to offer ad measurement tools for IPL 2025, enhancing transparency and campaign performance.
Fans of IPL will now pay for JioHotstar, but Jio and Airtel users get free access. Impact on advertisers discussed.
IPL 2025 ad rates rise due to JioStar merger, with TV ad prices up 9-15% and Smart TV up 23-38%.
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