The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is expected to start again from May 16 or 17, according to sources in the BCCI. The final match is likely to be held on May 30 or June 1, and could take place in either Kolkata or Ahmedabad.
A top official from the BCCI told that the rest of the IPL matches will be played at different venues across India. The first match after the restart will be between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
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“We’ve informed all teams and stakeholders. Players and support staff are being called back, and Ekana Stadium in Lucknow is getting ready for the match. The LSG team will gather there by May 13,” a BCCI source said.
Likely Venues for Playoffs
- Qualifier 1 and Eliminator: Hyderabad
- Qualifier 2 and Final: Kolkata (may be shifted to Ahmedabad if there is a risk of rain)
If the weather forecast predicts rain in Kolkata, the final will likely be moved to Ahmedabad. The BCCI is expected to release the updated schedule soon.
On May 9, the BCCI postponed the IPL due to rising military tensions between India and Pakistan. The situation worsened after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22.
The suspension was announced a day after the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match was stopped halfway in Dharamsala due to air raid alerts near Jammu and Pathankot.
It is expected that the abandoned Punjab vs Delhi game will be declared a no-result, and both teams will get one point each. The tournament will now restart with LSG vs RCB.
Foreign Players Return Home
After the IPL was paused, most international players returned to their countries on Saturday, May 10. RCB confirmed that all their foreign players had flown back home.
RCB’s overseas staff also went home, including head coach Andy Flower, bowling coach Adam Griffith, and team analyst Freddie Wilde. The team thanked the BCCI, local authorities, and police for helping them travel safely.
As for LSG, some players flew out of India, while others stayed back, the franchise confirmed to PTI.
