Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening match of IPL 2025. The highly anticipated season opener is set for March 22 at Eden Gardens, while the grand finale will take place on May 25.
Although the official IPL schedule is yet to be announced, reports suggest that last season’s runners-up, Sunrisers Hyderabad, will kick off their campaign at home against Rajasthan Royals on the afternoon of March 23. Later that evening, Chennai Super Kings are expected to host Mumbai Indians at Chepauk.
This season’s 10-team tournament will begin just 12 days after the Champions Trophy final on March 9 and will feature matches across 12 venues. Alongside the traditional home grounds of all ten franchises, Guwahati will serve as Rajasthan Royals’ second home venue, while Dharamsala will be the alternate venue for Punjab Kings.
The opening clash will also mark a fresh chapter for both KKR and RCB, as both teams will be led by new captains. RCB recently appointed Rajat Patidar as their skipper, while KKR are yet to name a successor to Shreyas Iyer, who guided them to the 2024 title. RCB had a roller-coaster campaign last year, bouncing back from six consecutive defeats with six straight wins to reach the playoffs, where they fell in the Eliminator. Meanwhile, KKR have a strong record against RCB at Eden Gardens, winning eight of their 12 encounters at the venue.
Punjab Kings, under their new captain Shreyas and head coach Ricky Ponting, will play three home matches in Dharamsala—one more than usual. Their remaining four home fixtures will be hosted at Mullanpur in Punjab.
