IPL 2025 Preview: Teams, Players, and Schedule

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is almost here, and the excitement is palpable. Starting March 22, 2025, the 18th edition will see 10 teams clash in 74 thrilling matches, ending with a blockbuster final on May 25, 2025. As of March 08, 2025, we’re just 14 days away from the opener at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). This IPL 2025 preview is your one-stop guide to the teams, key players, and full schedule—everything you need to know to dive into the T20 madness.

The November 2024 mega-auction in Jeddah flipped the script—Rishabh Pant’s record ₹27 crore move to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Shreyas Iyer’s ₹26.75 crore switch to Punjab Kings (PBKS), and 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s ₹1.1 crore debut with Rajasthan Royals (RR) have set the stage. With searches like “IPL 2025 schedule” and “IPL 2025 teams” spiking, fans are hungry for details. From Virat Kohli’s title chase to MS Dhoni’s possible farewell, let’s unpack the season ahead!

What Sets IPL 2025 Apart?

The IPL is a global juggernaut, and 2025 ups the ante:

Auction Drama: Pant’s ₹27 crore deal broke records, while Heinrich Klaasen’s ₹23 crore retention set a new benchmark.
New Faces: Youngsters like Suryavanshi join veterans like Kohli and Dhoni.
Rule Tweaks: ICC T20I Code of Conduct applies, plus a max of 6 retentions (5 capped, 1 uncapped).
Broadcast Boom: JioHotstar’s merger targets 500M+ viewers, syncing with global events like USA’s Daylight Savings (March 9).

KKR’s 2024 triumph over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) sets the defending tone. Let’s meet the teams shaping this epic season.

IPL 2025 Teams: The Contenders

The IPL 2025 teams are split into two groups of five, playing 14 league matches each. Here’s the lineup as of March 08, 2025:

Group A

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Captain Ajinkya Rahane replaces Shreyas Iyer (now PBKS). Retained: Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore), Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy. 2024 champs aim to repeat.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Ruturaj Gaikwad leads, with MS Dhoni (₹4 crore) hinting at a final season. Retained: Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana.
Punjab Kings (PBKS): Shreyas Iyer (₹26.75 crore) captains post-auction. Retained: Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma.
Rajasthan Royals (RR): Sanju Samson helms a dynamic squad. Retained: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler (₹15.75 crore).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Rajat Patidar takes over from Faf du Plessis (now DC). Retained: Virat Kohli (₹21 crore).

Group B

Mumbai Indians (MI): Hardik Pandya captains despite fan backlash. Retained: Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah—five-time winners reload.
Delhi Capitals (DC): Captain TBD—KL Rahul or Axar Patel? Retained: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Kuldeep Yadav.
Gujarat Titans (GT): Shubman Gill leads, boosted by Jos Buttler (₹15.75 crore). Retained: Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore) takes charge after KL Rahul’s exit. Retained: Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Pat Cummins captains the 2024 runners-up. Retained: Heinrich Klaasen (₹23 crore), Travis Head.

Each team plays twice against group mates and same-row rivals, once against others—70 league matches total, followed by playoffs.

IPL 2025 Players: Stars to Watch

The IPL 2025 players list is a mix of legends, auction steals, and young guns. Here’s who’ll light up the season:

Most Expensive Players

Rishabh Pant (LSG, ₹27 crore): Record IPL buy—explosive batter and captain.
Shreyas Iyer (PBKS, ₹26.75 crore): Ex-KKR skipper aims to prove a point.
Heinrich Klaasen (SRH, ₹23 crore): Most expensive retention—middle-order beast.
Venkatesh Iyer (KKR, ₹23.75 crore): All-round star, vice-captain.

Iconic Retentions

Virat Kohli (RCB, ₹21 crore): 7,263 IPL runs—chasing that elusive title.
Jasprit Bumrah (MI, ₹18 crore): 145 wickets—world’s best pacer.
Rohit Sharma (MI): 5,611 runs—five-time champ anchors MI.
MS Dhoni (CSK, ₹4 crore): Final season? The legend’s still clutch.

Rising Stars

Vaibhav Suryavanshi (RR, ₹1.1 crore): 13-year-old sensation—youngest IPL player.
Rasikh Dar (RCB, ₹6 crore): Most expensive uncapped buy—pacer to watch.
Mayank Yadav (LSG): Pace prodigy, injury comeback awaited.

Overseas Firepower

Jos Buttler (GT, ₹15.75 crore): T20 opener supreme.
Pat Cummins (SRH): Captain and pace leader—2024 final redemption?
Andre Russell (KKR): All-round muscle—200 IPL sixes and counting.

Auction saw 577 players (367 Indian, 210 overseas)—squads range from 18-25 players, max 8 overseas.

IPL 2025 Schedule: Dates, Venues, and Key Matches

The IPL 2025 schedule runs from March 22 to May 25, with 74 matches across 13 venues. Here’s the breakdown:

League Stage (March 22 – May 18)

Opener: March 22, 2025—KKR vs. RCB, Eden Gardens, Kolkata (8:00 PM IST).
Total Matches: 70—14 per team.
Double-Headers: 12 days with 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM IST games.

Playoff Schedule

Match	Date	Venue
Qualifier 1	May 20, 2025	Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Stadium, Hyderabad
Eliminator	May 21, 2025	Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Stadium, Hyderabad
Qualifier 2	May 23, 2025	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Final	May 25, 2025	Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Format: Top 2 teams play Qualifier 1 (winner to final); 3rd vs. 4th in Eliminator; Eliminator winner vs. Qualifier 1 loser in Qualifier 2.

Must-Watch Matches

MI vs. CSK (March 23): Chepauk—five-time champs collide.
KKR vs. SRH (April 15): Eden Gardens—2024 final rematch.
RCB vs. GT (May 5): Chinnaswamy—Kohli vs. Buttler showdown.

Venues: Where the Magic Happens

IPL 2025 spans 13 stadiums:

Eden Gardens, Kolkata: Opener, Qualifier 2, Final—first Kolkata final since 2014.
Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Stadium, Hyderabad: Qualifier 1, Eliminator.
Secondary Venues: Guwahati (RR, 2 matches), Visakhapatnam (DC, 2 matches), Dharamsala (PBKS, 3 matches).
Home Grounds: Wankhede (MI), Chepauk (CSK), Jaipur (RR), Ahmedabad (GT), etc.

Team Analysis: Strengths and Strategies

KKR: Defending Champs

Strength: Russell’s all-round brilliance, Chakravarthy’s spin.
Strategy: Rahane’s calm leadership to defend the title.

MI: Five-Time Kings

Strength: Bumrah’s pace, Sharma’s experience.
Strategy: Hardik rebuilds batting core.

CSK: Yellow Brigade

Strength: Gaikwad’s consistency, Dhoni’s clutch play.
Strategy: Balance youth and veterans.

LSG: Pant’s Powerhouse

Strength: Pant’s aggression, Pooran’s finishing.
Strategy: High-risk, high-reward T20.

Predictions: Who’ll Lift the Trophy?

MI: History favors them—five titles.
KKR: Momentum from 2024 win.
CSK: Dhoni’s farewell fuel.
Dark Horse—LSG: Pant could disrupt the big guns.

How to Watch IPL 2025

India: JioHotstar (streaming), Star Sports (TV).
USA: Times Internet—post-DST timings (1-2 PM EST).
Tickets: Bookmyshow.com or IPLT20.com.

FAQs: IPL 2025

When does IPL 2025 start?
March 22, 2025—KKR vs. RCB.
What’s the IPL 2025 schedule?
70 league matches (March 22-May 18), playoffs (May 20-25).
Who’s the most expensive player?
Rishabh Pant—₹27 crore (LSG).
How many teams in IPL 2025?
10—same as 2024.
Where’s the final?
Eden Gardens, Kolkata—May 25.
Who won IPL 2024?
KKR—third title.
What’s new in IPL 2025?
ICC T20I Code of Conduct, 6-player retention cap.

IPL 2025 Awaits

IPL 2025 promises fireworks—KKR’s title defense, Pant’s LSG debut, and Kohli’s RCB dream. From March 22 to May 25, the T20 rollercoaster will thrill fans worldwide. Stay tuned to IPLT20.com for updates, grab your tickets, and let the games begin! Who’s your champion pick? Share below!