Sun Feb 16 09:02:25 UTC 2025: ## IPL 2025 to Kick Off on March 22nd with KKR vs RCB

**Mumbai, India** – The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to begin on March 22nd with a clash between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Eden Gardens, according to reports. The tournament, featuring 74 matches across 12 cities, will conclude on May 25th.

ESPNcricinfo reports suggest that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), last season’s finalists, will commence their campaign on March 23rd against Rajasthan Royals at home. Other opening weekend fixtures reportedly include Chennai Super Kings (CSK) hosting Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Chepauk. The league is expected to start on March 9th, just twelve days after the Champions Trophy final.

This year’s IPL will see some key changes. RCB will be captained by Rajat Patidar, while KKR are yet to announce a successor to Shreyas Iyer. Rajasthan Royals will play some matches in Guwahati, and Punjab Kings will host matches in Dharamshala and Mohali.

The report also notes RCB’s late playoff run in 2024 and KKR’s strong home record against RCB at Eden Gardens. The news piece further mentions the dismissal of three Jammu and Kashmir government employees – a police constable, a teacher, and a forest department orderly – by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. However, the connection between the dismissals and the IPL schedule is unclear and seemingly unrelated.

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