Sun Feb 16 04:52:59 UTC 2025: ## IPL 2025 to Begin March 22nd; KKR vs RCB Likely Opener

**New Delhi:** The excitement is building for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, set to commence on March 22nd. While the official schedule is yet to be released by the BCCI (expected early next week), the opening match is speculated to be between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The final is slated for May 25th at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Several matches will be held in Dharamshala and Guwahati this year, with Dharamshala serving as a second home ground for Punjab Kings and Guwahati for Rajasthan Royals.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), five-time champions, will begin their campaign on March 23rd against Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain CSK, while Hardik Pandya leads MI. The absence of Shreyas Iyer (now with Punjab Kings) leaves KKR without a named captain, while RCB will be captained by Rajat Patidar, succeeding Faf du Plessis.

Another anticipated match on March 23rd will see last year’s finalists, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), facing Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. This will be followed by the CSK-MI blockbuster.

The tournament, featuring 10 teams, will see two new captains leading their sides in the opening match: Rajat Patidar for RCB and an as-yet-unnamed captain for KKR. The IPL will begin just 12 days after the ICC Champions Trophy final.

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