Sun Feb 16 09:02:25 UTC 2025: ## IPL 2025 to Kick Off in Kolkata on March 22nd

**Kolkata, India –** The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is set to commence on March 22nd with a clash between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Eden Gardens, which will also host the final on May 25th. This was confirmed by sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

While the full schedule is pending official release, expected early next week, it’s been revealed that Dharamsala and Guwahati will again feature as IPL venues. Dharamsala will serve as a second home ground for the Punjab Kings, alongside Mullanpur, while the Rajasthan Royals will utilize Guwahati in addition to their Jaipur base.

The opening match will be followed on March 23rd by a contest between Chennai Super Kings (CSK), captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Mumbai Indians (MI), led by Hardik Pandya, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Both CSK and MI boast five IPL titles each.

Meanwhile, the Kolkata Knight Riders are yet to announce a captain following Shreyas Iyer’s move to Punjab Kings, and the Royal Challengers Bangalore have appointed Rajat Patidar as their new skipper. The BCCI is expected to unveil the complete fixture list shortly.

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