Sat Mar 22 11:50:00 UTC 2025: ## IPL 2025: Saliva Ban Lifted, New Captains Set Stage for Tournament Kick-Off

**Kolkata, March 21, 2025** – The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin this Saturday, March 22nd, in Kolkata, with a clash between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The highly anticipated tournament will feature a number of rule changes and new team captains. Most notably, the saliva ban, implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been lifted, allowing bowlers to once again use saliva to shine the ball.

The opening match, scheduled for 7:30 PM, faces a potential rain delay. However, the excitement surrounding the tournament remains high, with fans eagerly anticipating the return of familiar faces and the emergence of new talent. Full team rosters for all participating teams have been released (see below).

The IPL 2025 schedule is packed with matches across various venues throughout the month of March and into May. The tournament will culminate in the final match on May 25th in Kolkata. The full schedule can be viewed below.

**Team Rosters:**

*(Note: Due to space constraints, full team rosters are not included in this news brief. The complete rosters can be found in the original article.)*

**Match Schedule (Partial):**

* **March 22nd (Saturday):** KKR vs RCB (Kolkata, 7:30 PM)
* **March 23rd (Sunday):** SRH vs RR (Hyderabad, 3:30 PM & 7:30 PM); CSK vs MI (Chennai, 7:30 PM)
* *(Further matches are available in the original article.)*

The IPL promises another thrilling season filled with intense competition, impressive performances, and the usual high-octane energy.

Read More