In a recent development, the IPL has released dates for the next three editions of the tournament, ESPNCricinfo reported on Friday (November 22).
According to the report, the IPL 2025 season will get underway on March 14 and culminate on May 25. The 2026 season will be played from March 15 to May 31, while the 2027 edition will be conducted between March 14 and May 30.
In an email to franchises on Thursday (November 21), accessed by ESPNcricinfo, the IPL communicated that the 2025 season will include 74 matches, the same as the previous three seasons. The number of matches 10 less than the 84 listed by IPL in 2022 when the media rights for the 2023–27 cycle were sold.
In the tender document for the new rights cycle, IPL had mentioned varying number of matches for each season. 74 games each were listed for 2023 and 2024 while 84 matches each were supposed to be played in 2025 and 2026 editions. The tender also included 94 matches in the IPL 2027.
The BCCI is reportedly keen on ensuring that players are not overloaded during the IPL, as it could affect their participation in the World Test Championship (WTC).
"We have not taken a call on organising 84 matches in IPL 2025 since we also have to factor the load on the players due to the increase in matches. While it's (84 matches) part of the contract, it's up to the BCCI to decide whether to organise 74 or 84 matches," BCCI secretary Jay Shah had told the Economic Times in August 2024.
While the IPL has described the dates as windows, that tournament will likely be organized without any modification in the schedule.
The latest development comes just a few days ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, slated to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24 and November 25.
As per the report, players from Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe will be fully available for the next three seasons of the IPL.
The 2025 edition of the cash-rich league will be played after the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy. However, there is still no certainty whether the ICC would organise the entire tournament in Pakistan or adopt a hybrid model.
