After a temporary pause in the 2025 Indian Premier League due to regional tensions, the tournament is officially set to resume on May 17. The final, which was initially planned for May 31, has now been pushed to June 3 following the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) revised scheduling.
The interruption occurred last week when the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala was halted mid-way due to rising concerns related to geopolitical instability. Soon after, the BCCI suspended all matches for a week, prioritizing player safety and operational logistics.
With a ceasefire now in place between India and Pakistan, the BCCI, after consulting with government bodies, has finalized a new itinerary. The action will restart with a marquee clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Revised Host Cities and Fixtures
The remaining league matches will be played across six key cities: Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai. Notably, Dharamsala and Kolkata—originally in the mix—have been left out of the updated venue list due to security concerns and weather-related uncertainties.
Jaipur has emerged as a key venue, stepping in to host Punjab Kings’ previously abandoned fixture against Delhi Capitals, now rescheduled for May 24. Punjab, which was supposed to host two more matches in Dharamsala, will now complete those games in Jaipur—costing them home advantage during this crucial stage.
To minimize player fatigue in the summer heat, the BCCI has limited double-headers to just two Sundays: May 18 and May 25. There are also a few changes in match venues—for instance, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, previously set to end their campaign at home, will now play their final league game in Lucknow.
Concerns Over Overseas Player Availability
Following the week-long break, franchises have begun reassembling their squads. Teams like Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians have resumed training, with others expected to follow suit. However, the return of international players remains uncertain. There are early indications that Australia’s Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc may skip the remainder of the season due to injury concerns, particularly with the World Test Championship final on the horizon.
| Date | Day | Time | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17-May-25 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs KKR | Bengaluru |
| 18-May-25 | Sunday | 3:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings | Jaipur |
| 18-May-25 | Sunday | 7:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | Delhi |
| 19-May-25 | Monday | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs SRH | Lucknow |
| 20-May-25 | Tuesday | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | Delhi |
| 21-May-25 | Wednesday | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals | Mumbai |
| 22-May-25 | Thursday | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants | Ahmedabad |
| 23-May-25 | Friday | 7:30 PM | RCB vs SRH | Bengaluru |
| 24-May-25 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals | Jaipur |
| 25-May-25 | Sunday | 3:30 PM | Gujarat Titans vs CSK | Ahmedabad |
| 25-May-25 | Sunday | 7:30 PM | SRH vs KKR | Delhi |
| 26-May-25 | Monday | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians | Jaipur |
| 27-May-25 | Tuesday | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs RCB | Lucknow |
| 29-May-25 | Thursday | 7:30 PM | Qualifier 1 | TBC |
| 30-May-25 | Friday | 7:30 PM | Eliminator | TBC |
| 01-Jun-25 | Sunday | 7:30 PM | Qualifier 2 | TBC |
| 03-Jun-25 | Tuesday | 7:30 PM | Final | TBC |
IMAGE – Getty Images
