The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a remarkable statement announcing the dates for Indian Premier League (IPL) marks a significant shift in how the league plans its future for the next three seasons.
Compliance Format and Structure
The IPL 2025 season will consist of 74 matches with the same format as the last three seasons. However, this is ten matches short of the 84 matches originally predicted in the media rights tender for the 2023-27 period. BCCI emphasized flexibility in balancing logistics and player workload while ensuring audience engagement.
Key dates
- IPL 2025: The tournament will start on March 14 and conclude with the final on May 25.
- IPL 2026: It is scheduled to last from March 15 to May 31.
- IPL 2027: The matches will be held from March 14 to May 30.
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BCCI’s decision to finalize these dates underscores the growing prominence of the IPL in the international cricket calendar and its importance to stakeholders in the sport.
Impact on Franchises and Players
This early announcement is expected to facilitate better planning for the franchises as they prepare for the IPL 2025 mega auction scheduled for November 24 and 25, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Clarity on match schedules will also help overseas players prioritize their commitments and reduce last-minute withdrawals.
BCCI releases list of suspected bowlers
The BCCI has also released a list of bowlers who have been flagged for questionable actions or banned from bowling for violations. Among those banned are Manish Pandey and Srijit Krishnan. Meanwhile, Deepak Hooda was investigated for a suspicious bowling action. Joining him in the suspect list are Saurabh Dubey and KC Cariappa.
