IPL 2025 likely to resume before next weekend

IPL set to resume in India, with final likely before May 31, aiming to accommodate WTC final-bound cricketers.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to resume before the next weekend, at select venues in India, based on the government clearance. The decision is likely to be formalised by the IPL Governing Council in the next couple of days, provided it gets the government nod.

Multiple members of various IPL franchise contingents confirmed to The Hindu that they have been notified about resumption “on Thursday or Friday”. A BCCI official confirmed on anonymity that the BCCI, if it gets the central government go-ahead, will try to finish the IPL before the month-end.

As per the original fixtures, Kolkata was scheduled to host the final on May 25. With a ceasefire being announced between India and Pakistan, the BCCI is hoping to stage the remaining matches at select venues in India. On Friday, the BCCI announced a weeklong suspension due to the tension on the border.

The BCCI has shortlisted the three southern IPL home bases – Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad – to stage the bulk of the 17 remaining matches, including the one between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala that was called off on Thursday night due to a security reasons. If required, either Mumbai or Ahmedabad may host Playoff games.

The final is likely to be played before May 31, thus ensuring most World Test Championship (WTC) final-bound cricketers will get enough time to join their respective team preparations. Australia will take on South Africa in the WTC final at Lord’s from June 11.

The challenge for the BCCI will be to convince Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa to extend the stay of the eligible WTC final stars. While some of the overseas cricketers, support staff members and broadcast members have boarded flights for their respective homes, some of them were scheduled to leave India on Saturday night.

The IPL governing council will also have to find a way out of the Thursday night muddle. Despite Punjab Kings’ game being halted against Delhi Capitals midway through the first innings, it has not been accounted for in the points table so far. The BCCI is understood to have been in favour of replaying the game. The Punjab Kings may insist on continuing the game from where it was halted at, considering the sensational start it got from its in-form opening pair.