Indian Premier League

The newest edition of Indian Premier League is set to begin much earlier than expected and the fans can’t contain their excitement. With defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders set to face Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season opener on March 22, the countdown is well and truly on. With less than two weeks to go until IPL 2025 gets underway, the big question is – what's new this season?

IPL Mega Auction has created new favorites

The IPL 2025 mega auction has completely reshaped the landscape of the league, creating new favorites and shaking up team dynamics. With franchises only allowed to retain up to six players (including the right to match), many teams were forced into tough decisions, letting go of some of their biggest stars. Take Rajasthan Royals, for example. Their squad was widely regarded as one of the strongest over the past three seasons, yet they had to part ways with fan favorites like Jos Buttler, Trent Boult, Ravi Ashwin, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Unsurprisingly, these stars fetched massive bids – Buttler was snapped up by Gujarat Titans, Boult made a return to Mumbai Indians, Ashwin rejoined Chennai Super Kings, and Chahal found a new home at Punjab Kings.

While teams with established squads had to make painful sacrifices, the mega auction was a golden opportunity for struggling franchises to hit the reset button. Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings entered the auction with the largest budgets, but their strategies played out quite differently. Delhi’s management put together what many believe is the most balanced squad of IPL 2025. With the additions of KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, Mitchell Starc, Harry Brook, and T Natarajan, they might finally be in a position to claim their first-ever IPL title.

On the other hand, Punjab Kings made some big-money signings, including Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, and Chahal. However, critics argue that while they boast star power, their squad lacks balance, making them an unpredictable force this season. With the league reshaped and new powerhouses emerging, IPL 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing seasons yet.

Essential Details about IPL 2025

First match: 22nd March 2025

Finale date: 25th May 2025

Season: 18th

Total league matches: 70

Total teams: 10

Organized by: BCCI & TATA IPL

Prize money: 46.5 Crore

Venue of IPL 2025

IPL 2025 will be staged in 12 different venues in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Mullanpur, Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata and Hyderabad, the traditional homes of the franchises, while this season's matches will also be played in Guwahati and Dharamsala.

Ahmedabad - Narendra Modi Stadium (Gujarat Titans home venue)

Bengaluru - M Chinnaswamy Stadium (RCB home venue)

Chennai - MA Chidambaram Stadium (CSK home venue)

Delhi - Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi Capitals home venue)

Dharamsala - Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (PBKS second home venue)

Guwahati - Barsapara Stadium (RR second home venue)

Hyderabad - Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (SRH home venue)

Jaipur - Sawai Mansingh Stadium (RR home venue)

Kolkata - Eden Gardens (KKR home venue)

Lucknow - BRSABV Ekana Stadium (LSG home venue)

Mullanpur - Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium (PBKS home venue)

Mumbai - Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai Indians home venue)

Notable Absentees from IPL 2025

David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Shardul Thakur, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Adil Rashid, Finn Allen, Ben Duckett, Rilee Rossouw, James Vince, Tom Banton, Mustafizur Rahman, Naveen Ul Haq, Umesh Yadav, Tabraiz Shamsi, Evin Lewis, Steve Smith, Gus Atkinson, Tom Curran, Matt Henry, Alzarri Joseph, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Sean Abbott, Adam Milne, Jason Holder, Mohammad Nabi, Tom Latham, Kyle Mayers, Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson, Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee, John Turner, Kyle Jamieson, Shai Hope, Nandre Burger, Sikandar Raza, Will Young, Obed McCoy, Lance Morris, Ashton Agar, James Anderson.

Get Latest IPL News on Scorewaves

For nearly two decades, the Indian Premier League has been a go-to source of entertainment for cricket fans across the globe. And with IPL 2025 shaping up to be the most thrilling edition yet, we at ScoreWaves are here to keep you updated every step of the way. From in-depth articles to lightning-fast updates and the latest match details, we've got everything you need. Whether you're on the move or unable to catch the live action, ScoreWaves will keep you in the loop with real-time IPL updates, including the points table, top run-scorers, leading wicket-takers, and all the key stats that matter.