IPL 2025 to Kick Off on March 14; Schedule for Next Three Seasons Announced

In a groundbreaking decision, the IPL has announced the dates for the next three seasons. IPL 2025 is set to begin on March 14, with the final scheduled for May 25. The 2026 season will take place from March 15 to May 31, while the 2027 season will run from March 14 to May 30.

In an email to franchises on Thursday, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, the IPL termed the tournament dates as windows, but it is likely these might end up being the final dates. The 2025 season will comprise 74 matches, the same as the last three seasons. That number, though, is ten less than the 84 matches listed by IPL in 2022 when the media rights for the 2023-27 cycle were sold.

The IPL has outlined the number of matches for the next three seasons in its new rights cycle. In 2023 and 2024, there will be 74 matches each season, while in 2025 and 2026, the number will increase to 84. The final year of the deal, 2027, will see up to 94 matches.

In a significant development, overseas players from most Full Member countries have received approval from their respective boards to play in the IPL over the next three years, with the exception of Pakistan. Pakistani players have been absent from the IPL since 2008 due to political tensions between the two countries.

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Availability of Overseas Players for IPL 2025-2027 Seasons

Australia’s Cricket Australia (CA) has given clearance for all players, both international and domestic, to participate in the 2025 season. However, for 2026, Australian players involved in an ODI series in Pakistan will join the IPL after March 18, following the conclusion of the series and rest after the T20 World Cup. In 2027, Australian players will join after a one-off Test against England in March.

England’s ECB has confirmed that 18 centrally contracted players will be available for the next three seasons, including Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, and Harry Brook. However, England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, will not participate in the 2025 IPL mega auction. Players from South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe will be fully available, while Sri Lanka’s players will be available for the 2025 season, with those retained for 2026 and 2027 remaining available.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has provided a list of 13 players with varying availability for the three seasons, including Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, and Litton Kumar Das.

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