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IPL 2025: Full Overview

Schedule and Format
The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be held from March 14, 2025, to May 25, 2025. It will follow the “Home and Away” format with 74 matches to be played across various venues in India. The tournament will feature a Group Stage and Playoff format, where the top four teams on the points table will advance to the playoffs.

Teams and Key Players
All 10 teams—Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians (MI), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)—have finalized their squads following the IPL 2025 mega auction held on November 24-25, 2024, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Notable player transfers include Pat Cummins joining SRH for a record INR 20.50 crore, Daryl Mitchell being sold to CSK for INR 14 crore, and Mitchell Starc signing with KKR for INR 24.75 crore.

Auction Highlights
The 2025 auction saw aggressive bidding, with 577 players up for grabs and 204 slots available, including 70 for overseas players. Teams could retain up to six players through direct retention or the Right to Match (RTM) option. Big names like Shardul Thakur (CSK), Harry Brook (DC), and Travis Head (SRH) were some of the marquee signings.

Defending Champions and Opening Match
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the defending champions, are set to play the opening game of the IPL 2025 season. Their retained squad includes key players like Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, and Shubman Gill.

Important Matches and Venues
Key fixtures include RCB vs CSK on May 18, 2025, in Bengaluru, and SRH vs GT on May 16, 2025, in Hyderabad. The playoff matches will be held in Ahmedabad and Chennai, with the grand final taking place in Chennai on May 25, 2025

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