Champs KKR to kick off IPL 2025 at Eden Gardens

Three franchises DC, PBKS and RR have named a 2nd home in Visakhapatnam, Dharamsala and Guwahati respectively

- HT Correspondent

MUMBAI: The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will kick off at the Eden Gardens on March 22 with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on fan favourites Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) under lights.

There will be no additional matches this year, with the plan to return to home-and-away matches for all 10 teams put off for now.

The 74 matches, including the four playoffs, will be spread over 65 days and will involve 12 double-headers. The first of the double-headers will be played on March 23 with Sunrisers Hyderabad hosting Rajasthan Royals followed by the much-anticipated Chennai Super Kings-Mumbai Indians clash in Chennai. The two five-time champions will face off again on April 20 in Mumbai.

Hyderabad, home to last year's runners-up SRH, gets to host the first of the playoff matches, Qualifier 1 on May 20 and Eliminator 1 on May 21. Action will then shift to Kolkata for Qualifier 2 on May 23 and the final on May 25.

Three of the franchises, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals, have named a second venue for their home fixtures.