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IPL 2025: CSK vs MI, RCB in Double Thrillers – Full Schedule & Key Fixtures

 

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 schedule has been officially released, confirming that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play two league-stage matches each against their marquee rivals, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The much-anticipated season will commence on March 22, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hosting RCB at Eden Gardens. The final will also be held at the same venue on May 25.

 

CSK’s Key Fixtures and Grouping Format

 

The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led CSK will begin their campaign at home against five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 23 in a late-evening clash. The return fixture will be played in Mumbai on April 20. However, MI will miss the services of their captain Hardik Pandya in the first encounter, as he serves a one-match ban due to overrate offenses committed three times in the 2024 season.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will also go head-to-head against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) twice, first at home on March 28 and later at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on May 3. The tournament continues to follow the two-group format introduced in 2022, with CSK placed in Group 1 alongside KKR, RCB, Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Punjab Kings (PBKS). Meanwhile, Group 2 consists of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Titans (GT), MI, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Under this format, each team will play 14 league games—facing the teams in its own group and one selected team from the other group twice, while playing the remaining four teams from the opposite group once.

 

Season Opener and Playoff Venues

 

The season opener on March 22 will feature defending champions KKR locking horns with RCB at Eden Gardens. The playoffs will be hosted at multiple venues, with the first Qualifier set to take place at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on May 20, followed by the Eliminator on May 21. Qualifier 2 and the grand finale will both be played at Eden Gardens on May 23 and May 25, respectively.

Coming in as the runners up of last season, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will get underway on the evening of 23 March with an afternoon contest against Rajasthan Royals (RR). On the other hand, (DC) and Gujrat Titans’ (GT) will kickstart their season at home with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) next.

 

Expanded Venues and Additional Host Cities

 

In addition to regular venues—, three new cities, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam and Dharamsala will be hosting matches along with ten prevailing venues, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Mullanpur, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Jaipur. Guwahati will also be serve as Rajasthan Royals’ second home venue, where the team will be playing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 26 and 30, respectively.

Delhi Capital’s (DC) first two matches against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will be held into the Visakhapatnam. In the other half of the tournament, Punjab Kings will play three home games in Dharamsala and will clash with LSG, DC and MI.

 

Packed Schedule with Double-Headers

 

The 2025 season will have 74 matches over 65 days, with 12 double-headers. Three afternoon matches each will be played by RR, DC, LSG, and GT, while the rest of the six teams will have two day games each. Owing to the presence of high profile fixtures, riveting matches and several host venues, IPL 2025 could turn out to be yet another nail-biting cricketing spectacle for fans all over the world.