IPL 2025: The excitement for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is building up as the tournament is set to kick off on March 22, 2025. Fans are eagerly waiting for the action to begin, and the first match will be a thrilling face-off between the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The opening match will take place at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata under the floodlights at 7:30 PM.
Let’s take a closer look at all the important details, including team captains, match schedules, and where you can watch the action live.
When and Where is the First Match of IPL 2025?
- Date: March 22, 2025
- Day: Saturday
- Time: 7:30 PM (IST)
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Teams Playing: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Who are the Captains for IPL 2025?
Each team has finalized its captain for the season, with some major changes from the previous year. Here’s the list of all 10 IPL team captains for 2025:
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Ajinkya Rahane
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Rajat Patidar
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Pat Cummins
- Rajasthan Royals (RR): Sanju Samson
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Mumbai Indians (MI): Hardik Pandya
- Delhi Capitals (DC): (Yet to be announced)
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): Rishabh Pant
- Gujarat Titans (GT): Shubman Gill
- Punjab Kings (PBKS): Shreyas Iyer
Where to Watch IPL 2025?
Cricket fans can watch the matches live through various platforms:
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports and Sports-18 One
- Online Streaming: JioHotstar app
Whether you prefer watching on a big screen with friends and family or streaming on-the-go, you won’t miss a single moment of the action!
Full Squads of KKR and RCB
Since KKR and RCB will be playing the first match, let’s take a look at their complete squads for IPL 2025.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Squad:
- Ajinkya Rahane (Captain)
- Sunil Narine
- Rinku Singh
- Andre Russell
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Harshit Rana
- Ramandeep Singh
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Quinton de Kock
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Anrich Nortje
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Vaibhav Arora
- Mayank Markande
- Rovman Powell
- Manish Pandey
- Spencer Johnson
- Lavneet Sisodia
- Anukul Roy
- Moeen Ali
- Umran Malik
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Squad:
- Rajat Patidar (Captain)
- Virat Kohli
- Yash Dayal
- Liam Livingstone
- Phil Salt
- Jitesh Sharma
- Josh Hazlewood
- Rasikh Dar
- Suyash Sharma
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Swapnil Singh
- Tim David
- Romario Shepherd
- Nuwan Thushara
- Manoj Bhandage
- Jacob Bethell
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Swastik Chikara
- Lungi Ngidi
- Abhinandan Singh
- Mohit Rathi
These two squads are packed with powerful hitters, skilled bowlers, and experienced all-rounders, making the opening game an exciting contest.
IPL 2025 Knockout Matches and Final
After weeks of intense cricket, the league stage will conclude, leading to the knockout matches. Here are the important dates:
- Qualifier 1: May 20, Hyderabad
- Eliminator: May 21, Hyderabad
- Qualifier 2: May 23, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Final: May 25, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
With the final match scheduled in Kolkata, fans of KKR will be hoping to see their team make it to the grand finale on home ground.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When does IPL 2025 start?
IPL 2025 starts on March 22, 2025, with KKR taking on RCB in the opening match.
2. Where will the first match be played?
The first match will be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
3. What time will the first match start?
The match will begin at 7:30 PM (IST).
4. Who are the captains for KKR and RCB?
- KKR Captain: Ajinkya Rahane
- RCB Captain: Rajat Patidar
5. Where can I watch IPL 2025?
You can watch the matches on Star Sports and Sports-18 One on TV, and stream them online on the JioHotstar app.
6. When is the IPL 2025 final?
The final match of IPL 2025 will be played on May 25, 2025, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Final Thoughts
IPL 2025 is set to be another exciting season filled with thrilling matches, unexpected surprises, and top-notch cricket. With teams finalizing their squads and captains, fans are eagerly waiting to see how their favorite players perform on the field.
The first match between KKR and RCB on March 22 will set the tone for the entire tournament, and with big names like Virat Kohli, Andre Russell, and Quinton de Kock in action, fans can expect a high-energy start to the season.
Stay tuned, mark your calendars, and get ready for the biggest cricket extravaganza of the year!
