The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has surprised everyone by announcing the dates for the next three IPL seasons. The much-awaited IPL 2025 will begin on March 14 (Friday) and conclude with the season finale on May 25 (Sunday). The BCCI has communicated this to the IPL teams and set the window from March 15 to May 31 for the 2026 season and March 14 to May 30 for the 2027 season. All franchises were informed of this timeline on Friday morning.
The early announcement of the IPL schedule marks a refreshing change from the past when the BCCI and IPL officials often waited until the last minute to release the dates. The reason for this change is not difficult to understand, as the league now benefits fully from the international window.
BCCI Includes Jofra Archer, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Hardik Tamore in IPL Auction
The Indian cricket board has decided to include England fast bowler Jofra Archer, Indian-origin American fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar, and Mumbai’s young wicketkeeper-batsman Hardik Tamore in the two-day auction to be held in Jeddah starting Sunday. In a letter sent to the teams, the BCCI stated that the dates for the next three IPL seasons were shared to help teams plan their auction strategies for players.
Jofra Archer’s Return and Availability
Jofra Archer, who did not play in the IPL this year and left midway in 2023 due to an elbow injury, will be available for the entire IPL 2025 season. He has confirmed his availability for all three seasons of the current cycle. Although the BCCI did not mention Archer’s base price, reports suggest that he has placed himself in the top bracket of Rs 2 crore.
Saurabh Netravalkar and Hardik Tamore Join Auction
Saurabh Netravalkar, who impressed in the T20 World Cup in the USA, and Hardik Tamore from Mumbai are also included in the auction list. Netravalkar, a former India Under-19 cricketer, played the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai before moving to the US for his studies and work at Oracle. It was surprising to see his name in the auction instead of Unmukt Chand, who wasn’t part of the US team in the T20 World Cup.
IPL 2025 and Champions Trophy Timing
The Champions Trophy is scheduled between February 19 and March 9. With IPL 2025 set to start on March 14, this could indicate that the BCCI has made up its mind that if the PCB does not adopt the hybrid model, the BCCI will not go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and will not be affected by its exclusion. This timing could also put pressure on the PCB to agree to the hybrid model.
Potential Clash with PSL Dates
The PSL is usually organized in February-March, but due to the Champions Trophy, its window may be extended this year. This could potentially clash with IPL 2025 dates, further highlighting the ongoing tensions and BCCI’s strategy.
IPL 2025 on Jio Cinema
In an exciting development, the BCCI has announced that IPL 2025 will be available for free streaming on Jio Cinema, giving fans more access to the tournament.