The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) is expected to maintain the same number of matches as previous seasons due to player workload management. Although the league aimed to expand during this phase of growth, the broadcasting contract had initially promised 84 matches for the upcoming season.
When the tender rights for this cycle were released in 2023, it outlined 74 matches per season for the first few years. This was set to increase to 84 matches in 2025 and 2026, culminating in 94 matches in 2027.
However, the IPL operates within a limited timeframe during the Indian summer, and with players also committed to international cricket, adding more matches poses challenges. According to ESPN Cricinfo, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aims to prevent overwhelming players during the 2025 season to ensure their availability for the World Test Championship (WTC).
While India has not officially secured a spot in their third consecutive final, they are considered one of the favorites, currently sitting at the top of the points table.
“We have not taken a call on organising 84 matches in IPL 2025 since we also have to factor the load on the players due to the increase in matches. While it’s (84 matches) part of the contract, it’s up to the BCCI to decide whether to organise 74 or 84 matches,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah told the Economic Times recently.
Although the league features 10 teams and a league-plus-knockout format, not every team plays each other twice during the league stage. Each team competes in 14 matches before the playoffs. With the knockout rounds and finals included, the total reaches 74 matches per season under the current format established in 2022 after the addition of two new teams.
The BCCI has many decisions to finalize before IPL 2025
With the number of matches per season now seemingly settled for the moment, the BCCI faces several other choices leading up to the 2025 season, beginning with the mega auction. IPL franchises are keenly awaiting the BCCI’s decision on the number of player retentions allowed.
Other pressing matters include the updated budget, the status of Right To Match provisions, and the future of the impact player rule and the two-bouncer rule, all of which the BCCI needs to address soon.
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