The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to return with its 2025 season kicking off on March 14, while the highly anticipated final is scheduled for May 25. This announcement marks a significant milestone in IPL’s planning, as the tournament organizers have also revealed tentative dates for the next three seasons, a first in the league’s history.
According to details shared with franchises via email, the 2026 IPL season is slated to run from March 15 to May 31, while the 2027 season is expected to take place from March 14 to May 30. These dates, referred to as “tournament windows,” are likely to remain unchanged.
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The 2025 season will feature 74 matches, continuing the format used in recent editions. However, this number falls short of the 84 matches initially listed for the 2023-27 media rights cycle. The tender document outlined a gradual increase in games, with 74 matches in 2023 and 2024, 84 in 2025 and 2026, and a maximum of 94 matches in 2027.
The availability of international players for the next three IPL seasons has also been clarified. Players from major cricketing nations, excluding Pakistan due to ongoing political tensions, will participate in the tournament. Here’s a country-wise breakdown:
Cricket Australia has confirmed the participation of its top players, with minor scheduling overlaps. Australian players will join the IPL after completing commitments, including an ODI series against Pakistan in 2026 and a one-off match against England in 2027.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has submitted a list of 18 centrally contracted stars which will be available for the next three seasons, with it missing the name of star all-rounder Ben Stokes, who did not register for the mega auction this year.
The player list included: Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Olly Stone and Reece Topley.
ECB also said that some of these players will be “out of contract” at some point during the 2025-27 period but while they are contracted, they will be available to play in the IPL. Players without central contracts will be fully available for the next three seasons.
South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe: Players from these countries will be fully available for the next three seasons.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said that its players will be fully available for the 2025 season and those retained ahead of the 2026 and 2027 seasons will also be available.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has sent a list of 13 players, who could be available for varying periods in these three years, including Taskin Ahmed, Litton Kumar Das, Mahedi Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Shoriful Islam, Shohidul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
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