IPL 2025 Restart Highlights: GT begin training; BCCI eyeing 16-30 May for remaining IPL matches

Speaking to PTI, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia added: “In the next few days, we will begin consultations with the franchises, broadcasters, sponsors and the state associations slated to host the remaining matches before crystallizating to a decision on the league’s resumption.

“Given that the importance of IPL at this juncture, it will also be prudent and necessary to take the nod of the Government of India before finalising the time for its restart.”

Suspended due to the India-Pakistan military conflict, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to resume either on May 16 or 17 with the possibility of the final being moved out of Kolkata.

The IPL Governing Council members and the BCCI officials discussed the resumption plan on Sunday.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said the board is still working on creating a suitable schedule.

“As of now there is no decision on IPL. BCCI officials are working out on the solutions. BCCI secretary, IPL Chairman are in talks with franchises and everyone, so very soon we will know about the decision, efforts are being made to resume the tournament early,” said Shukla.

“All the teams have been asked to call back their players, the tournament will resume either on May 16 or 17 in Lucknow. The final schedule will be shared tomorrow (Monday),” a source told PTI.

“Most likely the matches will be held at four venues and Delhi and Dharamsala won’t get to host more matches. All the equipment has already been removed from these venues,” added the source.

“As of now there is no change in venues for the play-off stage but it seems rain can affect the final in Kolkata. In that case the final could be played in Ahmedabad,” said the source.

Ponting stayed back in Delhi, but he also ensured that the PBKS’ foreign players, who were edgy considering the possibility of a full scale war between two nuclear-armed countries, did not board the flight from the national capital on Saturday night.

“It shows Ponting’s character. Only he could have pulled that off,” Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon told PTI referring to the pep talk given by the World Cup winning captain to the entire bunch of foreign players.

The anxious batch of players, who had to make a nervous road/train journey from Dharamsala to Delhi following the abandonment of the IPL game on May 8, included Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis and Xavier Bartlett (all from Australia).

Hyderabad (Qualifier 1 and Eliminator) and Kolkata (Qualifier 2 and Final) were scheduled to host the playoffs that were originally scheduled to take place between 20 and 25 May.

While the dates are set to be revised, with the remaining matches reportedly taking place between 16 to 30 May, the two aforementioned cities will continue hosting the playoffs as planned.

According to Mint, every cancelled IPL match costs the BCCI somewhere between Rs 100-125 crore, which could be brought down to Rs 60 crore with the help of insurance.

The week-long suspension implemented on Friday thus could cost the board Rs 300-400 crore or more.

Bollywood star Preity Zinta, co-owner of the Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings, is back home following four days after her team’s IPL match against Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala was abruptly called off due to security concerns. With the Kangra airport – closest to Dharamsala – closed due to India’s ongoing hostilities with Pakistan, the PBKS players and support staff along with broadcast crew and other personnel were escorted to New Delhi through a special train arranged by the BCCI and the Indian railways.

“Ghatiya desh ne fir apna ghatiyapan poori duniya ke aage dikha diya (A substandard country showed its substandard behaviour to the entire world once again),” wrote Dhawan on X after Pakistan armed forces targeted Srinagar and other parts of the country located close to the border.

“Kutte ki dum tedi ki tedi hi rehti hai (a dog’s tail remains crooked no matter what),” Sehwag wrote, quoting a popular Hindi proverb. ( READ MORE )

“The war has stopped. In the new situation BCCI office bearers, officials and IPL Governing Council, will discuss the matter tomorrow (Sunday) and take a call. We will see which can be the best schedule to complete the tournament,” BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla told PTI on Saturday.

“That was an option when war was going on. There are many options which have been discussed. The ceasefire has just been announced, give some time to us, we will discuss and then only a decision will be taken,” former IPL chairman Shukla added, on the option of staging the remainder of the season in southern Indian cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

The final of the 2025 Indian Premier League was originally scheduled to take place on 25 May in Kolkata, with the playoffs getting underway on 20 May.

However, it remains to be seen if the BCCI will be able to conclude the season by that date, keeping in mind the resumption of international cricket in June with the Indian team scheduled to travel to England for a five-match Test series.