BCCI’s Rajeev Shukla reveals start date for IPL 2025, says India’s Champions Trophy squad to be unveiled on 18 or 19 January

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season will get underway on 23 March, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said on Sunday. “The IPL will begin from 23 March,” Rajeev Shukla told reporters after a BCCI Special General Meeting (SGM) in Mumbai on Sunday.

This development means that the 18th edition of the IPL will begin exactly two weeks after the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final, which will be held on 9 March. At the IPL 2025 mega auction in Saudi Arabia in November, Rishabh Pant had become the costliest-ever player after he was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for Rs 27 crore. This came just minutes after Shreyas Iyer was snapped up by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for Rs 26.75 crore.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are the defending champions of the IPL after the Shreyas Iyer-led side defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets.

Devajit Saikia, Prabhtej Singh Bhatia named BCCI secretary, treasurer

At the SGM on Sunday, Devajit Saikia and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia were elected unopposed as BCCI’s new secretary and treasurer respectively. “Devajit Saikia elected new BCCI secretary and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia elected as BCCI treasurer,” said Shukla. The post of BCCI secretary was vacant after Jay Shah officially took over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman in December. Meanwhile, Ashish Shelar relinquished his role as BCCI treasurer after he was appointed as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government.

Shukla also said that a meeting to finalise India’s squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will be held on either 18 or 19 January. “The meeting will happen on 18 or 19 January,” said Shukla.

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While the ICC had set 12 January as the deadline for all teams to announce their Champions Trophy squads, it had been reported that there would be a delay in announcing India’s squad. England, New Zealand and Bangladesh have announced their Champions Trophy squads so far.

India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign with a group stage match against Bangladesh in Dubai on 20 February. The Men in Blue will then lock horns against Pakistan on 23 February, before facing New Zealand on 2 March. India will play all of their matches in Dubai.