The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to commence on March 22, 2025, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. The season will feature 74 matches over 65 days, culminating in the final on May 25 at the same venue. Eden Gardens will also host Qualifier 2 on May 23. Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator are scheduled for May 20 and 21, respectively, at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Matches will be held across 13 cities, including Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Dharamsala, with 12 double-headers planned. Afternoon games will start at 3:30 PM IST, while evening matches are slated for 7:30 PM IST. Notably, KKR and Delhi Capitals have yet to announce their captains for the season. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is poised to announce the full schedule for the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) today, February 16, 2025. The season is slated to commence on March 22, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hosting Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens. The tournament will span two months, culminating in the final on May 25, also at Eden Gardens. Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is expected to host two playoff matches, marking its first playoff games since 2017. Fans and franchises eagerly await the detailed fixture list to plan for the upcoming season.     

Despite a strong ODI series against England, India’s unsettled middle order remains a concern for the Champions Trophy. Selection debates revolve around KL Rahul's role over Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper and Axar Patel batting at No. 5. Experts warn that inconsistency in key positions could hurt India in high-pressure matches, similar to past tournament collapses. The team management faces a crucial decision on finalizing a stable batting lineup.    

The IPL 2025 season will begin on March 22 with a match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens. The final will also be held at the same venue on May 25. Punjab Kings will play some matches in Dharamsala, while Rajasthan Royals will also have games in Guwahati. Chennai Super Kings will start their campaign on March 23 against Mumbai Indians in Chennai. RCB will be led by Rajat Patidar, replacing Faf du Plessis, while KKR has yet to announce their captain after Shreyas Iyer joined Punjab Kings in the auction.

New Zealand's undefeated performance in the recent tri-series in Pakistan has propelled them to the 4th position in the ICC ODI rankings, increasing their rating from 100 to 105 points. They secured the title by successfully chasing a 243-run target against Pakistan in just 45.2 overs. Despite this, India maintains a firm grip on the top spot with 119 points, following a dominant 3-0 series sweep over England on home soil. Australia, despite a 0-2 series loss to Sri Lanka, has reclaimed the second position with a 110-point rating, while Pakistan has slipped to third with 107 points.     

Tennis's top-ranked player, Jannik Sinner, has consented to a three-month suspension after finalizing an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regarding two positive drug tests from 2024. The Italian, who triumphed at the Australian Open last month, is banned from February 9 until May 4 but will be back in time for the French Open. Initially, WADA sought a suspension of up to two years but accepted Sinner's account of unintentional contamination by his physiotherapist. Although an independent panel cleared him of wrongdoing last year, Sinner chose to take responsibility. He will be absent from significant tournaments, such as Indian Wells and Miami, before making his return in May.  

Team India’s star cricketers, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and KL Rahul, have departed for Dubai to compete in the ICC Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 20. A notable change in the squad includes Harshit Rana replacing the injured Jasprit Bumrah, while Varun Chakravarthy steps in for Yashasvi Jaiswal. The team is focused on a strong start, aiming for the prestigious ICC title. The squad is led by coach Gautam Gambhir and includes a strong coaching staff to guide the team through the competition.

Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar has expressed faith in the performances of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 but has raised eyebrows over the Indian team’s bowling unit. In the absence of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Vengsarkar emphasized that the team’s success will depend on how well the bowlers play. Vengsarkar also emphasized the importance of team balance by the inclusion of all-rounders. Indian batting has always proved consistent, but Vengsarkar opines that the Indian team’s bowling unit must play well constantly if it has to emerge victorious in the high-stake competition.  

Viacom18 and Star India have unveiled subscription plans for their newly launched streaming service, JioStar, ahead of IPL 2025. Unlike previous seasons, free streaming of IPL matches will not be available. Subscribers must choose from various paid plans to access live IPL content. These plans cater to diverse viewing preferences and budgets, ensuring fans can enjoy the IPL experience through the platform. The move marks a significant shift from the free streaming model of past seasons, reflecting the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting and streaming services.

India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has clarified that middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer was always a key component of the team's plans during the recent ODI series against England. Addressing speculations that Iyer played only due to Virat Kohli's injury, Gambhir emphasized that the team intended to rotate players to assess various combinations ahead of the Champions Trophy. He highlighted Iyer's consistent performance, noting his crucial innings of 59, 44, and 78 runs in the series, underscoring his importance to the squad's strategy.