The Indian Premier League (IPL) will start its next season on March 14, 2025, and the final will take place on May 25, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo. For the first time, the IPL has also announced the schedules for the following two seasons. The 2026 season will run from March 15 to May 31, and the 2027 season will happen between March 14 and May 30.
An email sent to the franchises, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, mentioned these dates as “windows,” though they are expected to remain final. The 2025 season will feature 74 matches, the same number as in the last three seasons.
Interestingly, this is fewer than the 84 matches promised for 2025 and 2026 in the IPL’s 2022 media rights document. According to the same document, the number of games was set to increase to a maximum of 94 in 2027.
Overseas Players’ Availability For IPL 2025-27
In a boost for IPL teams, players from most major cricket nations, except Pakistan, have been cleared to participate in the next three IPL seasons. Pakistan’s players have not been part of the IPL since the first season in 2008 due to political issues.
Australia: Cricket Australia (CA) has approved its top players for the IPL. However, in 2026, Australian players involved in an ODI series against Pakistan (ending by March 18) or resting after the T20 World Cup (February-March) will join the IPL later. In 2027, Australian players taking part in a special Test match against England in March will arrive after that event.
England: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed 18 centrally contracted players for the next three IPL seasons, including Jofra Archer, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, and Liam Livingstone. Notably, Ben Stokes is missing from the list.
Some of these players may lose their central contracts during 2025-27, but they will remain available for the IPL while under contract. Non-contracted players will be fully available.
South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe: Players from these nations will be fully available for the next three seasons.
Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) stated that all its players will be available for 2025, and retained players will also participate in 2026 and 2027.
Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) provided a list of 13 players who could be available for varying periods over the next three seasons. The list includes Shakib Al Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, and Mustafizur Rahman.
