The 18th Edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) – A Comprehensive Rewrite
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a franchise-based Twenty20 cricket tournament organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The tournament has gained immense popularity since its inception in 2008, with a brand value of $12 billion, according to a December 2024 report by Brand Finance.
Key Details of the 18th Edition of IPL
When is the IPL happening?
The 18th edition of the IPL will take place from March 22 to May 25.
Format of the IPL
The 10 participating teams will be divided into two groups, with each team playing twice, home and away, against other teams in the group, as well as one match against the remaining four teams from the other group, for a total of 14 matches in the group stage. The top four teams will qualify for the playoffs. The top two teams will play each other in ‘Qualifier 1’, with the winner advancing to the final. The teams that finish third and fourth will compete in the ‘Eliminator’ match, with the winner progressing to ‘Qualifier 2’ for a spot in the final.
Locations
The IPL will be held in the home cities of the franchises, with some teams opting to split their home games between two or more cities. A total of 13 venues will be used in the tournament.
Participating Teams
The 10 teams participating in the 18th edition of the IPL are:
- Chennai Super Kings
- Delhi Capitals
- Gujarat Titans
- Kolkata Knight Riders
- Lucknow Super Giants
- Mumbai Indians
- Punjab Kings
- Rajasthan Royals
- Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
Notable Players and Coaches
The teams will feature some top international players, including England’s Jos Buttler, who has been signed by Gujarat Titans for $1.81 million, and Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who has been signed by Lucknow Super Giants for $3.11 million. Former Indian captains Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli will also be in action. Coaches such as Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, and Stephen Fleming will lead their respective teams.
IPL Squad Lists
The lists of players for each team are as follows:
- Chennai Super Kings
- Delhi Capitals
- Gujarat Titans
- Kolkata Knight Riders
- Lucknow Super Giants
- Mumbai Indians
- Punjab Kings
- Rajasthan Royals
- Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
IPL Fixtures
The 74 matches will start at 7:30 PM IST (12:00 GMT) unless otherwise stated.
