IPL 2025 Resumes May 17 After Security Scare; Final on June 3, Chennai & Hyderabad Miss Out on Matches
Cricket fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to resume on May 17 after a temporary halt due to a major security alert. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a revised schedule late Monday night, confirming the tournament will now continue across six key cities—Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai. Notably, Chennai and Hyderabad have been dropped as venues this season.
The tournament had been abruptly paused on May 8 after the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was cancelled following a blackout at the stadium, triggered by Pakistan’s attempted airspace breach near Chandigarh. With India and Pakistan subsequently agreeing to a ceasefire, the BCCI quickly moved to resume the remainder of the league.
“The BCCI is pleased to announce the resumption of the TATA IPL 2025. After extensive consultations with government and security agencies, and discussions with all stakeholders, the Board has decided to proceed,” the official statement read.
The action will return with a high-octane clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru on May 17. In total, 17 matches will be played, including two Sunday double-headers.
The playoff schedule has also been released. Qualifier 1 will take place on May 29, followed by the Eliminator on May 30, and Qualifier 2 on June 1. The grand finale is set for June 3. However, venues for these playoff matches are still under wraps.
Foreign Player Challenges & Scheduling Conflicts
The pause in the league led several foreign players to return home, and franchises are now scrambling to reassemble their squads before play resumes. Some players might not return, especially those nursing injuries, like RCB’s Josh Hazlewood who is recovering from a shoulder niggle.
There’s also uncertainty over the availability of top Test stars like Pat Cummins (SRH) and Kagiso Rabada (GT), with both Australia and South Africa eyeing their presence for the World Test Championship final at Lord’s starting June 11.
Adding to BCCI’s scheduling headache is the India A tour of England, which clashes directly with IPL playoff dates. India A is scheduled to play four-day games against England Lions from May 30 to June 6, and several IPL players are expected to be in contention for this tour as part of preparations for Team India’s senior England tour beginning June 20.
The cricketing world now watches to see how BCCI balances its domestic showpiece with international commitments.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
