According to a Cricbuzz report,  the Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin on March 22 with the opener between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The opener for the the 18th edition  league is to be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The second game will be played in Hyderabad with last season's runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) having a chance to start their campaign at home. SRH will face Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal on March 23, a day later. The Royals will face Knight Riders on March 26 and will face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 30th.

The full schedule for the event is expected in couple of days to come.

IPL 2025 UPDATES (Cricbuzz):

- RCB Vs KKR on 22nd March.
- SRH Vs RR on 23rd March.
- RR Vs KKR on 26th and RR Vs CSK on 30th March in Guwahati.
- Dharamshala likely to host 3 matches.
- Qualifier 1 & Eliminator in Hyderabad.
- Final on 25th May in Kolkata. pic.twitter.com/Rp3vhkpi1w

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 13, 2025

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IPL 2025 Eliminator,Qualifier and final : Dates and venues 
Besides the tournament starter and the rest of the games, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata will  play host to IPL 2025's final on May 25 and Qualifier 2. The Qualifier 1 and Eliminator will be conducted in Hyderabad, according to the report.

 Venues of IPL

Aside from the 10 venues  centres – Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Mohali, Delhi and Jaipur in addition to Kolkata and Hyderabad, the matches of this season will also be hosted in Guwahati and Dharamsala and will be getting at least three matches this season.

With exciting matches and legendary grounds, IPL 2025 will be another blockbuster season for cricket lovers across the globe.

The anticipation for the ICC World Cup 2027 is building up as cricket enthusiasts eagerly await another spectacle of the sport. With South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia joining hands to host the tournament, expectations are running high for an exhilarating cricketing extravaganza.

Host Countries and Tournament Schedule

In October and November of 2027, cricket fans worldwide will witness the action-packed tournament unfold across the picturesque venues of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

See Also: Ajit Agarkar gives bold statement on Virat Kohli’s T20 WC selection

Venue Details and Significance

Eight stadiums in South Africa have been earmarked as prime venues for the ICC World Cup 2027. These include iconic arenas such as Wanderers in Johannesburg, Centurion Park in Pretoria, and Newlands in Cape Town, among others. The selection of these venues ensures a perfect blend of tradition and modernity, providing an ideal setting for the cricketing extravaganza.

Insights from Cricket South Africa CEO, Pholetsi Moseki

Cricket South Africa CEO, Pholetsi Moseki, sheds light on the meticulous process behind selecting the tournament venues. He emphasizes the importance of factors like hotel accommodations and airport accessibility in ensuring a seamless experience for players and spectators alike. Moseki’s remarks underscore the dedication and thorough planning involved in organizing a global sporting event of this magnitude.

Speaking to News 24, he explained: “The exercise [of choosing the grounds] was a scientific one and also included the number of hotel rooms and the availability of an airport. If there was disappointment, it was also tempered by the reality that was based on the venues that were chosen.”

Qualification Process and Participating Teams

The qualification scenario for the ICC World Cup 2027 is a blend of direct entries and rigorous competition. Host nations South Africa and Zimbabwe secure automatic berths, while the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings earn direct qualification. However, the remaining slots are up for grabs through a challenging qualification process involving teams from various cricketing nations.

World Cup L2 and the Path to Qualification

Teams like Namibia, Netherlands, Scotland, UAE, USA, Nepal, and Oman will battle it out in the World Cup L2, competing in a series of ODIs to secure a spot in the qualifier stage. The top four teams from the World Cup L2 will advance to the qualifier, where they will contend with other top-performing teams for a coveted place in the World Cup.