The much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin from March 22 with the first match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) which will mark the opening of the most popular T20 tournament.
Hardik Pandya Set To Miss 1st MI Match
Mumbai’s captain Hardik Pandya will be absent for the first match of Mumbai Indians which will be against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23. The reason why he will missing the match is due to the fine imposed on him for Mumbai’s final group stage match in IPL 2024.
Also Read: IPL 2025: Find Out How To Book Your IPL Tickets Hassle Free
Why Will Pandya Miss The Opening Match?
Pandya was also fined 30 lakh after IPL 2024 group stage match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) which further led to his suspension. He will return to action for Mumbai’s second match against Gujarat Titans on March 29. Along with Hardik Pandya, other players like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were also fined 50% of their match fee with the maximum deduction of INR 12 Lakh.
Double-Header On March 23
It is also important to note that the first double-header of IPL 2025 will be on March 23. The two matches will be featuring Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) vs Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
The IPL 2025 season will conclude with the final match on May 25, held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The playoffs, including Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator, will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
