IPL 2025 Final Venue Change: Kolkata set to be replaced

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to return after being suddenly suspended owing to the India-Pakistan war, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) putting plans in place to resume the tournament. The two countries have signed a ceasefire agreement, which has opened doors for cricket to resume, bringing relief to the fans and stakeholders. The BCCI is likely to announce the new schedule for the remaining games as early as possible so that the season can be brought to a close despite the previous interruption.

The IPL 2025 campaign was brought to a standstill when the Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs. Delhi Capitals (DC) game in Dharamsala was abandoned mid-match over security issues. Reports suggest that this match may not be rescheduled soon, as the BCCI is intent on restarting the tournament with the next matches. Teams have been told to come back into action quickly, with overseas players and support staff being called back to their bases to get ready for the restart.

It is reported that the tournament may resume on either May 16 or 17, 2025, with a battle between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The LSG team is likely to reunite by May 13, and other franchises are also gearing up to get back to their home bases. The BCCI has been coordinating closely with all teams to make the transition back to competitive cricket from the sudden break smooth.

Finals Venue May Shift to Ahmedabad

The playoff format for IPL 2025 continues to be the same, with Hyderabad hosting Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator and Kolkata hosting Qualifier 2, as had been decided. These two cities were chosen for their capacity to accommodate high-pressure matches, and despite the initial suspension, the BCCI has opted to retain them.

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However, the venue for the IPL 2025 final may get altered in the wake of Kolkata's weather apprehensions, where it is expected to rain on May 30, along with cloud cover. The BCCI may shift the final to Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, with a greater capacity of nearly 30,000 more compared to Kolkata's Eden Gardens. The championship match is now likely to take place on May 30 or June 1, subject to weather reports and logistics, giving fans a thrilling finish to the season.