IPL 2025: Format, England players & how to follow on BBC

Kolkata Knight Riders beat Sunrisers Hyderabad to win the 2024 IPL title

The 2025 Indian Premier League - the world's biggest T20 franchise tournament - starts on Saturday, 22 March.

The 18th edition of the competition features 10 teams battling for the title, currently held by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

There will be commentary on more than 35 matches, including the final on 25 May, available across BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app, as well as daily reports on the Franchise Cricket page.

Here is everything you need to know.

When does the IPL 2025 start?

It begins on Saturday, 22 March, with defending champions KKR hosting a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side featuring superstar Virat Kohli from 14:00 GMT.

What is the IPL 2025 schedule & when is the final?

The group stage features 70 matches across 13 venues and runs until Sunday, 18 May.

The knockout stage begins on Tuesday, 20 May and the final takes place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, 25 May.

What is the format for the IPL 2025?

The teams are split into two groups of five and each play 14 group matches in total.

Each side plays against the teams in their group twice - home and away - and also faces the team in the same row in the other group home and away (for example, Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans will play each other twice).

They also play against the four remaining teams in the other group once, with the results forming one overall table.

The top four teams in this table qualify for the play-offs.

First and second in the group will face each other in 'Qualifier 1' on 20 May for a place in the final.

Third and fourth then play on 21 May in the 'Eliminator' - the winners of that match face the losing side from the first play-off for the second spot in the final.

Which England players are in the IPL 2025?

Jos Buttler had played for Rajasthan Royals since 2018 but will now represent Gujarat Titans

There are 10 England players - past and present - in this year's IPL.

RCB have the biggest English contingent, with opener Phil Salt and all-rounders Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell - who is recovering from a hamstring injury but is set to make his IPL debut.

Fast bowler Jofra Archer returns to his former team Rajasthan Royals after a stint at Mumbai Indians was disrupted by injury.

Jos Buttler, who recently resigned as England white-ball captain, was not retained by Rajasthan and was picked up by Gujarat Titans.

Sam Curran is back at his former side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and is joined by fellow all-rounder Jamie Overton, making his IPL debut.

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali, a two-time IPL champion with CSK, is now at defending champions KKR.

Batter Will Jacks and left-arm seamer Reece Topley will try to force their way back into the England reckoning with strong showings for Mumbai Indians.

Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad have no England players.

Batter Harry Brook withdrew from Delhi's squad to prioritise playing for England, while fast bowler Brydon Carse was ruled out of what would have been his first IPL with Sunrisers because of a toe injury.

Test captain Ben Stokes did not enter the auction this year, while James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid were among the England players unsold.

What other stories are there?

MS Dhoni has played in all 17 editions of the IPL, winning five titles and finishing runner-up five times

The record for the most expensive player in IPL history was broken twice in November's action - first by India batter Shreyas Iyer joining Punjab Kings for 26.75 crore (£2.51m), followed by Lucknow Super Giants paying 27 crore (£2.54m) for India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Both will captain their new sides.

Australia seamer Mitchell Starc, who held the most expensive player record before the auction, has joined Delhi from KKR.

Rajasthan paid 1.1 crore (£103,789) to sign 13-year-old batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi - the youngest player to get an IPL deal. It is unlikely he will play this season but the Royals say he is an "incredible talent" they want to develop.

At the other end of his career, surely this will be the final IPL season for 43-year-old CSK wicketkeeper MS Dhoni? Will he bow out with a record-equalling sixth title?

How to follow the IPL 2025 on the BBC

There will be commentary on more than 35 matches, including the final, available across BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app (UK only).

There will also be daily reports and major news stories on the Franchise Cricket page as well as live scorecards of every match on the website and app.

You can also get match and wicket alerts for your favourite team straight to your phone via the app.

Who are the previous IPL winners?

2008: Rajasthan Royals

2009: Deccan Chargers

2010: Chennai Super Kings

2011: Chennai Super Kings (2nd title)

2012: Kolkata Knight Riders

2013: Mumbai Indians

2014: Kolkata Knight Riders (2)

2015: Mumbai Indians (2)

2016: Sunrisers Hyderabad

2017: Mumbai Indians (3)

2018: Chennai Super Kings (3)

2019: Mumbai Indians (4)

2020: Mumbai Indians (5)

2021: Chennai Super Kings (4)

2022: Gujarat Titans

2023: Chennai Super Kings (5)

2024: Kolkata Knight Riders (3)