Big update on the number of matches in IPL 2025, this many matches will be played this season

All in all, only 74 matches will be played in IPL 2025. This is 10 less than the number of matches fixed for IPL 2025 during the new media rights sold for the 2023-27 cycle of IPL. Going by this, a total of 84 matches were to be played in the next season.

It had also mentioned in the tender document for the new cycle that the number of matches per season would increase. The IPL had said in it that across 2023 and 2024, a total of 74 matches are to be played, 84 in 2025 and 2026, while a maximum of 94 matches would be played in the last year of the deal, 2027.

ESPNcricinfo understands that one of the main reasons for IPL not extending the number of matches for the coming season is the workload management of the Indian players. India are a contender to make a third successive appearance in the World Test Championship final, starting at Lord's on June 11. The BCCI appears to be on board concerning giving the players adequate rest should India qualify for the final. The IPL 2025 schedule remains to be chalked out, but theoretically, it can be slotted between mid-March and the last week of May.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah recently told the Economics Times, “We have not taken any decision regarding organizing 84 matches in IPL 2025. It is part of the contract and it is up to the BCCI to decide how many matches will be played in a season – 74 or 84.”

The IPL became one of the richest sports leagues in the world when the media rights were sold in 2022. The IPL media rights for 2023-27 were sold for Rs 48,390 crore. These rights were sold in four packages: A (TV rights in the Indian subcontinent), B (digital rights in the subcontinent), C (special packages involving digital rights for some high-profile matches) and D (global media rights for five different territories).

The IPL said that the total number of matches in the season will be based on package C, also known as the special package. This package includes the opening match of the tournament, weekend evening matches, four playoff matches and the final.

The 2023 and 2024 seasons saw 74 matches played in the IPL, with a total of 18 matches in the special package. If more than 74 matches are played in a season, the number of special package matches will increase by two matches for every additional 10 matches. For example, if 84 matches are played in a season, the number of special package matches will increase from 18 to 20.