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The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season will feature 74 matches, the same number as the previous three seasons, according to an announcement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This is 10 fewer matches than originally planned when the IPL’s media rights were sold for the 2023-27 cycle, which had outlined 84 matches for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Reasons for Maintaining 74 Matches
One of the key reasons for maintaining the number of matches at 74 is to prioritise the physical and mental well-being of players.
With the possibility of India qualifying for major international events like the World Test Championship final, the BCCI does not want to overburden its top players with a heavy IPL schedule.Â
Additionally, the decision also considers the long-term goal of keeping Indian players fresh for important international commitments.
The BCCI has made this decision to help manage the workload of Indian players, especially as India is expected to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship final, scheduled for June 2025.
With a packed international calendar, the board is taking precautions to ensure that key players get sufficient rest ahead of critical global tournaments.
“We have not taken a call on organizing 84 matches in IPL 2025 since we also have to factor the load on the players due to the increase in matches,” Jay Shah, the outgoing BCCI secretary, said in a statement.
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Impact on Media Rights and Broadcast Packages
The IPL’s media rights, which were sold for a whopping INR 48,390.5 crore (USD 6.2 billion), included a special package for marquee matches like playoffs and high-profile double-headers.
The number of matches in the special package increases proportionally with the total number of games in a season.
Since the 2025 season will feature 74 matches, the special package will include 18 games.
This approach ensures that while the tournament remains lucrative for broadcasters, it does not strain the players unnecessarily.
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