16 IPL matches still to go! The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had suspended the IPL 2025 tournament midway due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan. However, with the situation now appearing to stabilise, the tournament may soon resume. Cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad are being considered to host the remaining matches. Reports suggest that the BCCI is in discussions with the government to facilitate the resumption.
A few days ago, escalating tensions between India and Pakistan led the BCCI to pause the IPL for one week. While the board is yet to make a final decision on restarting the tournament in May, it has kept three cities on standby. However, officials believe that an immediate resumption remains unlikely given the current climate.
According to a Cricinfo report, franchises have already been briefed on the situation. Several team representatives feel the remaining matches might be held later in the year. A major hurdle in restarting the IPL in May is the return of overseas players. Following the suspension, teams disbanded and many players began returning to their home countries. Most foreign players are expected to leave India by Saturday.
Franchises are hopeful that if the IPL resumes in May, most overseas players will return. However, they acknowledge that if the tournament goes beyond 25 May, player availability cannot be guaranteed. The IPL 2025 final was originally scheduled to be held in Kolkata on 25 May. Several players have international duties after this date, and the World Test Championship (WTC) final between Australia and South Africa is set to begin on 11 June at Lord’s.
Initially, Hyderabad was set to host the first Qualifier and the Eliminator, while Kolkata was slated to host the second Qualifier and the Final. BCCI now faces a series of challenges, most notably the return of overseas players, many of whom have international commitments in the coming months.