The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, currently on a brief suspension, is reportedly set to witness a significant change, with the grand finale, originally scheduled at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, could now be played at the gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad due to poor weather forecasts at the original venue. Ahmedabad, which has hosted IPL finals (2022 and 2023) in the past, is now the frontrunner to host the summit clash.
The 18th edition of the cash-rich league was suspended for a week starting May 9 after rising geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. Though a ceasefire was announced on May 10, the board is still waiting for the situation to improve before officially announcing a decision.
“No decision has been taken yet. The BCCI officials are working on the situation. The tournament was suspended for a week, and yesterday there was a ceasefire. The tournament will be restarted soon,” Rajeev Shukla said, as quoted by Mint.
However, according to reports, the BCCI is preparing to resume the league by May 16 or 17, with Lucknow hosting the first match post-resumption between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants. Furthermore, the vice-president of BCCI, Rajiv Shukla, said that no decision has been taken yet.
Eden Gardens, the home ground of defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, was originally set to host the IPL final on May 25. However, AccuWeather forecasts indicate a 70% chance of rain and a 40% chance of thunderstorms on the day. The city had already suffered one rain-hit game this season, with the April 26 fixture between KKR and Punjab Kings being abandoned midway.
Considering this, there may not be changes to venues for Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator, and they are likely to be hosted in Hyderabad, but the final and possibly Qualifier 2 could be moved from Kolkata. Ahmedabad, with its world-class infrastructure and clear weather, is being considered the safest option.
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GT, SRH return to practice
While most team’s members and support staff have returned home following the suspension, Gujarat Titans have been an exception. Previous year’s finalists Sunrisers Hyderabad, too, have resumed their preparations at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The Shubman G have continued practice sessions at their home ground in Ahmedabad. Most players and support staff have stayed back, while only Jos Buttler and Gerald Coetzee returned home.
