IPL Decides To Stick To 74 Matches In Upcoming Season; Indian Players' Workload In Focus: Report

The Indian Premier League has decided not to increase the number of matches in the upcoming season to 84 as proposed in the tender document, with the workload of India's international cricketers proving more important. IPL 2025 will thus consist of 74 games, like IPL 2024 and will not see an increase although it was proposed when the media rights were sold two years back. In the tender document for the new rights cycle, IPL had listed a varying number of matches per season: ranging from 74 games each in 2023 and 2024 and 84 matches for IPL 2025. According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, one crucial reason IPL has decided not to have 84 games in the upcoming season is to help the Indian cricketers manage their workload. Going by the usual format, IPL 2025 might end on May 25. The World Test Championship final, for which India are expected to qualify, is scheduled for June 11 and BCCI would like its players to travel at least a week in advance to London to ensure top-notch preparation for the summit showdown. "We have not taken a call on organising 84 matches in IPL 2025 since we also have to factor the load on the players due to the increase in matches. While it's (84 matches) part of the contract, it's up to the BCCI to decide whether to organise 74 or 84 matches," BCCI secretary Jay Shah told The Economic Times. Two years back, IPL became one of the biggest sporting leagues globally when the media rights were sold for a whopping Rs 48390.5 crores, the report adds. The total number of games per season, IPL said, will determine the number of games in Package C, which was one of four parts of the deal. Package C entailed digital rights in the country to a special package of high-profile matches, including the playoffs and the final, ranging between 18 and 22 per season.