New Delhi: As the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off today, batters will be eager to push past the 300-run barrier, a milestone that now seems within reach.
The tournament’s 18th edition arrives with key rule changes, including the lifting of the saliva ban, giving fast bowlers a chance to generate reverse swing.
However, with the continuation of the Impact Player rule, batters are expected to dominate, making high-scoring games the norm.
The saliva ban, a remnant of COVID-19 protocols, has been lifted, allowing bowlers to shine the ball more effectively. This could aid fast bowlers in an era where they have often struggled against relentless batting attacks. However, the Impact Player rule remains in place, permitting teams to substitute a bowler for an extra batter, which will likely fuel even bigger scores.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) 263-5 against Pune Warriors stood as the IPL’s highest total for a decade until it was broken four times last season, including Sunrisers Hyderabad’s record-setting 287-3 against Bengaluru. Experts believe that breaching 300 is now a realistic possibility.
An ode to Kolkata ✍🏼
To an iconic venue 🏟️
To an epic clash 🤜 🤛Let #TATAIPL 2025 begin 🏁#KKRvRCB | @KKRiders | @RCBTweets
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 22, 2025
The IPL opener at Eden Gardens will see RCB take on Kolkata Knight Riders, a matchup that could see fireworks given Bengaluru’s traditionally flat pitch and short boundaries. RCB’s Rajat Patidar is among five new captains leading teams this season. Other leadership changes include Ajinkya Rahane taking charge of Kolkata after Shreyas Iyer’s move to Punjab Kings, while Axar Patel will lead Delhi Capitals following Rishabh Pant’s release.
Sunday’s doubleheader features an exciting showdown between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, the tournament’s most successful franchises with five titles each.
With explosive batting lineups, key rule changes, and a fiercely competitive field, IPL 2025 promises to be a high-scoring spectacle like never before.
