A complete and immediate ceasefire on land, air and the sea was agreed between India and Pakistan after a few days of cross-border hostilities, including missile and drone attacks targeting several cities in India. The growing tension had led to the suspension of the season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 temporarily for a week, with players – Indian and abroad – returning home. However, the cease-fire having been agreed, there remains the possibility that IPL 2025 resumes in the near future.
In an ideal scenario, IPL 2025 would surely be restarted in India itself. However, given the volatile nature of the widespread situation, it may not be a guarantee. A call for restarting the tournament will probably be taken by the BCCI and the IPL governance council in the coming days.
If the IPL 2025 restarts in a week, this will require the approval of foreign players and their return safely in India. It is important to note that most players abroad have already returned home.
The option of resuming the tournament abroad also remains with the BCCI and could be considered. The Guardian reported that the director general of England and the Wales Cricket (ECB), Richard Gould, has already contacted his equivalent to the BCCI concerning the proposal of BCE welcoming the rest of the season.
On the other hand, the tournament could be completed in a concentrated part of the country, far from the risk of cross -border tension. As reported by Espncricinfo, the BCCI had to consider Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad as sites to complete the 16 remaining games of the tournament.
It goes without saying that many logistical arrangements will have to be taken in a very short time to finish IPL 2025 before the start of international cricket.
It should be noted that the World Test (WTC) 2023-25 world testing championship between Australia and South Africa will start on June 11.
If the BCCI aims to resume the tournament just after the suspension of a week, it would face the problem of adaptation to games in time. The Antilles and England play in an ODI series from May 29. The IPL finish was originally supposed to be played on May 25, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The BCCI could also choose to postpone the resumption of IPL 2025, leaving it for a while later in the year.
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