The Indian Premier League (IPL) will resume on May 17 and run until June 3 across six venues, following a week-long suspension triggered by escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the announcement on Monday, confirming that the 17 remaining matches will go ahead after a ceasefire agreement was reached over the weekend.
“After extensive consultations with government and security agencies, and with all the key stakeholders, the board has decided to proceed with the remainder of the season,” the BCCI said in a statement.
The high-octane T20 tournament was paused last Friday, just a day after a match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was abandoned in Dharamsala—located near the conflict zone in Jammu—amid rising hostilities. Reports of explosions in the region had sparked major security concerns, prompting the closure of airspace and emergency evacuation of players by train to Delhi.
The revised schedule will see Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders this Saturday, followed by one of two double-headers scheduled for Sunday. The other host cities for the league’s remaining matches are Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad.
Play-off venues are yet to be finalised. Originally, Hyderabad and Kolkata were set to host the qualifiers and final, with Eden Gardens scheduled to stage the title clash on May 25. Under the new schedule, Qualifier 1 will be held on May 29, the Eliminator on May 30, and Qualifier 2 on June 1. The final is now slated for June 3.
The tournament’s suspension came in the wake of India-Pakistan military exchanges, including missile strikes by India in response to a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Islamabad has denied any involvement, but at least 60 lives have been lost on both sides of the border in what has been described as the worst outbreak of violence in decades.
Despite the turbulence, cricket is set to take centre stage once more as the BCCI moves ahead with plans to conclude the season safely and securely.