The countdown to the much-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is officially underway, with the annual Captains’ Meet scheduled for March 20 in Mumbai. The meeting, a pre-season tradition, will see all 10 team captains discuss rule changes, sponsorship strategies, and key tournament protocols ahead of the IPL 2025 opener on March 22, when defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
BCCI’s Decision to Host Meeting in Mumbai Raises Eyebrows
Typically, the captains’ meet and the pre-season photoshoot take place in the city hosting the opening match. However, in a strategic move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shifted this year’s event to Mumbai, home to its headquarters.
The meeting will unfold in two parts:
- A closed-door session at the BCCI office, where captains and franchise managers will be briefed on new IPL regulations.
- A high-profile photoshoot and sponsor-driven media interactions at a luxury hotel, ensuring widespread promotion ahead of the season launch.
Leadership Shake-Ups Across Teams
IPL 2025 has seen major captaincy changes across multiple franchises, making this meeting even more significant.
- RCB: Rajat Patidar replaces Faf du Plessis as captain, with strong backing from Virat Kohli.
- LSG: Rishabh Pant takes over from KL Rahul, who moves to Delhi Capitals.
- DC: Axar Patel has been named captain, with du Plessis appointed vice-captain.
- KKR: Ajinkya Rahane replaces Shreyas Iyer but faces scrutiny over recent form.
- PBKS: Iyer takes charge at Punjab Kings after his KKR exit.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians (Hardik Pandya), Chennai Super Kings (Ruturaj Gaikwad), Rajasthan Royals (Sanju Samson), Gujarat Titans (Shubman Gill), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (Pat Cummins) retain their skippers from last season.