IPL 2025 i.e. the 18th season will start today. In the first match, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). However, after a long time, such a season will be seen in which almost all the captains will be new i.e. around the age of 30, and will be seen captaining for the next few seasons. Also, some new rules will add to the thrill of IPL. Let us know...

Rule 1: Ban salivating on the ball lifted
The most important of the new rules is to allow salivating on the ball again. Saliva was banned due to the Kovid-19 epidemic and after that, this will be the first occasion when bowlers will be allowed to do so. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday decided to lift the ban on saliva after getting consent from most of the IPL captains in this matter. The International Cricket Council (ICC) permanently banned saliva on the ball in 2022, but the IPL is governed by its own rules and its decision may encourage other countries of world cricket to do the same. This will help in reverse swinging the ball and there will be better coordination between batting and bowling. This will balance the game.

Rule 2: 'Conditional' second new ball in the second innings

Among other rules, in matches played in the evening, if the umpires feel that dew is affecting the game, then they can allow the use of a new ball from the 11th over of the second innings. This rule will apply to matches played in the evening. This rule will not apply to matches played in the afternoon. This will help in maintaining high-scoring matches. So that the game remains balanced in both the innings and the chasing team does not get the help of dew. Often, seeing the effect of dew in evening matches, teams decide to bowl first after winning the toss. This will now balance the game.

Rule 3: DRS for wide balls

Apart from this, teams can also use the Decision Review System for height and offside wides. This will ensure a fair decision regarding the ball. However, leg-side wides will continue to be called by the on-field umpire. However, the impact player rule will remain as before. This rule faced a lot of criticism last year, with many suggesting that it harms all-rounders and prevents them from progressing. However, the BCCI has continued this rule this year as well. Apart from this, captains will no longer be banned for slow over-rate. They will now get demerit points and will be fined.

Having a new captain will also increase the excitement.

At least seven teams (regular and temporary) will take the field with new captains in IPL 2025. Some of these players will lead their team only in some matches due to various reasons. The most surprising decision was taken by RCB by making Rajat Patidar the captain. Star batsman Virat Kohli is also included in the RCB team and it will be interesting to see how Patidar captains the team. Axar Patel will captain Delhi Capitals, while Shreyas Iyer, who made KKR champion in 2024, will take over the command of Punjab Kings this time. The captaincy of the Kolkata team has been handed over to Ajinkya Rahane this time.

Riyan Parag will captain Rajasthan Royals in the first three matches due to Sanju Samson's finger injury. Hardik Pandya was banned for one match for slow over rate last season and hence will not be able to play in Mumbai Indians' first match. Suryakumar Yadav will lead Mumbai in this match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. Rishabh Pant, who was sold at the highest price in IPL, will lead Lucknow Super Giants this season.

Changes in the coaching staff of some teams also
This time changes have also been made in the support staff of some teams in IPL. Ricky Ponting has left Delhi Capitals and become the head coach of Punjab Kings. Hemang Badani has been appointed as the head coach of Delhi Capitals in place of Ponting. Kevin Pietersen has joined Delhi Capitals as a mentor, while Rahul Dravid has returned to Rajasthan Royals as the head coach. This is his first coaching stint in the IPL after leading India to the T20 World Cup title last year. Dwayne Bravo, who has played for Chennai for a long time and has been the bowling coach of CSK, will be the mentor of KKR. He will replace Gautam Gambhir, who is now the head coach of India.

Some big players are injured, while some are talking about retirement.

There is a big question mark on the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah. The fitness of this fast bowler, who has returned to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, is still being assessed.

At the same time, there has been talk about Mahendra Singh Dhoni's retirement from IPL for the last few years, but this 43-year-old player still remains an integral part of the Chennai team. He said goodbye to international cricket in 2020, but he has continued to play in the IPL. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 13 years old and exactly 30 years younger than Dhoni, will also be a part of IPL this time. Rajasthan Royals have included him in their team and it will be interesting to see how many matches he gets to play.

Eyes will also be on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli this time.

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