The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is ready to began and the 18th edition of this tournament is expected to be full of thrilling T20 matches.
The first match will take place between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday (March 22) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Many fans are eager to witness not just the opening match of IPL 2025 but the entire season. Here’s a comprehensive guide on what you can and cannot bring into the stadium.
When does the entry begin?
The gates will open three hours before the start of the match this IPL season.
Tanmay Srivastava, Virat Kohli’s World Cup winning U-19 teammate, lands umpiring job in IPL 2025
What not to forget?
Entry will not be given if the ticket is tampered, damaged or if the barcode is damaged. Also, once fans enter the stadium, they cannot leave and re-enter.
What can you not carry inside a stadium for an IPL game?
The following items are strictly prohibited inside the stadium:
Bottles, lighters, tins, cans, and metal containers.
Musical instruments
Flammable, toxic, illegal, or hazardous substances
Firecrackers, fireworks, and weapons
Motorcycle helmets and bags
Any item deemed dangerous or disruptive by the organiser
Food & Beverage Policy:
Outside food is not allowed inside the stadium. Alcohol cannot be brought in or taken out of the stadium.
Additional Restrictions:
Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the stadium. Items displaying commercial logos that conflict with official match sponsors are not permitted, including banners and flags. Failure to comply with these rules may result in removal from the stadium.
In other news, the BCCI is considering lifting the ban on applying saliva on the ball in the Indian Premier League beginning March 22. The proposal has been discussed at length internally within the BCCI and will be floated to captains of all IPL teams in a meeting in Mumbai on Thursday.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) had banned the age-old practice of applying saliva to shine the ball as a precautionary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the ICC made the ban permanent. The IPL too included the ICC ban in its playing conditions in the aftermath of the pandemic but its guidelines are outside the purview of the sport’s governing body.
“Using saliva on the ball was part of the essence of the game until COVID hit. Now that we don’t have that threat anymore, we feel there is no harm in lifting the ban on saliva in the IPL. We understand that it makes a bigger impact in red ball cricket but even if it can help bowlers a bit in the white ball game, it should be allowed in the IPL, which is a trend setting tournament. Let’s see what the captains decide tomorrow,” a top BCCI official told reporters.