As Indian cricket undergoes a generational shift with Virat Kohli announcing his retirement from Test cricket, the BCCI is simultaneously working to revive the suspended IPL 2025 season. A decision is expected later today (May 12) as the IPL Governing Council is set to meet and finalize the schedule for the remaining 16 matches, including the playoffs.

The board has reportedly drafted three possible formats to complete the season:

  1. A traditional home-and-away format, possibly excluding Dharamsala.

  2. A restricted venue setup focusing on southern cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.

  3. A further condensed model, with even fewer logistical demands.

Although the respective state associations have yet to receive official communication, franchise teams have been subtly advised to reassemble at their base locations, hinting at a potential restart by May 16 or 17.

Sources suggest the Governing Council meeting could be called at extremely short notice, similar to the previous meeting that suspended the league in just 15 minutes.

Amid ongoing uncertainty and security concerns, the BCCI may prioritize operational efficiency, possibly ruling out nationwide travel for teams. Additionally, many foreign players who left India last week may not return, and the board appears prepared to move forward without full overseas participation.

“It’s an extraordinary situation,” a source familiar with the matter stated, emphasizing that the main priority is completing the tournament, even if under compromised conditions.


Virat Kohli Bids Emotional Goodbye to Test Cricket

In a separate but equally monumental development, Virat Kohli has officially retired from Test cricket, bringing the curtain down on a historic red-ball career. He departs with 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, an average of 46.85, and 30 centuries, making him one of the modern greats.

"I've given everything to this format, and it's given me back so much more,” Kohli said in his Instagram post. “I'll always look back at my Test career with a smile."

Kohli’s last appearance in whites came at the SCG in January 2025, a venue tied deeply to his success and leadership legacy. With Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin also stepping away, Indian cricket now enters a phase of major transition, similar to the post-2012 retirements of Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, and Sehwag.

As the nation prepares for a new Test era, Kohli’s unmatched passion and advocacy for red-ball cricket will continue to inspire future generations.