The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to begin on March 22, featuring 10 teams battling across 74 matches. Each franchise will compete in 14 league-stage fixtures, including 7 home and 7 away matches.
However, not all teams will have the same travel commitments. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will cover the highest distance, traveling 17,084 km, while Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will have the shortest journey, covering just 8,536 km. This stark difference in travel distance may impact player recovery, fatigue, and match preparedness.
#1. Royal Challengers Bangalore (17,084 km)
RCB has the most difficult travel schedule, covering 17,084 km in the league stage. The team will take eight long trips, each over 1,500 km, moving often between South and North India. This will give them less time to rest and recover, making the season even tougher.
The hardest part of their schedule is between match 6 and match 13. They will travel continuously between Jaipur, Bengaluru, Mullanpur, Delhi, and Lucknow without back-to-back home games. This will put extra pressure on the team, so they will need to rotate players smartly to keep them fit.
#2. CSK: The Second-Highest Travel Distance ( 16,184 km)
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will travel 16,184 km, making them the second-most traveled team after RCB. Since they are the southern-most team, they have many long-distance matches.
Their season starts with two home games, but then they will follow a tough route: Guwahati-Chennai-Mullanpur-Chennai-Lucknow, with each trip over 1,500 km. They will get a short break with two back-to-back home games, but the final stretch—Bengaluru-Kolkata-Chennai-Ahmedabad—will be physically exhausting for the players.
#3.Punjab Kings & Kolkata Knight Riders Face Extensive Travel
Punjab Kings (PBKS) will travel 14,341 km due to having two home bases, Mullanpur and Dharamshala. This adds extra travel, especially in the middle of their season, where they will frequently move between Hyderabad, Mullanpur, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are not far behind, covering 13,537 km. Their most challenging trips include Guwahati to Mumbai for their third match and Chennai to Mullanpur for their seventh.
However, their schedule becomes easier towards the end, with four of their last five matches at home, allowing them to settle and recover before the playoffs.
#4. Rajasthan Royals & Mumbai Indians Face Medium Travel Load
Rajasthan Royals (RR) will travel 12,730 km, mainly because they have two home bases in Jaipur and Guwahati. In the first phase of the tournament, they will move across West, North, and East India, covering long distances.
Their final matches will also be tough, requiring long trips to Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
Mumbai Indians (MI) will cover 12,702 km, facing their biggest challenge in the early stages. They will frequently travel between Mumbai, Lucknow, and Delhi, making it difficult to settle into a rhythm.
Towards the end, their Mumbai-Dharamshala-Mumbai route will test their endurance, adding to the physical strain of the season.
#5. Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants & Delhi Capitals: Manageable Travel Distances
Gujarat Titans (GT) will travel 10,405 km during IPL 2025. They have a favorable schedule with back-to-back home games at both the start and end of the season.
However, their middle phase will be challenging, with a tough Ahmedabad-Kolkata-Jaipur-Ahmedabad rotation, forcing them to cover long distances in a short period.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will clock 9,747 km. Even though they are centrally located, they face a demanding stretch in the latter half of the season, traveling between Lucknow, Mumbai, Dharamshala, and back to Lucknow. Managing player fitness will be crucial during this period.
Delhi Capitals (DC) will cover 9,270 km. With two home venues, Delhi and Visakhapatnam, they tackle most of their long-distance matches early in the tournament. This makes the second half of their season more manageable, giving them a slight advantage in travel recovery.
#6. Sunrisers Hyderabad: The Least Travelled Team
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will travel just 8,536 km, making them the least travel-affected team in IPL 2025. They have a major advantage with four of their first six matches at home, and their only away fixture in Visakhapatnam is within the same state, reducing travel fatigue.
Unlike other teams, SRH avoids long-haul trips to distant venues like Mullanpur, Delhi, and Jaipur.
Their longest journey stays under 1,000 km, giving them ample recovery time between matches. This could be a key competitive advantage, allowing their squad to remain fresher compared to teams with more demanding travel schedules.
Final Thoughts
IPL 2025 presents one of the most uneven travel schedules seen in recent seasons. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will face the toughest travel challenges, covering the most distance throughout the league stage.
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) benefits from the most favorable schedule, with minimal long-haul trips.
These travel variations could significantly impact player fatigue, team rotation strategies, and overall performance.
Teams with heavy travel schedules will need to manage workloads effectively to avoid burnout and remain competitive throughout the season.
Meanwhile, franchises with less travel demand may gain an advantage in terms of player recovery and consistency in match preparation.