The Indian Premier League’s (IPL) 2025 season has pulled up to its final overs with some thrilling cricket showdowns in the offing. This 18th edition, which started on March 22, will see its final match held today on June 3.
IPL, the Twenty20 cricket league tournament held by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is one of the highlights of the cricketing world and cricket fans globally, only second to the Cricket World Cup. In fact, this sporting franchise is the world’s richest (yep, wealthier than the NBA and NFL too) and is single-handedly credited with ushering cricket’s return to the Olympics program.
How many teams are in the Indian Premier League?
10 franchise teams representing major Indian cities and states like Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan, fight for the IPL championship at this annual event. Some teams are owned by Bollywood celebrities like Shahrukh Khan and business tycoons such as Mukesh Ambani and involve dramatic player auctions and trade-offs every three years. This year 74 matches were played across 13 cities.
Where are the IPL final matches happening?
The IPL Eliminator Matches took place last week and decided which teams moved up the leaderboard and made it to the finals. Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians were the 4 teams duking it out in the eliminator rounds. The final match will take place on June 3 at Ahmedabad’s Narendramodi Stadium in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Where to watch IPL 2025 matches live in Dubai
Even if you can’t make it to Ahmedabad for the closing ceremony, you can experience the thrill of big crowds here at these Dubai venues screening live IPL matches. You’ll hear the deafening cheers of frenzied fans and the signature IPL trumpet theme tune long before you set foot in these joints!
1. Mahi Cafe
Mahendra Singh Dhoni fans, sadly, this new shisha cafe and restaurant in Al Nahda isn’t named after your favourite cricketer. But they’re embodying the spirit of the gentleman’s game with live screenings of IPL on a massive 185-inch screen and multiple smaller LED screens and 10 exclusive dishes themed after the 10 IPL teams. You can dig into CSK Cajun Fries Masala, Punjab King Paneer Tikka Pizza, Mumbai Indians Bademiya Tawa Seekh and RCB Royal Chicken Burger.
Dishes are priced from AED 18 onwards; Call 0569311300
2. Daftar, DIFC
Watching this defining cricket series on the big screen is the way to do it, and Daftra, the brand-new Indian dining spot in DIFC, is screening the matches with special deals. Guests can bag a 10% discount on the entire bill when you visit wearing the jersey of your team, enjoy hops bucket of 5 for just AED 120 and a combo offer of a bite and pint for AED 99 for that nail-biting final.
Call 050 666 4158
3. High Note Pool and Lounge
This rooftop poolside nightspot in Aloft Al Mina hotel in Sheikh Rashid Street is hitting it out of the boundary with food deals and a bunch of LED screens to catch the matches. Wear your team jersey
and get your first beer on the house today during the screenings of the final
Call 050 254 6718 or 50 254 6782 for bookings
4. Headlines
This desi nightlife venue nestled inside the Ibis Hotel in Dubai World Trade has set up giant screens to broadcast the IPL eliminators and finals. Special deals on drinks and live unplugged music sessions after the matches will stump you with great entertainment all day long.
Call 0523377510 for reservations
5. Huddle Sports Bar
Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai may not have made it to the IPL finals, but you can take comfort in the quintessential street foods of these cities while cheering on other teams at this family-friendly sports bar. Their branches in Citymax Al Barsha and Citymax Bur Dubai have been screening matches live. Pints of draught beers start from AED 30 and bucket deals from AED 121. However, there’s a minimum spend of AED 150 per person.
Call 050 100 7046 (Barsha) and 050 100 7065 (Bur Dubai)
6. The Eloquent Elephant
This British watering hole in Business Bay’s Taj Dubai is the place to discover who the winners in the room are. They’re screening the big RCB vs Punjab Kings final today. What’ll have you yelling Howzzat! though, are ice cold brews, pub bites and screens as big as the eponymous elephant.
Call 04 438 3131 for bookings
7. Korma Sutra
This cheekily named Barsha joint is bowling over cricket buffs with more than their trippy interiors and 140-inch screen. The multicuisine restaurant and shisha cafe has deals on food and drink, and reduced rates for shisha during match hours.
Call 04 285 9906
8. The Permit Room
This roftoop eatery in Mankhool’s Majestic Retreat Hotel has the permit to party all through IPL and they have a big bash planned for the IPL finals. Knock back drinks starting from AED 33 as the batsman knockout sixes and hours and nish on IPL special dishes such as Mumbai Vada Pao Quesadillas, Rajasthani Laal Maas Fattir, Kolkata Potato Chilli Balls and more.
Call 054 791 1796 for bookings
9. Tipsy Tikka
If it’s not the spin bowlers whose googlies leave you a bit dizzy, then the tasty tipples at this Indian bar and restaurant perched atop the Four Points Sheraton in Bur Dubai will do it for you. IPL 2025 season here includes a special cricket menu and cold drinks to feed you when you feel like adrenaline-fuelled cheering is about to fizzle out.
Call 056 414 2213
10. OK11 Sports Lounge
This sports bar chain is going big so you don’t have to go home and watch the IPL 2025 final on June 3 across their branches. Punters enjoy buy-one-get-one-free BOGO deals on drinks. Aditionally, if you can predict the winner, then AED 200 is yours for the taking.
Call 058 982 3814 for info