Six Franchises, One Trophy: CPL 2025 Kicks Off – Insights and Winner Odds

Cody Priddle | 1:32pm BST 14 August 2025

The Caribbean Premier League is back, and the 2025 edition promises to be exciting. The tournament will run from August 14 to September 21, covering six nations and six franchises in a 34-match T20 showdown. The final will then take place at Guyana’s Providence Stadium on September 21, when only one of the six teams will lift the trophy.

Tournament Setup and Format

Each team will play ten league matches: five at home and five away, in a double round-robin format. The top four will then move to the playoffs that are set to begin on September 16 with an eliminator, followed by two qualifiers, leading up to the final on the 21st.

Match venues include Warner Park (St Kitts), Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (Antigua), Darren Sammy Stadium (St Lucia), Queen’s Park Oval (Trinidad), Kensington Oval (Barbados), and Providence Stadium. This is great because it ensures every fan across the Caribbean gets a front-row seat to the exciting matches.

Teams and Talking Points

Saint Lucia Kings return as defending champions, but their season will start differently. Captain Faf du Plessis has already left the team, and many are saying that his absence will be felt.. Tim David and David Wiese have joined them, though, and the latter has already been named as the new captain. Wiese has already set the tone for the season and said in a press release, “We play with passion, heart, and unity.”

Meanwhile, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) remain the league’s top team historically. Their four titles come with expectations. For this year, they’ve picked up Mohammad Amir to strengthen their bowling arsenal. There’s no denying that they’ve had a less-than-convincing 2024 season, so they will be playing this season with a point to prove.

Guyana Amazon Warriors now have to work on their consistency. They won their first title in 2023 and brought in Moeen Ali while retaining Imran Tahir. When it comes to Barbados Royals, they are looking to strengthen their squad by adding Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Azmatullah Omarzai.

Antigua & Barbuda Falcons are a new face in 2025, bringing fresh energy. With high-profile signings like Shakib Al Hasan and Imad Wasim under the guidance of coach Shivnarine Chanderpaul, they are keen to make their mark.

St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots go into the season on the back of consistency, retaining most of their 2024 squad. So, it seems like they are looking to steady their performance rather than risking it by getting new players.

Talent and Draft Highlights

The June player draft surely shook up squads. Jason Holder and Alick Athanaze joined the Patriots, and Sherfane Rutherford moved to the Royals. Then the CPL continues building local pathways with a new rule: every playing XI must include a graduate from the West Indies Breakout League. This can help promote and discover up-and-coming new talents.

What Fans Are Asking

Before the tournament starts, fans and pundits are already asking who will win the 2025 Caribbean Premier League? TKR’s record makes them the safe choice, but the Kings without leadership, the Warriors with strengthened depth, and fresh energy from the Falcons only keep the prediction game open.

Sports analysts place TKR, Kings, and Warriors among the top contenders. Royals sit in the dangerous third tier. Falcons and Patriots are outsiders, but every season has had surprises. This one looks open.

Fixtures

The official match dates have been announced on March 24, 2025:

• Aug 14, 2025: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons (Warner Park Sporting Complex, St Kitts)

• Aug 15, 2025: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Guyana Amazon Warriors (Warner Park Sporting Complex, St Kitts)

• Aug 16, 2025: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs Barbados Royals (Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua)

• Aug 17, 2025: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Trinbago Knight Riders (Warner Park Sporting Complex, St Kitts)

• Aug 17, 2025: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs Saint Lucia Kings (Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua)

• Aug 19, 2025: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Saint Lucia Kings (Warner Park Sporting Complex, St Kitts)

• Aug 20, 2025: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs Trinbago Knight Riders (Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua)

• Aug 21, 2025: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Barbados Royals (Warner Park Sporting Complex, St Kitts)

• Aug 22, 2025: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs Guyana Amazon Warriors (Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua)

• Aug 23, 2025: Saint Lucia Kings vs Trinbago Knight Riders (Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia)

• Aug 24, 2025: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua)

• Aug 24, 2025: Saint Lucia Kings vs Barbados Royals (Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia)

• Aug 26, 2025: Saint Lucia Kings vs Guyana Amazon Warriors (Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia)

• Aug 27, 2025: Trinbago Knight Riders vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons (Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad)

• Aug 28, 2025: Saint Lucia Kings vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia)

• Aug 29, 2025: Trinbago Knight Riders vs Barbados Royals (Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad)

• Aug 30, 2025: Trinbago Knight Riders vs Guyana Amazon Warriors (Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad)

• Aug 31, 2025: Saint Lucia Kings vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons (Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia)

• Sept 1, 2025: Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad)

• Sept 3, 2025: Trinbago Knight Riders vs Saint Lucia Kings (Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad)

• Sept 4, 2025: Barbados Royals vs Guyana Amazon Warriors (Kensington Oval, Barbados)

• Sept 5, 2025: Barbados Royals vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons (Kensington Oval, Barbados)

• Sept 6, 2025: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders (Providence Stadium, Guyana)

• Sept 7, 2025: Barbados Royals vs Saint Lucia Kings (Kensington Oval, Barbados)

• Sept 7, 2025: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (Providence Stadium, Guyana)

• Sept 10, 2025: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons (Providence Stadium, Guyana)

• Sept 11, 2025: Barbados Royals vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (Kensington Oval, Barbados)

• Sept 12, 2025: Barbados Royals vs Trinbago Knight Riders (Kensington Oval, Barbados)

• Sept 13, 2025: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Saint Lucia Kings (Providence Stadium, Guyana)

• Sept 14, 2025: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Barbados Royals (Providence Stadium, Guyana)

Playoffs:

• Sept 16, 2025: Eliminator – 3rd placed team vs 4th placed team (Providence Stadium, Guyana)
• Sept 17, 2025: Qualifier 1 – 1st placed team vs 2nd placed team (Providence Stadium, Guyana)
• Sept 19, 2025: Qualifier 2 – Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator (Providence Stadium, Guyana)
• Sept 21, 2025: Final – Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2 (Providence Stadium, Guyana)

Final Word

CPL 2025 has set the stage for one of its most competitive editions. On paper, the Knight Riders are the favorites. On the field, it could be anyone’s game. So, don’t miss out on all the action. Fans in the Caribbean can watch the matches on RUSH Sports, and those in India can watch on Star Sports.