The 2025 season of the league will kickstart with a clash between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Balaji, a one-time IPL winner who took 76 wickets in 73 matches at an average of 26.68 and represented franchises like Chennai Super Kings (CSK), KKR (one title) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in his career, spoke on impact of the cash-rich league.