Cricket League 2025: Line-up, Clubs, Prediction Guide and Professional Review

Cricket League 2025: Line-up, Clubs, Prediction Guide and Professional Review

The Professional T20 League 2025 is more than just a cricket series — it’s a celebration of games in Subcontinent. As an Local sport commentator who has followed the IPL since its launch, I can say the 2025 league (the 18th IPL season) was one of the most thrilling installments. This piece shares a comprehensive overview of IPL 2025, including the full timetable and format, franchise modifications, event features, and a notable emphasis on IPL wagering guides ipl-bet.in. Whether you’re inquiring about the IPL 2025 launch, the franchises and updated standards, or searching for prediction strategies on IPL contests, this seasoned review has you prepared.

IPL 2025 Schedule and Locations

The schedule of Cricket Series 2025 was crowded with everyday events and two-match days on off-days. The event was originally set to operate until May ending, but due to an unexpected interim break, the decider was rescheduled to June 3, 2025. Despite the brief issue, planners secured the full series was wrapped up properly.

Essential dates in the IPL Season 2025 program:

  • Kickoff Fixture: March 22, 2025 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Franchise at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. (Defending victors the side started at base, but the rival crushed the celebration with a victory in the debut fixture.)
  • Finals Round: The last rounds were played at neutral locations for neutrality. Initial Decider and the Exit Play took place in New Chandigarh, and penultimate match was in finalist arena.
  • Final: June 3, 2025 – Bangalore Team vs PBKS at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

Throughout the campaign, fixtures were held across 13 grounds in India, representing the league’s countrywide influence. Each franchise played home games at their original local stadium, and some line-ups opted for alternative venues to draw more fans. For example, Royals staged a couple of events in local arena, and Kings held events at the modern arena in New Chandigarh. Delhi Capitals even played some local encounters in Andhra city. The Cricket League truly expanded to the whole of the land – from the renowned Wankhede in Mumbai, and Bengaluru stadium in Bengaluru to historic Eden Gardens in West Bengal and M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in metro, plus stunning grounds like mountain stadium in the hills.

Event Layout: The ten squads were organized into two virtual divisions for arrangement, but all squads ultimately participated 14 fixtures each (facing every other line-up at least once, and a few clubs again). The top four squads in the standings reached to the knockouts. The knockouts system persisted the same:

  • First Decider: between the top two line-ups (first place qualifies straight to title game).
  • Exit Game: between the 3rd and 4th placed franchises (out team is gone, successful side qualifies).
  • Semi-final: between the fallen side and victorious side (chooses the second finalist).
  • Grand Finale: between the successful sides of first final and semi-final.

This system rewards reliability (top two teams obtain two possibilities to advance to the last match) and adds suspense for audiences and gamblers alike, as the knockout games are heated decisive games.

Clubs and Notable Roster Shifts in 2025

One of the most exciting features of Cricket Series 2025 was the big auction and the considerable team member transfers before the campaign. Clubs underwent some notable modifications, with line-ups investing on key athletes to bolster their squads. Here’s a team-by-team rundown of the Indian Premier League 2025 line-ups and important alterations, including appointed skippers and major acquisitions:

  • CSK: Four-time winners Chennai Team returned back long-time athlete Ravichandran Ashwin (brought to squad for ₹9.75 crore) and British utility man Sam Curran (₹2.4 crore) to strengthen their line-up. With the renowned MS Dhoni ending after 2024, Ravindra Jadeja captained as head of CSK. The line-up depended on experience and bowling strength, holding essential members like Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad (a consistent starter), and Deepak Chahar (who rejoined from absence to lead the attack). the team’s plan was to merge veteran locals with a few influential overseas cricketers, keeping faithful to their model of consistency.
  • Delhi Team: the team executed a big signing by acquiring KL Rahul for ₹14 crore. Rahul’s acquisition was aimed to address the space of Rishabh Pant (their earlier head and catcher). With Pant let go into the marketplace, Delhi secured Rahul as a senior player and future captain. They also picked Proteas long-time Faf du Plessis at base price (₹2 crore) to offer wisdom at the beginning and advise fresh cricketers. Left-arm quick T. Natarajan (₹10.75 crore) was another important recruit to enhance Delhi’s end-game pace. These decisions showed a reshuffle: Delhi constructed their top order around Rahul, Prithvi Shaw (if in rhythm, though Shaw was unexpectedly left out at sale), and all-rounder Axar Patel, who was held. Captaincy for the squad in 2025 shifted to KL Rahul, providing his guidance background from past clubs.
  • PBKS: the team went through a headship change, bringing Shreyas Iyer for a giant ₹26.75 crore to be their fresh commander. Iyer had impressively commanded Kolkata Knight Riders to the trophy in 2024, and the franchise aimed he could bring that winning drive. the team also allocated ₹18 crore in star leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal to strengthen their arsenal. dual-skilled cricketer Marcus Stoinis (₹11 crore) and powerful striker Glenn Maxwell (₹4.2 crore) were recruited to strengthen the middle order. Punjab kept batsman Shikhar Dhawan (one of IPL’s most consistent hitters) and promising seamer Arshdeep Singh (matched via RTM for ₹18 crore) to maintain some continuity. With these moves, the side constructed a dominant franchise and showed they were committed about closing their cupless run.
  • Super Giants: the club performed the largest signing of the draft – star catcher Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore, making him the most premium cricketer in IPL history. Pant signed with the squad as the latest captain, taking over from KL Rahul. His fearless batting and versatile wicketkeeping were perceived as appropriate for the franchise’s plans. LSG also signed senior overseas hitter David Miller (₹7.5 crore) and overseas multi-skilled athlete Mitchell Marsh (₹3.4 crore) to provide impact (though Marsh’s durability was a problem ahead of the campaign). They kept essential international cricketers like Nicholas Pooran and Mark Wood (although Wood’s readiness was restricted in former years) and stayed with domestic cricketers like turner Ravi Bishnoi. With Pant, Pooran, and Miller in the team, the side had a dangerous strike force on paper.
  • MI: Five-time winners the franchise persisted with their foundation of Rohit Sharma (commander), Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav. They did, however, make some major moves to update the squad. Mumbai returned ace quick Trent Boult (₹12.5 crore) to partner Bumrah, reuniting a proven duo from 2020. They also signed international turner Mitchell Santner (₹2 crore) to improve their turning attack, supplying options alongside Piyush Chawla (if preserved or as a supporter role). the franchise’s philosophy has always been to mix their headline pillars with calculated moves; in 2025 they emphasized on fast men. Jasprit Bumrah, recovering from absence, was gradually brought into the tournament (he was absent for the first couple of weeks but came back the team in April). The presence of Boult, Bumrah, and Jofra Archer (although Mumbai swapped Archer to Rajasthan for 2025) ensured MI’s bowling attack remained potent. On the scoring aspect, with Ishan Kishan transferring to another franchise, MI trusted rising cricketer Tilak Varma at the opening, alongside Rohit and SKY.
  • Kolkata Knight Riders: The current cup holders the franchise underwent major alterations. They shockingly did not continue with English hitter Jos Buttler, and he was acquired by franchise. the franchise also missed their trophy-holding leader Shreyas Iyer to Punjab in the auction. To replace, KKR allocated significantly to preserve Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore), indicating they view him as a pillar for the seasons. Venkatesh, a energetic athlete, kept with the franchise and accepted increased role. the franchise also picked dual-role player Quinton de Kock (₹3.6 crore) to fill the starter role left by Buttler and brought in pacer Anrich Nortje (₹6.5 crore) to boost their pace stocks. With Shreyas left, Nitish Rana (retained by the squad) or even Venkatesh Iyer might have been regarded for captaincy. the franchise still had veteran members like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Lockie Ferguson (if preserved) to deliver game-changing capability. The big doubt was how Kolkata would adapt without Shreyas’s captaincy and Buttler’s impact, but the team declared belief in their restructured team.
  • Royal Challengers Bangalore: the franchise, a squad with a large audience, finally had their perfect season in 2025. They completed smart acquisitions in the draft, adding big striker Liam Livingstone (₹8.75 crore) to provide impact to the middle order and rising gloveman-batsman Jitesh Sharma (₹11 crore) as a closer. They also secured young fast bowler Rasikh Salam Dar – an inexperienced homegrown fast bowler secured for ₹6 crore (the top for an unsigned player). These additions supported the stalwarts Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell. (Maxwell was actually dropped and taken by the side, so the franchise gave up him but replaced the absence with Livingstone’s all-round striking.) Bangalore’s line-up was improved by bringing back Aussie quick Josh Hazlewood (₹12.5 crore) and acquiring experienced national pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (₹10.75 crore) to support the arsenal. Notably, Faf du Plessis, who headed Bangalore in 2022-24, was let go and picked by Delhi, so the squad’s leadership likely went back to Virat Kohli. The 2025 season emerged memorable for RCB – under Kohli’s command, they shed the “incomplete” mark and won their first-ever title after 18 years of pursuit.
  • Royals: The Royals let go with some big figures, preferring not to preserve Jos Buttler (who signed to GT) and bowler Yuzvendra Chahal (to PBKS). They instead directed in quick bowlers and versatile cricketers. Rajasthan acquired speedy fast bowler Jofra Archer for ₹12.5 crore, gambling on his speed despite prior availability setbacks (interestingly, Archer transferred from MI to RR, rejoining to the side where he began in 2018). They also acquired overseas turner Wanindu Hasaranga (₹5.25 crore) to team with R Ashwin (if Ashwin was still with RR; actually Ashwin moved to CSK, so Hasaranga addressed the rotation gap). Sanju Samson kept the head and the batting mainstay, with help from promising batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal. the team presented themselves to form a well-rounded franchise with Samson’s direction, hoping the newcomers would merge quickly. They remained to conduct some fixtures in local venue and took a couple to Assam to attract followers in the area.
  • SRH: SRH experienced a revamping phase in 2025. After a weak 2024, they parted with captain Aiden Markram and many others. At the bidding, SRH’s key purchases included dual-role player Ishan Kishan (₹11.25 crore) to revive their top order and experienced seamer Mohammed Shami (₹10 crore) to guide the attack. They also welcomed Harshal Patel (₹8 crore) to improve the final overs and picked wrist spinner Rahul Chahar (₹3.2 crore) for rotation options. Without Markram, Hyderabad needed a replacement head; possibilities considered Bhuvneshwar Kumar (if preserved, although Bhuvi actually shifted to RCB in the sale) or perhaps a junior prospect like Abhishek Sharma. (In reality, the squad might have selected someone like Mayank Agarwal or another national as skipper, but Mayank was unselected, so the franchise’s direction was a bit of a uncertainty). Regardless, the squad’s line-up had a blend of juniors and experience, but on paper looked like one of the lower sides – providing them the less-favored position.
  • Each club’s reworked line-up made IPL Season 2025 highly unpredictable. For audiences and gamblers, the club shifts were crucial knowledge – recent captains and star signings can strongly influence a squad’s output and gambling rates. For instance, the squad’s rates improved after buying Pant, whereas the squad’s championship chances might have reduced slightly after losing Shreyas Iyer and Buttler. We’ll cover more on chances and leaders in the gambling segment, but first, let’s explore how the tournament played out.

    League Notable Points and Significant Showings

    Indian Premier League 2025 Cup: The RCB Franchise rose as the winners of IPL 2025, finally winning the cup for the maiden occasion in team history. In a thrilling decider, RCB beat Punjab Team by 6 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium. It was a dream tournament for the side and their huge of audiences, as the side stopped an 18-year cup absence. experienced Virat Kohli was clearly tearful as he embraced the IPL at long last, having been part of RCB since the launch. the squad, led by Shreyas Iyer, put up a valiant performance to get to their early title match since 2014, but fell just behind in the championship game.

    Elimination battles: The knockouts were full of drama. the franchise had concluded in the highest spots of the initial round and achieved first decider dominantly against PBKS to gain a spot in the last game. the squad then had to contest the second decider against the winner of the knockout (Blue Army). the franchise defeated MI in semi-final, thanks to a magnificent captaincy batting by Shreyas Iyer, to advance to the grand finale. Mumbai Indians and Titans were the other two playoff teams; MI secured the sudden death against GT but couldn’t get past Punjab. Notably, title-holding holders the franchise did not progress for last rounds, showing how challenging the season was – no club is secured success in the competition, making predictions all the more uncertain!

    Star players: IPL Series 2025 highlighted some remarkable personal achievements:

    • Top batsman (Orange Cap): rising Ahmedabad Team player Sai Sudharsan topped the standings with 759 points in the edition. Sudharsan’s steadiness and big knocks were a highlight, overtaking many more renowned cricketers. He showed to be a anchor of GT’s line-up, even though GT could not repeat their championship from 2022.
    • Purple Cap holder (Purple Cap): GT also delivered the top speedster – speedster Prasidh Krishna claimed 25 wickets. Prasidh, back from an layoff in 2024, made a solid recovery and was potent with the ball, especially in the final overs.
    • Season Star: India batsman from MI claimed the top prize for IPL Season 2025. SKY was in blazing shape, producing a string of powerful knocks and also aiding in the defense. His capacity to change fixtures single-handedly made him the top player of the year.
    • Additional Stars: Virat Kohli had a remarkable league for the franchise, including a triple-digit knock that aided the franchise guarantee a qualification. Rinku Singh (KKR) sustained his 2024 heroics with a few more last-over maximum strikes cameos. On the line-up, Jasprit Bumrah’s return was impactful for MI (even though MI collapsed in last rounds, Bumrah gave some decisive spells). Spinners like Rashid Khan (retained by GT) and Rahul Chahar (SRH) had their highlights, but overall 2025 was a strong year for speedsters on slightly quicker wickets.

    Additional Rules and Incidents: The implementation of the global code brought harsher penalties for team member reactions or late overs. We saw a few situations of skippers being punished for late overs early in the league as franchises adapted to the new rules. Another persistent policy was the “substitution” system (started in 2023) which teams utilized smartly – for example, some squads consistently replaced an additional pacer while holding or a batsman while chasing to perfect their franchise. These strategic switches brought an extra aspect of suspense to contests (and also to real-time betting strategies, as an substitution could shift a contest after the strategic switches created an extra aspect of drama to matches (and also to in-play wagering strategies, as an Impact Player could shift a game after the start).

    Overall, T20 League 2025 will be recalled for the team’s first-ever trophy, some brilliant talented stars shining through, and the nail-biting matches that kept us on the verge of our positions. Now, let’s turn our interest to the part of the league 2025 wagering – a subject of great appeal for many supporters looking to involve with the matches on a unique dimension.

    Indian Premier League 2025 Wagering: Odds, fields and Guides

    the game betting is huge around the international stage, and IPL is the highlight for cricket bettors. In the nation, while offline odds play is mostly outlawed, competition betting online has a giant audience through various websites (plus the expansion of fantasy leagues apps where fans assemble digital sides for money rewards). As a cricket expert, I saw that the excitement for the tournament 2025 was not just on the ground but also in the odds tables. Here we’ll discuss the early probabilities, famous gambling options in the tournament 2025, and some expert guides on odds this year.

    Early Lines and Favorites

    Before IPL 2025 started, bookmakers released outright lines for each team to take the cup. These lines demonstrate side ability, past performance, and market opinion. Here’s an estimated glimpse at how the franchises stood with wagering lines at the kickoff of the tournament (better chances = stronger chance as likely winners):

    Franchise

    Pre-Season Title Odds (around)

    Mumbai Indians (MI)

    5.0 (5-to-1) – front-runners

    Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

    5.5 (cup holders)

    Gujarat Titans (GT)

    6.0

    Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

    6.5

    Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

    7.0

    Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

    8.0

    Rajasthan Royals (RR)

    9.0

    Punjab Kings (PBKS)

    10.0

    Delhi Capitals (DC)

    10.0

    Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

    12.0 – dark horses

    These rates are estimated and varied slightly across distinct sportsbooks.

    Essential insights from the predictions: Traditional giants like the franchise and CSK were among the favorites, as expected, given their strong foundations and winning past. Kolkata, being reigning cup holders, also had tight lines. the franchise, latest cup holders, were seen formidable opponents especially after picking Jos Buttler. RCB were given reasonable lines (around 8:1) – many supporters always desire RCB will prevail, but bookmakers were reserved due to RCB’s gap of past victories. Interestingly, the franchise’ lines were around 10:1 at opening, but as their reshaped line-up with Shreyas Iyer and others connected and they competed well, stakeholders who trusted PBKS beforehand got valuable payouts (they indeed achieved the last game). Hyderabad Team were labeled long-shots given their overhaul; few predicted them to achieve victory.

    For those betting outright, an specialist recommendation was to use a balancing plan: for example, if you placed RCB at 8.0 and they got to the cup decider, you could balance by betting on their opponent to confirm return. In 2025, anyone who staked on RCB at the start got rewarded richly as RCB won the trophy against the original predictions!

    Common the season 2025 Prediction Fields

    Predictions on the tournament games isn’t just about deciding the eventual champion. There are dozens of segments provided for each fixture and for the entire event. Some of the most common wagering options that bettors participated in during IPL 2025 were:

    • Contest Result (winning team) – The easiest wager on who will succeed a specific match. Each competition contest often had predictions that changed constantly, especially if you played real-time.
    • Leading Run-Scorer / Leading Pacer – Bets on who will score the most runs or claim the most victims in a fixture (or even throughout the tournament). For example, playing on someone like Virat Kohli to be Man of the Match or top run-scorer in a event was common.
    • Combined Score in Match / Number Prediction – predicting on the total knocks made in the contest (by both sides altogether) being exceeding or smaller a certain figure. IPL contests are high-scoring, so oddsmakers might place a threshold like 330.5 tallies and you play above or under.
    • Player Performance – particular stakes like a athlete to score 50+ knocks, or a seamer to pick 3+ scalps, etc. For instance, gamblers often bet on players like Jos Buttler or Suryakumar Yadav to hit a fifty given their performance.
    • Big Hits – the tournament is popular for maximizing boundaries. fields such as “overall sixes in the match” or “which club will score more sixes” were liked. With max-hitters in every team, these plays are entertaining. In 2025, with athletes like Livingstone, Pant, and Maxwell participating, many events had a barrage of max hits.
    • Real-Time Betting (on the go) – Once the game commences, the lines and segments refresh delivery by delivery. gamblers were active in during game odds on things like “fall of wicket” (caught, bowled, etc.), “over prediction”, or simply trusting a franchise during a follow-up. the season’s volatile turns make live betting both engaging and hazardous.

    Futures Betting: Beyond separate events, supporters also predicted on bigger markets like “Who will make the finals”, “Which two franchises will make the final”, “Most big hits by a player”, etc. In 2025, for example, a bet on Sai Sudharsan to be the leading batsman would have been a bold play, but it succeeded! These kinds of unlikely bets pull in risk-taking gamblers.

    Seasoned Betting Suggestions for the season 2025

    Odds wisely on T20 cricket calls for a balance of league understanding and analysis of lines. Here are some insider advice and points from the 2025 tournament:

    • Be Informed: Before entering wagers, smart stakeholders researched team news and situations. For example, knowing surface was vital – a batting-friendly surface in Wankhede ground might cause to a high-scoring contest (so wagering on lots of scores/sixes makes sense), whereas a sticky surface in CSK home might help spinners (making a lower total or backing spinners for dismissals a smart bet). In 2025, some venues like Gujarat created very huge tallies in early games, shaping predictions.
    • Track Momentum and Changes: IPL form can vary, but form counts. During 2025, once the team launched a success chain, many stakeholders backed them in next fixtures. Also, keeping watch of player availability was key. For instance, if Jasprit Bumrah was injured for MI in a match or if a team chose to switch imported athletes, it influenced the predictions.
    • Impact of New Players: With many new recruits in 2025, the first part of the year was tricky to judge. professionals often caution to check the first couple of weeks to gauge how teams are performing with their fresh groups before betting big. By mid-edition, habits emerged (like which teams are regular, or which seamer is in dominant rhythm) that informed improved predictions.
    • Wager Carefully & Hedge Bets: A golden rule is never to bet more than you can afford to lose. The league events can change quickly – a club ahead solidly can crumble in a few balls. If you entered a title gamble (say on a squad to secure the title at opening), think about balancing if they reach a good spot. For example, if you had a play on PBKS to take the cup at 10:1 and they reached the cup decider against the squad, you could bet on RCB in the cup decider to ensure some gain either way. Offsetting in deciders is a method many experienced bettors use.
    • Crowd Boost & Spectators: The season 2025 returned fully to venue split games with jammed arenas. Crowd factor is major – clubs like CSK and MI have incredible backing and knowledge with their grounds. Predictions do consider this in, but as a stakeholder, one might assign a slight favor to home teams in 50-50 fixtures. However, in 2025 eliminations at neutral venues, that element was balanced, and indeed we saw the two leading squads triumph.
    • Keep Informed on Headlines: Unexpected updates such as a cricketer getting hurt in nets or a change in team can affect a game’s result. For instance, if a key multi-skilled athlete was dropped right before a event, the predictions might move. Being aware of match reports (via Twitter, channels) supported players respond quickly. In one 2025 event, when a head withdrew due to a knock, live odds swung and savvy stakeholders used benefit.

    In end, IPL 2025 offered memorable odds prospects, but it also highlighted everyone that this format is amazingly volatile. Leaders don’t always prevail (as evidenced by shocks throughout the Leaders don’t always win (as proved by unexpected results throughout the season), so it’s wise to leverage analysis and also rely on your gut at times. Always play for enjoyment and the bonus thrill, not as a definite cash strategy.

    Common Queries (Guide) about Indian Premier League 2025

    Q: When did the season 2025 commence and finish?
    A: The season 2025 commenced on March 22, 2025 and the title match was staged on June 3, 2025. The league went a bit longer than originally scheduled due to a short mid-season pause, but all 74 events were finished by June 3rd.

    Q: Which teams competed in the league 2025 last game and who won?
    A: The last game was staged between the franchise and the side on June 3, 2025. Royal Challengers Bangalore won the title 2025, overcoming the team by 6 runs to claim their maiden cup.

    Q: Who will capture the competition 2025?
    A: Before the season, it was open who would secure the tournament 2025, as all teams were strong. Many supporters believed that powerhouses like the squad or Chennai Super Kings might succeed, or that the team could retain their crown. However, IPL is changing – and indeed the dark horse success came true as Bangalore stood as the victors. In hindsight, RCB’s win shocked those who expected other teams.

    Q: How many fixtures were conducted in IPL 2025?
    A: There were 74 matches in total during the season 2025. Each of the 10 sides contested 14 round-robin matches, and then 4 knockout events (first final, exit match, Qualifier 2, Final) were contested.

    Q: What were the changed rules in the tournament 2025?
    A: The main rule change in the competition 2025 was the enforcement of the international rules for cricketers, integrating IPL’s penalty framework with ICC standards. Otherwise, the setup and rules of play (with the special player system launched in 2023) continued consistent to recent seasons.

    Q: Is Jasprit Bumrah playing the league 2025?
    A: Yes, Jasprit Bumrah was present in the tournament 2025 for Mumbai Indians. He was back from a back injury that had ruled out him out of IPL 2023. He did not play the beginning period of the season 2025 as he was adjusted back to full fitness, but he was included in the MI club in April and participated in their games subsequently.

    Q: Where can I watch the season 2025 streaming?
    A: In Bharat, the league 2025 events were shown live on the Star Sports network (on TV) and broadcast on the web on the platform app/website (media partner owns the streaming rights).

    Q: Who were some notable cricketers in the tournament 2025?
    A: Several players delivered remarkable efforts in IPL 2025. To highlight a few standout players: Virat Kohli (RCB), Sai Sudharsan (GT), Prasidh Krishna (GT), Suryakumar Yadav (MI), Shreyas Iyer (PBKS), Jasprit Bumrah (MI).


    To summarize, the league 2025 was a remarkable edition that had it all: an extended calendar, revamped franchises, historic purchases, and an unexpected win. Fans enjoyed not just the games but also the discussion and odds thrill around each match. The season continues to be the most dynamic T20 series in the globe, and that is what makes it so engaging for spectators and wagerers alike. Here’s to the next edition, with its never-ending stories and joy for cricket lovers!

    914

    0 replies

    Leave a Reply

    Want to join the discussion?
    Feel free to contribute!

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *