Best IPL 2025 Playing XI from 6 teams that failed to qualify for playoffs

We are right in the business end of the season, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 knockouts set to begin in a couple of days from now. The stage is set for the four qualifying teams – Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians – to battle it out for 2025 glory.

While the final IPL 2025 points table is yet to be confirmed, with all four teams competing for the top two spots, the fate of the rest of the six non-qualifying teams was set well before. In fact, we got the four qualifying teams seven games before the league stage was over – the earliest ever in an IPL season.

But what about the rest of the six teams? They did their best, too, but the disparity was on full display. The likes of Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had their moments but lacked consistency. Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) were awful, to say the least. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) were inconsistent as well. On that note, let us look at the best playing XI from the six teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Best XI from IPL 2025 teams that failed to qualify

S. No.	Player	Team	Stats
1	Mitchell Marsh 🛩️	LSG	560 Runs at SR 161.84
2	Yashasvi Jaiswal	RR	559 Runs at SR 159.71
3	Nicholas Pooran 🛩️ (C)	LSG	511 Runs at SR 198.83
4	KL Rahul	DC	539 Runs at SR 149.72
5	Dewald Brevis🛩️	CSK	225 Runs at SR 180.00
6	Dhruv Jurel (wk)	RR	333 Runs at SR 156.33
7	Aniket Verma	SRH	236 Runs at SR 166.19
8	Vipraj Nigam	DC	142 Runs at SR 179.74, 11 Wickets at Eco 9.12
9	Harshal Patel	SRH	16 Wickets at Eco 9.80
10	Khaleel Ahmed	CSK	15 Wickets at Eco 8.16
11	Noor Ahmad🛩️	CSK	24 Wickets at Eco 8.16
12	Varun Chakaravarthy	KKR	17 Wickets at Eco 7.66

Honourable Mentions: Tristan Stubbs (DC), Heinrich Klaasen (SRH), Pat Cummins (SRH) and Kuldeep Yadav (DC).

Mitchell Marsh, Jaiswal & Pooran – Power-packed top-order

It was relishing for LSG that Mitchell Marsh produced his best-ever IPL season. While LSG’s middle order, particularly Rishabh Pant, faltered, their top three were awesome. Two of those, Marsh and Nicholas Pooran, are included in this XI. Marsh, in fact, ended up as the highest run-getter amongst the six non-qualifying teams. His recent superb century marked a superb return, and he still has one game remaining (vs RCB).

His opening partner, meanwhile, is Yashasvi Jaiswal, who also made 559 runs at a strike rate of 159.71. What was fascinating to witness was his hunger to stay for a longer time at the crease. He made six fifties in 14 games. Next up is Pooran, who was on his way to a hammering IPL 2025 before he endured a slump. Still, he managed to outclass most of the batters and ended up with 511 runs at an average of 46.45 and a magnificent strike rate of 198.83, one of the all-time best among players with at least 500+ runs in a season.

Brevis wild card, KL Rahul a must

The middle-order features – KL Rahul, Dewald Brevis, Dhruv Jurel and Aniket Verma. Although a right-handed dominant middle order, these four batters were superb in a season where their teams underperformed. KL Rahul batted as a number four batter this season, but the DC openers had a poor show, meaning Rahul had to bat at the top of the order later in the season.

Despite this, Rahul wasn’t at fault, as he clubbed 539 runs, his seventh consecutive 500+ run season (where he has played at least 10 games). To go with his century, Rahul averaged 53.90, including a match-winning knock at his home ground in Bengaluru. Brevis, meanwhile, has pipped Tristan Stubbs in this XI due to his sheer impact at CSK.

In the six innings he batted, Brevis scored just one duck. In the rest five innings, he got 30+ in all. This also includes two fifties, both of which were scored at an SR of above 200. Overall, Brevis hammered 225 runs at an incredible SR of 180.00. Aged just 22, CSK now have a golden opportunity to have a player for the coming decade!

Why Aniket Verma & Jurel?

The two designated finishers would be Dhruv Jurel and Aniket Verma. RR were criticised for retaining Jurel at a whopping Rs 14 crore. However, Jurel showcased what he has to offer. While Jaiswal and Vaihbav Sooryavanshi were great up top, RR were let down by the likes of Riyan Parag and Nitish Rana. Jurel, however, was consistent, scoring 333 runs at a great SR of 156.33.

Aniket Verma’s inclusion, meanwhile, might surprise some, but SRH unearthed a gem for years to come. Hear this: Aniket batted across 12 innings. In six of those innings, he operated at a SR of above 200! His best innings came when his side were in dire straits against DC in Vizag, where he clubbed a 41-ball 74.

Vipraj Nigam one of the best uncapped talents at IPL 2025

A relatively unknown name at the start of IPL 2025, Vipraj Nigam ended the season as Delhi Capitals’ most impactful all-rounder. Used primarily as a batting floater and a sixth bowling option, the 24-year-old made a strong case for himself. With the bat, he smashed 142 runs at a superb strike rate of 179.74. His batting took many by surprise.

But it was with the ball that Nigam left a real mark. Sometimes bowling in the powerplay and at the death, he picked up 11 wickets across 10 innings at an economy of 9.12 – highly respectable considering the high-scoring nature of this season.

Among bowlers from non-qualifying teams, Noor Ahmad was a clear standout. The CSK wrist-spinner scalped 24 wickets in 14 games at an average of 17.00 and strike rate of 12.5 – both best among his peers – including two four-wicket hauls. While he might lose the Purple Cap to Prasidh Krishna, Noor certainly paid dividends to his hefty price tag (Rs 10 cr).

Harshal Patel (SRH) followed with 16 wickets in 13 games, his best figures being 4/28, although he went at 9.80 rpo. CSK’s Khaleel Ahmed rediscovered rhythm, taking 15 wickets at an economy of 8.16, striking every 18.6 balls.

Finally, Varun Chakaravarthy of KKR delivered a highly economical campaign – 17 wickets in 13 games. His economy rate of 7.66 is something that not many can boast about.