Following a successful Indian Premier League (IPL) auction (IPL Auction 2025) it’s time for IPL 2025, the 18th season. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are the defending champions but as all teams underwent massive changes due to the mega auction, it will be anyone’s game. More importantly, five teams will have new captains and that will have varied impacts on the teams’ performances next season. For now, some of the teams will be sorting their captaincy issues first.
At the IPL 2025 Auction, all the teams combined paid a combined whopping Rs 639.15 Cr for 182 players. Rishabh Pant (Rs 27 Cr), Shreyas Iyer (Rs 26.75 Cr) and Venkatesh Iyer (Rs 23.75 Cr) bagged big contracts. While Venkatesh returned to his team Kolkata Knight Riders, Rishabh and Shreyas will have new teams.
And now all eyes are on the Indian Premier League 2025, which is set to start on 23 March, as recently confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla.
IPL 2025 CAPTAINS
| Team | Captain |
|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Ruturaj Gaikwad |
| Delhi Capitals | Axar Patel |
| Gujarat Titans | Shubman Gill |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Ajinkya Rahane |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Rishabh Pant |
| Mumbai Indians | Hardik Pandya |
| Punjab Kings | Shreyas Iyer |
| Rajasthan Royals | Sanju Samson/ Riyan Parag |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajat Patidar |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Pat Cummins |
IPL 2024 Winner
After an almost flawless campaign, Kolkata Knight Riders lifted the IPL title for the third time. KKR beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final by eight wickets in a low-scoring thriller.
Throughout the campaign, KKR were ruthless, winning nine out of 14 matches. Sunil Narine, who scored 488 runs and bagged 17 wickets, was instrumental in guiding KKR to the title. However, the likes of Phil Salt and Varun Chakaravarthy also played pivotal roles in helping the side win.
Most importantly, it was Gautam Gambhir’s return to KKR, albeit for a season, that did the trick. With Gambhir mentoring the players, KKR played with freedom.
IPL Teams
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals, based in Jaipur, is a celebrated franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Founded in 2008, they won the IPL trophy in the inaugural season under the leadership of legendary spinner Shane Warne.
Known for their royal blue and pink jerseys, Rajasthan Royals have a reputation for identifying and nurturing young talent, often giving a platform to lesser-known players who shine on the grand stage.
The franchise is known for nurturing young talents and one of the big examples is their captain Sanju Samson. However, that has not translated into an IPL title yet.
In IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals will go with an overhauled squad after the mega auction. RR retained their core group of players and added some established names such as Jofra Archer, and Nitish Rana among others.
Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings, previously known as Kings XI Punjab, was Established in 2008. The team represents Punjab, India and play their matches in Mullanpur.
The team, donned in distinctive red and gold, has been home to a mix of seasoned international icons and dynamic domestic players.
With no titles to show so far, Punjab Kings have undergone an overhaul in most of the seasons. The constant changes in support staff and players have not helped the team.
Now, in IPL 2025, PBKS will have another new coach Ricky Ponting as well as a new captain as the team aim to end the title drought.
Ahead of IPL 2025 auction, PBKS retained only two players, spending the rest in rebuilding the squad. Shreyas Iyer is a big addition as PBKS spent Rs 26.75 crore for the Indian batter. They also spent big money on Arshdeep Singh and Sam Curran.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is another underachiever in the Indian Premier League (IPL). RCB play their home matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Established in 2008, RCB quickly became one of the most talked-about teams, partly due to its powerful lineup and charismatic players like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, who have delivered numerous memorable performances. Despite not having won an IPL title, the team has reached the finals multiple times, illustrating their competitive edge and ambition.
Known for their striking red and black jerseys, RCB is celebrated for its electrifying brand of cricket, particularly their aggressive batting style.
With a passionate fan base called the “RCBians,” the team continues to be a formidable force, driven by the pursuit of their first elusive championship title.
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians (MI) are two of the most dominant franchises in the IPL, representing Mumbai. Established in 2008, they have become one of the most successful teams in IPL history with 5 titles showcasing their cricketing prowess.
Known for their iconic blue and gold colours, Mumbai Indians excel in crafting a well-rounded squad, blending experienced international players.
After benefiting from the strong leadership of Rohit Sharma, who guided the team to five IPL titles, MI picked another homegrown talent Hardik Pandya to lead the team.
With the World No 1 bowler Jasprit Bumrah leading the pace attack and World No 1 T20 batter Suryakumar Yadav in the batting department, MI are one of the most feared teams in IPL.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is a formidable franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), established in 2012 and based in Hyderabad, Telangana. Known for their striking orange and black jerseys, SRH quickly made an impact by winning their maiden IPL title in 2016.
Sunrisers Hyderabad emphasizes a balanced approach, often fielding a strong lineup that combines international stars with promising domestic talent. Their strategic gameplay and ability to defend low totals have made them a competitive force in the league.
With youngsters such as Abhishek Sharma delivering high-octane performances under World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins, SRH are in good hands. The likes of Heinrich Klaasen, and Travis Head also add to their batting firepower. Most importantly, after a long period of inconsistency, SRH finally seems to be consistent with its performance and support staff.
Lucknow Super Giants
One of the new entrants of IPL, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have already made a name for themselves. Established in 2022, representing Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, the team has quickly captured the attention of IPL fans.
LSG sports a striking blue and orange jersey, symbolizing their energetic and fresh approach to the competition.
After three decent years under the leadership of KL Rahul, LSG will shift to a more dynamic captain. As LSG have acquired Rishabh Pant, he is likely to lead the franchise in IPL 2025. With the likes of Nicholas Pooran, David Miller and Ayush Badoni in the team, LSG have a string unit.
In the bowling department, speedsters Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan would add immense value. Ravi Bishnoi will lead the spin department along with Shahbaz Ahmed.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is a prominent franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), representing Kolkata, West Bengal. Established in 2008, KKR has won the IPL title three times, in 2012, 2014 and 2024, showcasing their competitive spirit and ability to perform under pressure. The team’s distinctive purple and gold colours symbolize their blend of elegance and dynamism.
One of the most popular franchises which have always been under pressure to perform, KKR have arguably the best domestic coaching setup. And that has helped get the best out of the Indian players.
For IPL 2025, KKR have retained their core with all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. They also have Rinku Singh and Venkatesh Iyer in batting to add firepower in the middle-order.
The addition of Quinton de Kock Rovman Powell will also bolster the batting. In bowling, they have got Mitchell Starc back along with speedster Anrich Nortje.
Gujarat Titans
Gujarat Titans are one of the fresh additions to the Indian Premier League (IPL), making their debut in the 2022 season. Based in the vibrant state of Gujarat, the team quickly drew attention with its distinctive blue and orange colours, symbolizing a blend of tradition and modernity.
Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, Titans won the IPL title on their debut.
But with Hardik Pandya moving back to Mumbai Indians, GT have found a young leader in Shubman Gill. After a poor IPL 2024, GT will be hungry to better their performance.
At IPL 2025 Auction, Gujarat Titans made strategic purchases. The addition of Glenn Phillips and Jos Buttler will be key in batting. Similarly, in the pace bowling department, GT will have speed of Kagiso Rabada and Prasidh Krishna, the experience of Ishant Sharma and the aggression of Mohd Siraj. In the spin department, GT have Rashid Khan and the addition of Washington Sundar will bolster the squad.
Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is one of the most successful and popular franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), established in 2008 and based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Known for their iconic yellow jerseys and vibrant home crowd at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, CSK have built a legacy of excellence in the league. The team has won five IPL titles under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
Under the legendary leadership of MS Dhoni, CSK have become synonymous with strategic brilliance and calm under pressure. Dhoni’s captaincy has been instrumental in guiding the team through numerous nail-biting finishes, marking CSK as a formidable opponent.
But there is now a shift. With Ruturaj Gaikwad taking charge as the captain, the team has tried to maintain a balance of experience and youth while also retaining their core group. The return of R Ashwin will further bolster their spin department with Ravindra Jadeja already present.
Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals are a dynamic franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), representing the capital city of India, New Delhi. Originally known as Delhi Daredevils, the team underwent a rebranding in 2018, reflecting a renewed strategy and ambition.
The Capitals have steadily improved their performance in recent years, reaching the finals in the 2020 season, showcasing their growing prowess. However, a title has remained elusive.
With a striking blue and red jersey, Delhi Capitals have been home to a blend of experienced internationals and talented young Indian players. From IPL 2025, DC will undergo a change. With Rishabh Pant moving to LSG, DC will need to appoint a new captain.
At the IPL auction, Delhi Capitals focused on team balance. The addition of Harry Brook, Faf du Plessis, Tristan Stubbs and KL Rahul will bolster their batting. There is also a mixture of youth and experience in the bowling department.
IPL 2024 Standings
| Pos | Teams | P | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kolkata | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 20 | +1.428 |
| 2 | Hyderabad | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 17 | +0.414 |
| 3 | Rajasthan | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 17 | +0.273 |
| 4 | Bengaluru | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | +0.459 |
| 5 | Chennai | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | +0.392 |
| 6 | Delhi | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | -0.377 |
| 7 | Lucknow | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | -0.667 |
| 8 | Gujarat | 14 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 12 | -1.063 |
| 9 | Punjab | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 10 | -0.353 |
| 10 | Mumbai | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 8 | -0.318 |
