The much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is almost here, with the tournament set to kick off on March 22. As excitement builds for the new season, nine out of the ten franchises have placed their trust in Indian captains, with Pat Cummins being the only overseas player leading a team, as he captains Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Indian Skippers Dominate IPL 2025
This season’s leadership lineup features several familiar faces. Rishabh Pant, the most expensive player in IPL history, will lead Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), while Shreyas Iyer takes charge of Punjab Kings (PBKS). Ajinkya Rahane will captain Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and Rajasthan Royals (RR) will continue under the leadership of Sanju Samson.
Other captains include Ruturaj Gaikwad for Chennai Super Kings, Axar Patel for Delhi Capitals, and Rajat Patidar for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The only overseas leader is Pat Cummins, who will take charge of Sunrisers Hyderabad.
IPL 2025 Captains List
- 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
- Royal Challengers Bangalore – Rajat Patidar
- Sunrisers Hyderabad – Pat Cummins (Australia – Only foreign captain)
New Groupings for IPL 2025
The 10 teams for IPL 2025 will be divided into two groups:
- Group A: Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals
- Group B: Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants
Each team will play 14 league-stage matches. They will face opponents within their group twice, along with select inter-group fixtures.
Playoffs and Final
The playoffs for IPL 2025 will be hosted in Kolkata and Hyderabad. Qualifier 1 will take place in Hyderabad on May 20, followed by the Eliminator on May 21. Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens will host Qualifier 2 on May 23, with the IPL 2025 final scheduled for May 25, also in Kolkata.
With the stage set and captains ready, IPL 2025 promises to be another thrilling season of cricket. Fans are eagerly awaiting the action to begin as the countdown to March 22 continues.
