Who Will Win IPL 2025 After All Teams and Players Are Finalized?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is set to commence on March 22, 2025, promising another exhilarating edition of one of the world’s most competitive T20 leagues. With the recent mega auction concluding in November 2024, all ten franchises have finalized their squads, setting the stage for an intense battle for the coveted trophy. While each team has made strategic signings to strengthen their chances, three franchises have emerged as the strongest contenders for the title—Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Gujarat Titans (GT).

Our Top 3 Picks for IPL 2025

1 – Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

LSG made headlines by acquiring Rishabh Pant for a record-breaking ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. Pant’s aggressive batting and leadership qualities are expected to bolster LSG’s campaign. Alongside Pant, LSG secured the services of David Miller for ₹7.5 crore, adding depth to their batting lineup. With a blend of experienced internationals and promising young talent, LSG appears well-equipped to challenge for the title.

Final Squad: Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan, Rishabh Pant, David Miller, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Avesh Khan, Abdul Samad, Aryan Juyal, Akash Deep, Himmat Singh, M Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akash Singh, Shamar Joseph, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Arshin Kulkarni.

2 – Punjab Kings (PBKS)

PBKS showcased their intent by signing Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore, briefly making him the most expensive player before Pant’s acquisition. The franchise also invested heavily in their bowling attack, retaining Arshdeep Singh for ₹18 crore and securing Yuzvendra Chahal for the same amount. These strategic buys address previous inconsistencies, positioning PBKS as strong contenders this season.

Final Squad: Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, Yash Thakur, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sai Kishore, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Pyla Avinash, Pravin Dubey.

3 – Gujarat Titans (GT)

The Titans strengthened their squad by acquiring Jos Buttler for ₹15.75 crore, adding explosive power to their top order. Their bowling unit received a significant boost with the addition of Kagiso Rabada for ₹10.75 crore and the retention of Rashid Khan. This balanced combination of batting firepower and bowling prowess makes GT a formidable opponent.

Final Squad: Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Nishant Sidhu, Mahipal Lomror, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Manav Suthar, Washington Sundar, Gerald Coetzee, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar, Sherfane Rutherford, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Glenn Phillips, Matthew Breetzke, Karim Jannat.

Major Highlights for Other Teams

Before looking at the other teams, Lucknow Super Giants, Punjab Kings, and Gujarat Titans are the top contenders for the IPL 2025 title due to their strong squads, star signings, and in-form players. However, cricket is unpredictable, and several other franchises have also built competitive squads that could challenge for the trophy if they hit peak form at the right time. Let’s take a look at how the remaining seven teams stack up for this season.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

DC invested ₹14 crore in KL Rahul, aiming to enhance their batting stability. Their bowling lineup was bolstered by acquiring Jofra Archer for ₹12.5 crore and Mitchell Starc for ₹11.75 crore, indicating a focus on pace attack. However, the release of key players like Rishabh Pant necessitates effective team cohesion to mount a serious title challenge.

Final Squad: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abhishek Porel, Mitchell Starc, KL Rahul, Harry Brook, Jake Fraser-Mcgurk, T Natrajan, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Faf Du Plessis, Darshan Markande, Vipraj Nigam, Dushmantha Chameera, Donovan Ferreira, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

KKR appointed Ajinkya Rahane as captain, bringing experience to the leadership role. The retention of Venkatesh Iyer for ₹23.75 crore underscores their reliance on his all-round capabilities. With a mix of seasoned players and emerging talents, KKR aims to defend their title successfully.

Final Squad: Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anrich Nortje, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Ajinkya Rahane, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Umran Malik.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

RR made a notable acquisition by signing 13-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi for ₹1.10 crore, highlighting their investment in future talent. The addition of Trent Boult for ₹12.5 crore strengthens their bowling attack, complementing their existing squad.

Final Squad: Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Tushar Deshpande, Nitish Rana, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kwena Maphaka, Kunal Rathore, Ashok Sharma.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

CSK focused on bolstering their bowling department by signing Josh Hazlewood for ₹12.5 crore and Noor Ahmad for ₹10 crore. The retention of key players like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja ensures stability, with MS Dhoni’s leadership continuing to be a guiding force.

Final Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, MS Dhoni, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra, R Ashwin, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmed, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rasheed, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddharth.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

MI retained their core group, including Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav. While they did not make any high-profile purchases, their strategy focuses on consistency and the proven performance of their retained players.

Final Squad: Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Karan Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Ryan Rickelton, Allah Ghazanfar, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, KL Shrijith, Raj Angad Bawa, Bevon Jacobs, Venkata Penmetsa, Arjun Tendulkar, Lizaad Williams, Vignesh Puthur.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

RCB retained Virat Kohli and made strategic buys, including Jitesh Sharma for ₹11 crore and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for ₹10.75 crore. Their approach balances experience with fresh talent, aiming to secure their maiden IPL title.

Final Squad: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Devdutt Padikal, Swastik Chikara, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

SRH retained Pat Cummins and Travis Head, focusing on a strong batting lineup. The acquisition of Ishan Kishan for ₹11.25 crore adds dynamism to their top order, positioning them as potential dark horses.

Final Squad: Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Ishan Kishan, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, Atharva Taide, Abhinav Manohar, Simarjeet Singh, Zeeshan Ansari, Jaydev Unadkat, Brydon Carse, Kamindu Mendis, Aniket Verma, Eshan Malinga, Sachin Baby.

Free Sign Up Offers for IPL

While IPL 2025 promises intense competition on the field, fans can also engage with the tournament in other exciting ways. For those who believe in their favorite team’s chances, many betting platforms offer free sign up offers for new users, allowing them to explore various markets without an initial deposit. Whether it’s betting on match-winners, top scorers, or in-game events, these promotions give cricket enthusiasts a fun way to interact with the action. With bookmakers competing for new users, these offers provide extra value and entertainment, making the IPL 2025 experience even more thrilling.

Wrap Up

The IPL 2025 season promises intense competition, with franchises making strategic acquisitions to enhance their squads. While Lucknow Super Giants, Punjab Kings, and Gujarat Titans emerge as top contenders based on their auction strategies and squad compositions, the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket ensures that all teams have a fighting chance. As the tournament unfolds, performances on the field will ultimately determine who clinches the coveted title.