The IPL 2025 season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with a mix of seasoned and fresh captains leading their teams. Notable leaders include Virat Kohli for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Hardik Pandya for Mumbai Indians (MI), and Ruturaj Gaikwad for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
One of the biggest shifts this season is Shreyas Iyer, who led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to victory in 2024, now captaining Punjab Kings (PBKS) after a record ₹26.75 crores acquisition. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya continues his role with MI, and Ruturaj Gaikwad remains at the helm of CSK.
Sanju Samson continues as captain of Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Pat Cummins takes charge of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as the sole foreign captain. In another change, Ajinkya Rahane steps in as the new captain of KKR after Iyer’s departure.
Additionally, Rishabh Pant leads Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Axar Patel takes over as the captain of Delhi Capitals (DC), promising a season full of leadership diversity and intense competition.
Here is the list of the captains of all teams participating in the IPL 2025
1. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Captain: Rishabh Pant
Price: 27 crore
Coach: Justin Langer
Mentor: Zaheer Khan
LSG Projected 11 Squad for 2025 IPL: Rishabh Pant, Arshin Kulkarni, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, David Miller, Aiden Markram, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Moshin Khan, Mayank Yadav, and Avesh Khan.
Rishabh Pant has been named the captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the IPL 2025 season. The announcement came on January 20, 2025, after Pant was bought for a record-breaking ₹27 crore during the IPL Mega Auction in November 2024. Pant becomes the fourth captain in LSG's history, following in the footsteps of KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, and Krunal Pandya. His aggressive and fearless leadership style is expected to bring a fresh dynamic to the team as they aim for success in the upcoming season.
2. Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Captain: Sanju Samson
Price: 18 crore
Head Coach: Rahul Dravid
RR Projected 11 Squad for 2025 IPL: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (WK), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Akash Madhwal
Sanju Samson will continue as the captain of Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the IPL 2025 season. He has been leading the team since 2021 and has become a key figure in their setup. Under his leadership, RR reached the playoffs in IPL 2024 and will be looking to build on that success in the upcoming season. With the goal of securing their second IPL title, Samson's experience and leadership will be crucial as RR aims to make a strong run in IPL 2025.
3. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Captain: Pat Cummins
Price: 18 crore
Head Coach: Daniel Vettori
SRH Projected 11 Squad for 2025 IPL: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Patt Cummins, Mohammad Shami, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar
Pat Cummins will be the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the IPL 2025 season. The Australian pacer was retained by SRH for ₹18 crore and brings a wealth of experience and leadership qualities to the team. Known for his strategic acumen and ability to handle high-pressure situations, Cummins is a vital asset for SRH as they look to reclaim their past glory in the tournament. His leadership will play a key role in guiding the team towards a successful season in IPL 2025.
4. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Captain: Rajat Patidar
Price: 21 crore
Head Coach: Andy Flower
RCB Projected 11 Squad for 2025 IPL: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Liam Livingstone, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwarv Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
Rajat Patidar has been named the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the IPL 2025 season, which begins on March 21. The 31-year-old middle-order batter from Madhya Pradesh was among RCB’s retained players. Patidar has been a part of the RCB squad since 2021 and has scored 799 runs in 28 matches at an impressive strike rate of 158.85. His consistency and ability to perform under pressure make him a great choice to lead the team in the upcoming season.
5. Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Captain: Shreyas Iyer
Price: 26.75 crore
Head Coach: Ricky Ponting
PBK Projected 11 Squad for 2025 IPL: Prabhsimran Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Shreyas Iyer has been appointed the captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS) for IPL 2025. He was officially named on January 12, 2025, after his record-breaking purchase for ₹26.75 crore in the IPL auction. Iyer, a proven leader, previously guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL 2024 title and now reunites with coach Ricky Ponting at PBKS. His leadership skills and experience make him a key figure as Punjab Kings aim for success in the upcoming season.
6. Mumbai Indians (MI)
Captain: Hardik Pandya
Price: 16.35 crore
Head Coach: Mahela Jayawardene
MI Projected 11 Squad for 2025 IPL: Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Naman Dhir, Ryan Rickelton, Mitchell Santner, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar
Hardik Pandya is the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) for IPL 2025. Leading a core group consisting of stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma, Hardik will be looking to guide the team to a strong comeback this season. Under his leadership, Mumbai Indians aim to reclaim their dominance and compete for the title once again.
7. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Captain: Ajinkya Rahane
Price: 23.75 crore
Head Coach: Chandrakant Pandit
Mentor: Dwayne Bravo
KKR Projected 11 Squad for 2025 IPL: Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, and Anrich Nortje
Ajinkya Rahane has been appointed as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for IPL 2025, succeeding Shreyas Iyer. This marks Rahane’s second stint with KKR, after playing for the team in 2022. Known for his calm and composed leadership style, Rahane will lead the defending champions, with Venkatesh Iyer serving as his deputy. Rahane's experience and steady approach are expected to be pivotal as KKR aims to defend their title and continue their success in the tournament.
8. Gujarat Titans (GT)
Captain: Shubman Gill
Price: 16.50 crore
Head Coach: Ashish Nehra
GT Projected 11 Squad for 2025 IPL: Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Sai Sudharsan, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna
Shubman Gill is the current captain of Gujarat Titans (GT) for IPL 2025. The franchise has retained Gill as their skipper, recognizing his leadership qualities and consistency with the bat. Gill has been a key player for the team, and his experience will be crucial as he leads Gujarat Titans in their quest for IPL success this season. His ability to handle pressure and lead from the front with his performances makes him a strong captain for the franchise.
9. Delhi Capitals (DC)
Captain: Axar Patel
Price: 18 crore
Head Coach: Hemang Badani
DC Projected 11 Squad for 2025 IPL: Jake Fraser-McGurk, KL Rahul, Abishek Porel, Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar
Axar Patel has been appointed as the captain of Delhi Capitals (DC) for IPL 2025, succeeding Rishabh Pant. Axar, who has been a key player for the franchise since joining in 2019, brings extensive experience to the role. Having played 82 matches for DC, he has scored 967 runs and taken 62 wickets, maintaining an economy rate of 7.09. Axar expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and his confidence in leading the squad. His all-round abilities and leadership skills are expected to be instrumental as Delhi Capitals aim for a strong season in IPL 2025.
10. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Price: 18 crore
Head Coach: Stephen Fleming
CSK Projected 11 Squad for 2025 IPL: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), R. Ashwin, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad
Ruturaj Gaikwad is the current captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for IPL 2025. He took over the leadership role from MS Dhoni in 2024. Known for his consistency and maturity, Gaikwad leads the team with a mix of youthful energy and strategic insights. Under his captaincy, CSK is aiming to secure their sixth IPL title, continuing their legacy as one of the most successful franchises in IPL history. Gaikwad’s leadership, combined with his strong batting performances, makes him a key asset for CSK in their quest for another championship.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)