IPL 2025 Ranking All 10 Teams Basis Official Captain List
Hardik Pandya, the standout leader in our ranking of the official Captain list of all 10 teams for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
We are only a week away from the start of the Indian Premier League festival in India, and we finally have seen the last team, Delhi Capitals announcing their Captain for IPL 2025. The IPL 2025 Mega Auction saw many teams building their team almost from scratch. Among the 10 teams participating in the tournament, only MI, CSK, GT, SRH, and RR have gone ahead with the same Captain as they had seen in IPL 2024.
However, the other 5 teams will see a new Captain with a few teams having Captains with 0 IPL Captaincy experience. Among the teams that will see a new Captain include Shreyas Iyer for Punjab Kings, Ajinkya Rahane for Kolkata Knight Riders, Rishabh Pant for Lucknow Super Giants, Rajat Patidar for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and finally Axar Patel for Delhi Capitals. Surprisingly, barring KKR, the other four teams are yet to win an IPL trophy.
With so many new Captains this year in the IPL, and few of the ones from the other five teams also being young Captains, it actually feels like the tournament is taking a reset approach in terms of leadership. Certainly, it is the dawn of a new era in the Indian Premier League universe with young guns taking over the leadership role from veterans like MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, etc. But about the relative quality of the Captains for IPL 2025? Well, let’s look at the ranking of all 10 teams basis their official Captain list for IPL 2025.
#10: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) – Rajat Patidar
At number 10, we have the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team, who will see a new Captain this year in the form of Rajat Patidar. Rajat is the most inexperienced Captain this season having not Captained an IPL team before, and himself playing only 27 matches to date. Rajat does have some experience while captaining his domestic side Madya Pradesh, but it will be interesting to see how he leads RCB, who are yet to win their maiden IPL trophy.
#9: Delhi Capitals (DC) – Axar Patel
At number 9, we have the latest addition to the skipper’s category, Axar Patel. Axar Patel will be leading the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, and will also be making his IPL Captaincy debut. Axar, who is currently also the Vice-Captain of the Indian T20I team doesn’t have much captaincy experience under his belt. Hence, Delhi Capitals will be hoping for a change in fortune from one of the best all-rounders in Indian cricket currently.
#8: Gujarat Titans (GT) – Shubman Gill
Number 8 sees Shubman Gill, who will be leading his second season as the Captain for Gujarat Titans. Shubman Gill is the youngest IPL captain currently being just 25 years of age. With very little Captaincy experience, Gill has still shown great signs of maturity to lead a side. If he can lead a few IPL seasons successfully, Indian team captaincy isn’t far away for Shubman Gill.
#7: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – Ajinkya Rahane
For number 7, we have Ajinkya Rahane, who might be the most experienced IPL captain at the moment. At 36 years of age, Rahane will be making a Captaincy comeback with the KKR team. KKR are the defending champions, so the expectations from Rahane will be sky-high. Rahane is currently leading his domestic side Mumbai, and has captained Rajasthan Royals in the past, albeit with 0 success.
#6: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Rishabh Pant
Number 6 sees Rishabh Pant, who will be restarting his Captaincy career under a new franchise, Lucknow Super Giants. Pant has been leading the Delhi Capitals for the last few years, but didn’t have much success as the Captain. Pant does have a smart cricketing brain, and being a wicket-keeper, it becomes easier to understand the batsmen’s tactics and game situation. With LSG currently at 0 IPL titles, they would be hoping for a fortune change with Rishabh Pant.
#5: Rajasthan Royals (RR) – Sanju Samson
At number 5, we have Sanju Samson leading the Rajasthan Royals side. Sanju has been leading the RR side for a few years now, and has taken his team to an IPL final once. His Captaincy style is really good, and he utilizes his bowlers effectively. The best example is the utilization of Yuzvendra Chahal as the death-overs bowler. Given Sanju’s success as the Captain of RR, he should lead the side for many years to come, and hopefully a few IPl trophies under his belt.
#4: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – Ruturaj Gaikwad
Number 4 sees Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is the potential heir to the most successful IPL captain, MS Dhoni. Ruturaj, who has already led the Indian team to a championship victory in the Asian Games does have the CSK DNA that focuses more on process than results. It is a pure MS Dhoni-type leadership skill that Ruturaj seems to possess. While Ruturaj isn’t in contention of the national side currently, he can give his 100% in the IPL to prove all his critics wrong.
#3: Punjab Kings (PBKS) – Shreyas Iyer
For number 3, we have the Captain who has only recently won an IPL trophy with his leadership skills. Yes, it is Shreyas Iyer, who has been a superb Captain so far in the IPL. He has already led KKR to a victory once, and had carried Delhi Capitals to the final in IPL 2020. With Shreyas now being given the responsibility of the Punjab Kings side, the management would be hoping for a similar show from Iyer, who has been great as the Captain in the IPL.
#2: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – Pat Cummins
At number 2, we have the only Overseas Captain in the Indian Premier League, and that’s Pat Cummins. Cummins is a phenomenal Captain, and he has had success on the International stage for Australia, and has done well for his IPL side, Sunrisers Hyderabad. Cummins has one of the smartest cricketing brains in the world currently, and being the Overseas player to be leading an IPL side is a testimonial of his leadership skills.
#1: Mumbai Indians (MI) – Hardik Pandya
Finally, for number 1, we have Hardik Pandya, and there should not even be a doubt about it. Hardik has not only led IPL sides, but has also donned the Captaincy Cap for the Indian team. He has already tasted success as an IPL captains for Gujarat Titans, and with Mumbai Indians being his new home, he would be hoping for MI to win their sixth IPL title.
So, that’s about the ranking of the IPL 2025 Captain list for all 10 teams for IPL 2025.
