The IPL 2025 season will feature 10 dynamic captains leading their franchises in the race for glory. From MS Dhoni’s experience with CSK to Hardik Pandya’s aggressive leadership for MI, each captain brings unique strengths. New faces like Shubman Gill (GT) and Pat Cummins (SRH) add fresh excitement. Their strategies, skills, and decision-making will be key in shaping their team’s success. Stay tuned for thrilling captaincy duels.
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2024 final, will begin their title defense against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens on 22nd March. But while all eyes are usually on the star players, this time, there’s an added layer of intrigue – the captains. Some teams have made big leadership changes, while others have stuck with familiar faces.
One of the biggest headlines of the season is Shreyas Iyer’s move to Punjab Kings (PBKS). After leading KKR to the title last year, he has now taken over as PBKS captain following a record-breaking ₹26.75 crore signing, making him the second most expensive player in IPL history. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya continues as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain after controversially replacing Rohit Sharma in 2024. Ruturaj Gaikwad stays in charge of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), having taken over from MS Dhoni last year. Sanju Samson also remains at the helm for Rajasthan Royals (RR). Furthermore, Sunrisers Hyderabad are also sticking with Pat Cummins as their captain. Interestingly, Cummins is the only foreign captain in the 18th edition of IPL.
However, at KKR, Ajinkya Rahane has been named captain, stepping into the role after Iyer’s move to PBKS. Rishabh Pant is set to lead Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after previously captaining Delhi Capitals (DC). Over at RCB, Rajat Patidar has been handed the captaincy, a bold move for a franchise eager to break their title drought. Elsewhere, Axar Patel will lead DC, taking over a side that has struggled to find consistency.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is gearing up for another electrifying season, with cricket fans eagerly awaiting the action. This year, the battle for the coveted trophy will be led by some of the biggest names in world cricket. Each team’s captain plays a crucial role in determining the overall performance and strategy of their squad. From experienced veterans to emerging leaders, the IPL 2025 captains bring a blend of skill, strategy, and charisma to the field.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the full list of IPL 2025 team captains, their past performances, and leadership records.
| S.N. | Teams | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Ruturaj Gaikwad |
| 2 | Mumbai Indians (MI) | Hardik Pandya |
| 3 | Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | Rajat Patidar |
| 4 | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Ajinkya Rahane |
| 5 | Gujarat Titans (GT) | Shubman Gill |
| 6 | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Sanju Samson |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals (DC) | Axar Patel |
| 8 | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Pat Cummins |
| 9 | Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | Rishabh Pant |
| 10 | Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Shreyas Iyer |
Here are the captains leading the 10 franchises in the IPL 2025 season:
Captaincy Record: 14 matches | 7 wins | 7 losses
Win Percentage: 50.0%
Trophies: None
Key Leadership Strength: He has got a good head on his shoulders. And after playing several seasons under MS Dhoni's captaincy, Gaikwad must have learned things from 'Captain Cool.'
Captaincy Record: 31 matches | 22 wins | 9 losses
Win Percentage: 70.97%
Trophies as Captain: 1 (GT – 2022)
Key Leadership Strength: Known for his aggressive approach and innovative tactics, Pandya leads Mumbai Indians with a fearless attitude. Moreover, with the pedigree of already winning an IPL title (with Gujarat Titans), Pandya has proven his mettle as an excellent T20 captain.
Captaincy Record: Yet to lead in IPL
Win Percentage: N/A
Trophies: None as captain
Key Leadership Strength: Rajat’s composed style and strong batting performances bring stability to RCB’s lineup. Furthermore, with Virat Kohli backing him, Patidar will surely have a highly-motivated XI behind him.
Captaincy Record: 25 matches | 9 wins | 16 losses
Win Percentage: 36.00%
Trophies: None as captain
Key Leadership Strength: Rahane’s strategic mindset and ability to anchor the innings make him a reliable leader. Has great experience of captaining an IPL franchise, as he was the captain of Rajasthan Royals for the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons.
Captaincy Record: 14 matches | 7 wins | 5 losses | 2 no result
Win Percentage: 35.71%
Trophies: None as captain
Key Leadership Strength: Gill’s calmness and consistency with the bat make him a promising young leader for GT. Moreover, with many Indian cricket fans regarding him as India's next white-ball captain, IPL 2025 will provide a good platform for Gill.
Captaincy Record: 61 matches | 31 wins | 29 losses
Win Percentage: 50.81%
Trophies: None as captain
Key Leadership Strength: Samson’s aggressive batting and ability to take risks bring unpredictability to RR.
Captaincy Record: Yet to lead in IPL
Win Percentage: N/A
Trophies: None as captain
Key Leadership Strength: Axar’s fearless cricket and adaptability make him a strong leader for DC.
Captaincy Record: 14 matches | 8 wins | 5 losses | 1 No Result
Win Percentage: 57.14%
Trophies: None
Key Leadership Strength: Cummins’ tactical bowling strategies and calm demeanor bring a balanced leadership style.
Captaincy Record: 43 matches | 23 wins | 19 losses | 1 No Result
Win Percentage: 53.48%
Trophies: None
Key Leadership Strength: Pant’s fearless cricket and adaptability make him a strong leader for LSG
Captaincy Record: 70 matches | 38 wins | 29 losses | 3 No Result
Win Percentage: 54.28%
Trophies: 1 (KKR – 2022)
Key Leadership Strength: Iyer’s strategic mindset and ability to anchor the innings make him a reliable leader.
The performance of these captains will be pivotal in shaping their team’s destiny. A captain’s role in IPL goes beyond just leading the team—it involves making tactical bowling changes, setting fielding placements, and making bold decisions under pressure.
As IPL 2025 approaches, all eyes will be on these 10 captains, each aiming to etch their names in IPL history. While experienced leaders like MS Dhoni and Faf du Plessis bring stability, new faces like Shubman Gill and Pat Cummins add fresh excitement to the mix.
With the stakes higher than ever, cricket fans can expect thrilling clashes, strategic masterstrokes, and unforgettable moments. Stay tuned to ScoreWaves for the latest updates, match previews, and in-depth IPL 2025 coverage.
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