Auction action, and at the end of two pulsating days in Jeddah, 10 brand new squads assembled and ready to hunt for glory. Over INR 600 crores were spent for 163 players, during the course of which Mitchell Starc joined Pat Cummins as the only men to earn over 50 crores at auctions, while Jaydev Unadkat was sold for a record 13th time – six times more than any other player.
Brook Bans of two years for non-compliant foreign players. Harry Brook unfortunately became the rule’s first casualty after pulling out at the last moment from the Delhi Capitals squad for the second time in a row – fitting, given his exclusion last season had triggered the change in the first place.
Captains, and as many as five of them. For the first time since the inaugural season, 50% of the franchises will feature new men at the helm, with Rajat Patidar set to lead RCB, Shreyas Iyer taking over at PBKS while Ajinkya Rahane replaces him at KKR, Axar Patel promoted to DC skipper, and Rishabh Pant named LSG captain.
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, after scripting one of the most dominant seasons in IPL history in 2024. Even though they were one of only two franchises to retain six players, the Purple and Gold brigade have lost two key batters in Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt. @SunilNarine you know what to do.
Era for Mumbai Indians under Hardik Pandya. Despite a disastrous 2024 season where the skipper endured perhaps the most brutal treatment reserved for a captain in tournament history, the five-time winners have decided to stick with their Paltan leader, making it the first full cycle since 2014 where Rohit Sharma isn’t at the helm. Well, it’s a good thing Hardik has a habit of thriving under pressure.
Firepower for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Not only did the team retain the revolutionary powerplay duo of Travishek as well as middle-order bashers Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy, the 2016 champions have further boosted their hitting power with the inclusion of Ishan Kishan for a mammoth 11.25 crores. I guess Head was not joking when he said he wants a three in front of that team total, the only question is when.
Gung-ho approaches and flat tracks. The scoring rates have soared magnanimously over the last two seasons, be it because of the Impact Player rule or highways for pitches. With neither factor likely to change, expect more fireworks and crying bowlers in 2025.
Head coaches and mentors aplenty. The headline act is Ricky Ponting’s arrival in Punjab, while Dwayne Bravo’s appointment as KKR mentor to replace Gautam Gambhir seems to have quietly slipped under the radar. There’s also the small matter of reigning T20 World champion Rahul Dravid returning to the Rajasthan Royals family.
Injuries, the pandemic that never ends. While Mohammed Shami and Devon Conway look set to make up for lost time from last season, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Allah Ghazanfar, Umran Malik, and Mayank Yadav find themselves on the other side of the fence for IPL 2025. Such spoilsports.
Jump for Riyan Parag, from being touted as the most long-term wasted investment at the start of 2024 to becoming the stand-in Rajasthan Royals skipper for the first three games of the upcoming season. The Assam youngster had managed 600 runs in his first five seasons – he tallied 573 last year alone, averaging nearly 50 and striking at 150. Will he be another one-season wonder or actually deliver the future RR have always imagined for him?
Kookaburras in the second innings, if the umpires feel dew has rendered the incumbent ball unfit for use any further. Yay, more subjectivity and inevitably more controversy – the IPL management really knows what the fans want, doesn’t it? At least teams can get back to using saliva for polishing the white rocks, even if only to see it disappear into the stands.
Last dance for Virat Kohli with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, as he almost certainly enters the final cycle of his IPL career. What a travesty it would be if arguably the tournament’s greatest ever ends without a trophy in his cabinet, even if the Whistle Podu Army and the MI Paltan seem to disagree. On the other hand, it would simply be sports at its humbling finest.
Most expensive player in Rishabh Pant, after being acquired for a mind-boggling INR 27 crores by Lucknow Super Giants. The keeper-batter returned to IPL cricket with a bang in 2024 but with an underwhelming squad at his disposal yet again, can Pant finally lend some identity to a franchise that has struggled for acceptance and adorance (perhaps for good reason)?
New beef and some old rivalries renewed. Hey, what a complete coincidence right that LSG and DC start their campaigns against each other after swapping captains (both of whom notably left on poor terms), RCB and KKR are set to recreate the most iconic beginning a new tournament could have had, and the two five-time champions CSK-MI are set to showstop the first double header for 2025? Well done Jay Shah on bringing that ICC magic to the IPL as well.
Opening pairs bonanza. We already had the hell-raising Travishek, Sanjuwal, and Rutuway (or Conraj, have your pick). Now we also have Guttler (I prefer Glitter but that needs to become a thing first), Faf Fraser-McGurk, and Kalt. That new-ball will discover pain like never before.
Pressure for Patidar as he has made the bold choice of taking on arguably the most scrutinised job in world cricket. While on paper he has huge boots to fill as the successor of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, the truth is those boots have barely taken any big strides to be proud of. And it might just be what Rajat needs to go from fringe Indian player to a national team mainstay – there is certainly precedent. Will he die a hero or live long enough to see himself become the villain?
Quest for Rajasthan Royals to not falter once they approach the final hurdle. After a record-equalling eight wins in nine games to start 2024, the Pink Army went off the rails quicker than Shivam Dube’s form last season, leading to a fifth playoff elimination in the last decade where only one campaign culminated in a finals appearance. However, with last year’s core intact and an Indian top-six, aspirations are yet again rife.
Retirement rumours. We all know what I’m talking about. That sentence had seven words. This is lazy writing.. #ThalaForAReason
Satire at Sportscafe. Stay tuned.
Technology, with the use of hawk-eye technology set to be extended to determine outside the off-stump and overhead wides. That includes a mobile guideline as per a batter’s movements before a ball is delivered, akin to the offside detection systems in football. Phew, that should definitely put an end to all umpiring controversies in the IPL.
Umpires, with as many as seven new faces set to officiate in the 2025 season. That includes the 2008 U-19 World Cup winner Tanmay Srivastava, who will become the first person to have both played and umpired in the IPL. However, missing from the field will be veteran Anil Chaudhary who has been a part of all 17 seasons to date, albeit he’ll still be thereabouts having accepted to don the hat of a commentator.
Vindication for KL Rahul, possibly, as he transitions from a leadership mainstay to being a specialist batter. “Disrespect,” the veteran had concisely surmised when asked what he loathes – something he got plenty of at LSG. DC’s Parth Jindal has promised better pastures for the 32-year-old but the franchise has not had the best history of fulfilling expectations.
Web of spin at Chepauk, courtesy the grand return of prodigal son Ravichandran Ashwin after a decade spent away from home. Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad will complete a highly diverse and skilled attack, so don’t be surprised if there are some minefields in store in Chennai.
X-factors for Punjab Kings in Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Yuzvendra Chahal – the latest arriving as the most successful spinner in tournament history. Add Shreyas’ acquisition for 26.5 crores as well as Arshdeep Singh being retained for 18, and Punjab have the most expensive top-five in the tournament. Sound familiar? Probably because it is.
Yips. Hardik Pandya in 2024. Harry Brook in 2023. Pat Cummins in 2022. There is always that one high profile name whose horrid performances make you wonder whether your eyes are deceiving you. Who will it be this season? Your guess is as good as mine.
Zephyrs of hope, because that is what the IPL has always been about. They don’t call it a festival or the Great Cricket Circus for no reason (yes, that is a real thing, or at least can be). And nothing sparks dreams and ambitions like the year after a mega auction, as the fear of the unknown grips the 10 teams trying to tread new ground seeking one lustrous trophy.
Let’s get that party started.
