It was a fascinating 18th edition of the Indian Premier League. The biggest discussion subject of the season was the domination of the lasting sub-performants and the poor performance of most Powerhouses. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings – which do not even have an IPL title between them – set fire to fire and have been in the upper cluster since the start of the tournament. Meanwhile, five -time winner – Chennai Super Kings, Triple Champion – Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals – who raised the trophy on a occasion of everyone – were below par and had trouble building all kinds of momentum in their campaign this season. And then there are Mumbai Indians – who had A Disastrous start and looked down before staging one of the most remarkable reversals in the history of IPL!
So who are the favorites to make the playoffs? Will RCB end up in pole position? Is DC in a place to disturb? Can it spoil the Pbks party and storm in the last four? We explore.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have experienced a revolutionary year and are currently in pole position with seven victories of 10 games. They have built a momentum by winning their last three games and well to make the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. The RCB was very aggressive in the deaths of death (execution rate of 11.7) and also very restrictive with the ball through competition (best economic rate of 8.8 in IPL 2025).
Virat Kohli was their playmaker with the bat and is the main record of the season with 443 points at a typing rate of 139. He was very consistent in recording six fifty in 10 sleeves. Josh Hazlewood was brilliant with the ball and with 18 layoffs at a typing rate of 12.2, is the main spouting holder of the tournament.
The four remaining RCB meetings are with teams in the lower cluster – one with each with Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrisers, Knight Riders and CSK. They would complain about having won at least three of these games which would bring them to 20 points and guarantee a finish among the first two.
Gujarat titans
The Gujarat titans, with six wins of eight matches were great with the bat and have the best average of combined strikers (43.1) and the highest strike rate (167.9) this season. Their first -rate order has largely pulled and they are the only team to have lost only two games in competition. Their top 3 has an average of 54 combined strikers this season – by far the best of competition.
Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill all scored more than 300 points at a typing rate of 150+. The titans were also exceptional with the ball with the best average and the Pacers strike rate this season. Prasidh Krishna was their unknown hero with the ball and returned with 16 counters at a typing rate of 11.6 and an economy of 7.3 this season.
Delhi capital
Delhi Capital began the season with a blow winning his first four games, but stumbled a little after defeat in three of their last five games. They are currently at number 3 on the board table with six nine game wins. The following two light fixtures – against KKR and SRH – are very critical for DC and they must win the two before competing with other teams in the upper cluster.
The strikers have succeeded for DC this season – they were aggressive with five of the six main striking at a rate greater than 150! KL Rahul was the choice of strikers with an aggregate of 364 races which include three fifty.
Punjab Kings
The Punjab Kings was the most aggressive team from the tournament and seemed the most sought after until mid-season. However, indifferent results in the last two games and they suddenly find themselves in a place to disturb the number 5 of the table. PBKs must win at least three of their last five games. Their matches against the capitals of Delhi and the Indians of Mumbai in Dharamsala could well decide the fourth place for the playoffs.
Priyansh Arya was the pbks star this season. He broke 323 points at a rate of 200.6 and stole the projectors of Shreyas Iyer, which started the breathtaking tournament, but saw in the form of a dive during the last games.
Mumbai Indians
The five -time champions have organized the most surprising return this season and are now heavily hitting the door to the playoffs! They looked up and go out and completely out of shape at the start of their campaign, losing four of their first five games, but since then have witnessed a remarkable transformation winning their last five games. Mi jumped at number 3 on the point table and with most of their higher order shot, have strength and momentum with them.
Suryakumar Yadav was their most impact striker of the season with a total of 427 points in 10 rounds at a striking rate of almost 170. Jasprit Bumrah had an impact after his late entry into the competition and won nine counters in six matches to a saving of only 7.5. Trent Boult also culminates at the right time for Mi with seven counters during his last two games.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans should qualify for the playoffs without sweating too much. The race will be for the other two places with three teams in the Capitals of the melee – Delhi, the kings of Punjab and the Indians of Mumbai.
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