The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has  has been scheduled between 23 March 2025 to 26 May 2025. Defending champion KKR is going to kick off the IPL season 18 on 23rd March evening. In this article, we provide you IPL 2025 Schedule, venues, the time table, points table, PDF, rankings, all 10 teams full squad and a winning prediction for IPL 2025
<h2>Schedule and key Dates</h2>
The IPL 2025 schedule will feature 10 teams playing in a round-robin format followed by playoffs. The tournament is set to begin on March 23, 2025, and the final will take place on May 26, 2025.
<ul>
<li>Opening Match: March 23, 2025</li>
<li>Playoffs: May 20 - May 24, 2025</li>
<li>Final: May 26, 2025</li>
</ul>
Stay tuned for the detailed match fixtures, which will be available in the official PDF format soon.
<h2>Teams and Captains</h2>
The same 10 teams from the previous season will compete in IPL 2025. However, a few changes in team personnel, including captains and coaches, have been confirmed:
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>2024 Performance</th>
<th>Head Coach</th>
<th>Captain</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
<td>5th</td>
<td>Stephen Fleming</td>
<td>Ruturaj Gaikwad</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Delhi Capitals</td>
<td>6th</td>
<td>Hemang Badani</td>
<td>TBA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gujarat Titans</td>
<td>8th</td>
<td>Ashish Nehra</td>
<td>Shubman Gill</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kolkata Knight Riders</td>
<td>Champions</td>
<td>Chandrakant Pandit</td>
<td>TBA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lucknow Super Giants</td>
<td>7th</td>
<td>Justin Langer</td>
<td>Rishabh Pant</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
<td>10th</td>
<td>Mahela Jayawardene</td>
<td>Hardik Pandya</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Punjab Kings</td>
<td>9th</td>
<td>Ricky Ponting</td>
<td>Shreyas Iyer</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rajasthan Royals</td>
<td>3rd</td>
<td>Rahul Dravid</td>
<td>Sanju Samson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Royal Challengers Bangalore</td>
<td>4th</td>
<td>Andy Flower</td>
<td>TBA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sunrisers Hyderabad</td>
<td>Runner-up</td>
<td>Daniel Vettori</td>
<td>Pat Cummins</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Venues</h2>
The matches will be played across iconic cricket stadiums in India, including:
<ul>
<li>Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai</li>
<li>M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru</li>
<li>Eden Gardens, Kolkata</li>
<li>Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad</li>
<li>Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi</li>
<li>Chepauk Stadium, Chennai</li>
</ul>
<h2>Points Table Recap (2024)</h2>
Here’s how the teams performed in IPL 2024:
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>POS</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>P</th>
<th>W</th>
<th>L</th>
<th>NR</th>
<th>NRR</th>
<th>PTS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Kolkata Knight Riders</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1.428</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Sunrisers Hyderabad</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0.414</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Rajasthan Royals</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0.273</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Royal Challengers Bangalore</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0.459</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
A strong performance from Kolkata Knight Riders made them the IPL 2024 champions. However, teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals showed their potential and are expected to be serious contenders in 2025.
<h2>Winning Predictions</h2>
Based on team form, squad strength, and past performances, here are the odds for the IPL 2025 title:
<table style="width: 35.5787%; height: 200px;">
<thead>
<tr style="height: 40px;">
<th style="width: 61.8315%; height: 40px;">Team</th>
<th style="width: 38.1016%; height: 40px;">Odds of Winning</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 61.8315%; height: 20px;">Mumbai Indians</td>
<td style="width: 38.1016%; height: 20px;">6.00</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 61.8315%; height: 20px;">Chennai Super Kings</td>
<td style="width: 38.1016%; height: 20px;">7.00</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 61.8315%; height: 20px;">Kolkata Knight Riders</td>
<td style="width: 38.1016%; height: 20px;">7.50</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 61.8315%; height: 20px;">Lucknow Super Giants</td>
<td style="width: 38.1016%; height: 20px;">8.00</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 61.8315%; height: 20px;">Gujarat Titans</td>
<td style="width: 38.1016%; height: 20px;">9.00</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 61.8315%; height: 20px;">Royal Challengers Bangalore</td>
<td style="width: 38.1016%; height: 20px;">9.00</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 61.8315%; height: 20px;">Sunrisers Hyderabad</td>
<td style="width: 38.1016%; height: 20px;">9.00</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 61.8315%;">Rajasthan Royals</td>
<td style="width: 38.1016%; height: 20px;">10.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 61.8315%;">Delhi Capitals</td>
<td style="width: 38.1016%;">13.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 61.8315%;">Punjab Kings</td>
<td style="width: 38.1016%;">13.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, are favorites to retain their title, but teams like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings could stage a comeback with their experienced squads. Expect close competition from Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals as well.
<h2>Download IPL 2025 PDF Schedule</h2>
The complete IPL 2025 schedule, with match timings, venues, and fixtures, will soon be available in a downloadable PDF format. Stay tuned for updates on the official IPL website.
<h2 data-pm-slice="1 1 []">IPL 2025 All 10 Teams Players List</h2>
<h3>Chennai Super Kings (CSK)</h3>
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, MS Dhoni, Anshul Kamboj, Rahul Tripathi, Sam Curran, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Vijay Shankar, Vansh Bedi, C Andre Siddarth, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shaik Rasheed, Mukesh Choudhary, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shreyas Gopal.
<h3>Delhi Capitals (DC)</h3>
Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mukesh Kumar, Harry Brook, Abishek Porel, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Sameer Rizvi, Donovan Ferreira, Dushmantha Chameera, Vipraj Nigam, Karun Nair, Madhav Tiwari, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Darshan Nalkande, Ajay Mandal.
<h3>Gujarat Titans (GT)</h3>
Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Sai Sudharsan, M Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Sherfane Rutherford, Gerald Coetzee, Sai Kishore, Glenn Phillips, Mahipal Lomror, Gurnoor Brar, Arshad Khan, Karim Janat, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Kumar Kushagra, Nishant Sindhu, Manav Suthar, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya.
<h3>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)</h3>
Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Quinton de Kock, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Spencer Johnson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Rovman Powell, Ajinkya Rahane, Umran Malik, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Mayank Markande.
<h3>Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)</h3>
Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Aiden Markram, Shamar Joseph, Manimaran Siddharth, Matthew Breetzke, Digvesh Rathi, Arshin Kulkarni, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Akash Singh, Rajvardhan Hangargekar.
<h3>Mumbai Indians (MI)</h3>
Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Cameron Green, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Jofra Archer, Arjun Tendulkar, Ramandeep Singh, Hrithik Shokeen, Nehal Wadhera, Kumar Kartikeya, Jason Behrendorff, Chris Jordan, Akash Madhwal, Vishnu Vinod, Shams Mulani, Piyush Chawla, Arshad Khan, Sandeep Warrier.
<h3>Punjab Kings (PBKS)</h3>
Shikhar Dhawan, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Shahrukh Khan, Jitesh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Nathan Ellis, Rishi Dhawan, Baltej Singh, Raj Angad Bawa, Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Sikandar Raza, Mohit Rathee, Harpreet Bhatia, Shivam Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Matthew Short.
<h3>Rajasthan Royals (RR)</h3>
Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Obed McCoy, KM Asif, Murugan Ashwin, Jason Holder, Joe Root, Donovan Ferreira, Kunal Rathore, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Vashisht, Navdeep Saini, Abdul Basith, Kuldip Yadav, Adam Zampa.
<h3>Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)</h3>
Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed, Finn Allen, David Willey, Akash Deep, Anuj Rawat, Rajat Patidar, Reece Topley, Suyash Prabhudessai, Manoj Bhandage, Sonu Yadav, Avinash Singh, Himanshu Sharma, Michael Bracewell.
<h3>Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)</h3>
Aiden Markram, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rahul Tripathi, Abhishek Sharma, Glenn Phillips, Heinrich Klaasen, Umran Malik, Washington Sundar, Mayank Markande, T Natarajan, Kartik Tyagi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Harry Brook, Mayank Agarwal, Adil Rashid, Marco Jansen, Abdul Samad, Anmolpreet Singh, Vivrant Sharma, Mayank Dagar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Sanvir Singh, Upendra Yadav.

IPL 2025 Schedule, Team, Venue, Time Table, PDF, Points Table, Ranking & Winning Prediction

Know the IPL 2025 schedule, teams, venues, time table, and download the PDF. Check the latest points table, team rankings, and winning predictions for IPL season 18.

IPL 2025 Schedule, Team, Venue, Time Table, PDF, Points Table, Ranking & Winning Predictions

ipl-2025-schedule-team-venue-time-table-pdf-points-table-ranking-winning-predictions

IPL 2025 Lucknow Super Giants: The stage is set for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to turn a new leaf in the 2025 IPL season. After a high-stakes mega auction held in Jeddah, the franchise has made bold moves, with none bolder than acquiring Rishabh Pant for a record-breaking INR 27 Crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. Adding to the excitement, Pant has been named captain, marking a fresh beginning for the team.
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202501/image_430x256_678f13f7ae1e6.jpg" alt="">
Pant expressed his gratitude and determination at the unveiling ceremony: "I will give my 200% and that's my commitment to you. Looking forward to a new beginning, with new energy, and just have a blast out there." His enthusiasm mirrors LSG's ambitions as they look to make a strong impact this season.
<h2>Strengths of LSG: A Solid Batting Core</h2>
LSG's biggest asset this year is their formidable batting lineup. With heavyweights like Rishabh Pant, David Miller, Nicholas Pooran, and the young Ayush Badoni, the team has a blend of experience and raw talent. The middle order is particularly strong, promising stability and fireworks when needed. Former Indian cricketer and LSG mentor Zaheer Khan noted: "We have lots to achieve, and you personally [Pant] have a lot to give to this beautiful game of cricket."
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202501/image_430x256_678f13f5b6f7f.jpg" alt="">
The inclusion of players like Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh adds depth and flexibility to the squad. The batting order is well-equipped to handle pressure situations, which could be pivotal in their quest for the playoffs.
<h2>Weaknesses of LSG: A Bowling Department Under Pressure</h2>
Despite their strong batting, LSG's bowling lineup lacks the same level of assurance. The pace attack, led by Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan, shows potential but lacks experience in crunching IPL moments.
With young bowlers like Mayank Yadav and Shamar Joseph yet to establish themselves, the bowling unit might struggle against seasoned batting lineups. The management will need to focus on building confidence and strategy for their bowlers.
<h2>Opportunities in LSG: Spotlight on Young Talent</h2>
The mega auction saw LSG invest heavily in young and promising players. This season provides a golden opportunity for these talents to showcase their skills on a big stage, potentially paving their way into international cricket. Players like Arshin Kulkarni and Digvesh Singh will look to learn from veterans and make the most of their chances.
Pant emphasized backing players and fostering confidence: "If you give confidence and trust to a player, he will do things which you can't even imagine for you and for the team." His leadership style could unlock new dimensions in LSG's performance.
<h2>Threats for LSG: Fragile Foundations in Key Areas</h2>
LSG’s Achilles heel lies in their overreliance on top-order stars. If players like Pant, Miller, or Pooran fail in a game, the middle and lower order might struggle to shoulder the responsibility. Additionally, inconsistent form from key players like Marsh and Markram adds an element of uncertainty. The team also carries the baggage of missing playoffs last season, which could play on their minds.
<h2>Rishabh Pant: A Leader with a Vision</h2>
Pant brings leadership experience, having captained Delhi Capitals, and a fresh perspective after recovering from personal challenges, including his near-fatal road accident. Zaheer Khan reflected on his journey: "To see you grow as a fine cricketer... inspiring a new style of play, is commendable." Under his leadership, LSG aims to play fearless and entertaining cricket.
Owner Sanjiv Goenka has ambitious goals for the franchise. Drawing inspiration from IPL giants like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, he stated: "Support us, and I assure you that LSG will not disappoint you. You fall down, stand up, run faster." With seasoned mentors like Zaheer Khan and head coach Justin Langer in the dugout, LSG is building a team culture focused on consistency and resilience.
As the season approaches, LSG fans have much to look forward to. The combination of experienced players, promising young talent, and a dynamic captain promises a thrilling campaign. With a fearless attitude and renewed focus, LSG is ready to take the IPL 2025 by storm.

Lucknow Super Giants start afresh for IPL 2025 under Rishabh Pant’s leadership. With a strong batting lineup and young talent, the team aims to overcome challenges and play fearless, exciting cricket.

Rishabh Pant leads LSG in IPL 2025. Backed by power-packed batting and emerging talents, they’re set for a thrilling season.

How Strong is LSG under Rishabh Pant? In-depth Analysis of LSG Squad With Rishabh Pant as Captain

how-strong-is-lsg-under-rishabh-pant-in-depth-analysis-of-lsg-squad-with-rishabh-pant-as-captain

The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League will be played in 2025, as it is scheduled to begin on the 21st of March. The IPL, considered one of the greatest leagues in the world in terms of franchise-level T20 cricket, has turned out to be a massive platform for younger talents from around the world. 
The IPL has given high standards to players like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Maxwell">Glenn Maxwell</a>, David Miller, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan, who later went on to establish themselves as greats of the game in international cricket. 
Many senior players and Indian domestic scouts look out for and keep track of the domestic games that recognize junior uncapped players who are instead picked in the IPL mega-auction. 
<h2 dir="ltr"></h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Top scouted players who can make it big post the IPL 2025:</h2>

<h3 dir="ltr">Jacob Bethell </h3>
The English batting all-rounder, Bethell, has been a standout talent in international cricket. The player stepped up from the English Vitality T20 Blast, and later the world witnessed his rise in both T20, ODI, and test cricket for England, as the kiddo has made his mark across all formats. 
Currently, Bethell is being seen making his mark in Australia in the ongoing Big Bash League while he is about to make his debut for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. 
<h3 dir="ltr">Anshul Kamboj </h3>
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202501/image_430x256_67848209821ff.jpg" alt="" width="791" height="492">
Anhsul Kamboj starred in IPL 2024 for the Mumbai Indians (Image Credit: X)
The player who made his debut in the IPL with the Mumbai Indians has been picked up by the Chennai Super Kings for the upcoming season of the IPL in 2025. Kamboj has been a stunning player in the T20 domestic tournament in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while he also left his mark in the Duleep Trophy and the Ranji Trophy as well. 
He recently made the cut of news headlines as he picked all 10 wickets in a single innings of a test match and made it to the unique record books. Kamboj is sure to earn some name for himself after his contributions with both bat and ball. 
<h3 dir="ltr">Vipraj Nigam</h3>
The youngster has been stunning with his recent performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and later in the UP T20 League. Nigam does not have stats in his favour; while he has been a superb hitter of the white ball, his services have also been outstanding with the promising medium pace he bowls. 
<h3 dir="ltr">Allah Ghazanfar </h3>
Mumbai Indians have picked the young Afghan spinner as their lead spin option if Mitchell Santner is not featured in the games. Ghazanfar is known to have taken the place of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, as the new off-spinner has brought immense glory to the Afghan team. 
The spinner might excel in the subcontinent and hence might be a standout player to look after the IPL 2025 concludes. 
<h3 dir="ltr">Suryansh Shedge</h3>
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202501/image_430x256_6784827bb9d5a.jpg" alt="" width="786" height="489">
The explosive down the order batsman for Mumbai (Image Credit: India Today)
Promising down the order, batting all-rounder Shedge has been a stunning performer down the order while the batter has played for the Mumbai team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. On many occasions, the batter has played with a strike rate of over 250 in the shortest format. 
While with the ball, he has been effective as well and has picked wickets at regular intervals. Shedge has been picked by the Punjab Kings for a very minor cost, though his effectiveness will be a major effort to watch out for in the upcoming season of the IPL. 
ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/rohit-sharma-categorically-tells-selector-he-wants-to-captain-india-in-tests-and-odis-till-/"> Rohit Sharma informs selectors that he will remain India's test and ODI captain until they can find a replacement for the skipper </a>

A look into the underdog players picked for IPL 2025 who can excel in this season

The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League will be played in 2025, as the IPL 2025 is scheduled to begin on the 21st of March. The IPL, considered one of the greatest leagues in the world in terms of franchise-level T20 cricket, has turned out to be a massive platform for younger underdog talents from around the world. 

Top 5 underdog talents who can be star favourite players post IPL 2025

top-5-underdog-talents-who-can-be-star-favourite-players-post-ipl-2025

DC Squad For IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals, a franchise that has been a big challenge for every team in every season and has played the party spoils for other teams towards the end of the seasons. But this time, they seem strong enough to make it to the elimination round. Will they? Let's find out!
Delhi Capitals went hunting down on Shreyas Iyer but couldn't win the bidding war against Punjab Kings. They also used the RTM Card for Rishabh Pant but on LSG's call for Rs 27 Cr, they lost him too. Their last chance was on KL Rahul and surprisingly, they got him for just Rs 14 Cr.
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_674fd4255a969.jpg" alt="">
DC got their best seasons recently under Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, and both are gone now. They have two faces for the captaincy duties in the form of Axar Patel and KL Rahul. They have a backup skipper option as Faf which concludes that they have good three names for captain. 
<h2>DC Squad For IPL 2025</h2>
Capitals retained the 8 overs of spin and that must have taken a lot of pain out of their heads. They got Starc under 12 Cr, Mukesh Kumar for 8 Cr, and Mohit Sharma for 2.20 Cr making them the best death bowling attack. They have some big names in their batting order as well.
<table border="1" style="width: 37.8321%; height: 1252px;">
<thead>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<th scope="col" style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Player
</th>
<th scope="col" style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Price
</th>
<th scope="col" style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
Country
</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Axar Patel
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 16 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 68px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 68px;">
Kuldeep Yadav
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 68px;">
Rs. 13.25 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 68px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Tristan Stubbs
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 10 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
South Africa
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Abhishek Porel
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 4 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 68px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 68px;">
KL Rahul
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 68px;">
Rs. 14.00 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 68px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Mitchell Starc
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 11.75 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
Australia
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Jake Fraser-McGurk
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 9.00 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
Australia
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 68px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 68px;">
T. Natarajan
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 68px;">
Rs. 10.75 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 68px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Mukesh Kumar
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 9.00 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Harry Brook
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 6.25 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
England
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Ashutosh Sharma
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 3.80 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Mohit Sharma
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 2.20 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Faf Du Plessis 
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 2.00 Cr
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
South Africa
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Sameer Rizvi
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 95 lakh
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 68px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 68px;">
Dushmantha Chameera
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 68px;">
Rs. 75 lakh
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 68px;">
Sri Lanka
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Donovan Ferreira
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 75 lakh
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
South Africa
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Madhav Tiwari
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 40 lakh
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Karun Nair
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 50 Lakh
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 68px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 68px;">
Vipraj Nigam
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 68px;">
Rs. 50 Lakh
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 68px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Darshan Nalkande
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 30 Lakh
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Ajay Mandal 
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 30 lakh
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Manvanth Kumar
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 30 Lakh
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px;">
<td style="width: 46.5947%; height: 48px;">
Tripurana Vijay 
</td>
<td style="width: 24.6395%; height: 48px;">
Rs. 30 Lakh
</td>
<td style="width: 25.8621%; height: 48px;">
India
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<ul></ul>
<h2>SWOT Analysis of DC Squad</h2>
Delhi Capitals retained four players and they had their best players all set for the first 11. With the acquisition of Brook, JFM, Faf, and Mitchell Starc, they got some of the best names in the cricket World with them. 
<ul>
<li>Batters: Faf du Plessis, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Harry Brook, Ashutosh Sharma</li>
<li>Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Abishek Porel, Donovan Ferreira,</li>
<li>All-rounders: Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay, Manvanth Kumar, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Darshan Nalkande</li>
<li>Fast bowlers: Mukesh Kumar, Mohit Sharma, T Natarajan, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera</li>
<li>Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav</li>
</ul>
<ul></ul>
<h3>STRENGTHS of DC Squad</h3>
Bowling! Whenever you take a look at this Capitals side, you must notice that they have the best spinners of the tournament. With Kuldeep and Axar Patel retained, they already had the best 8-over-spin-bowling options in their bag. Not only the spinners, they arguably have the best death bowling attack of the tournament. They have Mukesh Kumar, Mohit Sharma, and the best among them T Natarajan. 
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_674fd4c2ef692.jpg" alt="">
They have a good, aggressive, and dependable top order as well. KL Rahul, JFM, Harry Brook, and Tristan Stubbs. They also roped in Faf du Plessis strengthening their batting order. Axar Patel and Samir Rizvi to finish the innings gives them a lot of options and combinations to play with. 
<h3>WEAKNESSES of DC Squad</h3>
The inexperienced and young middle order is going to be a big issue for them. JFM hasn't got runs, Abhishek Porel and Ashutosh Sharma are future stars but not that promising. Harry Brook also hasn't much in the Indian subcontinent and this might be another challenge for DC staff to address. 
<h3>OPPORTUNITIES in the DC Squad</h3>
The 'going to be' skipper KL Rahul has eaten a lot of criticism in the last couple of years for his strike rate and form, and this time, he has a good opportunity to stand tall and reply with a brainstorming season with the bat. He has that ability and only he can help himself to unleash the beast. 
<h3>THREATS for DC Squad</h3>
Just like the other franchises, they too don't have any sort of backup options. For bowling, they have Dushmantha Chameera and Denoven Ferreira and for batting, they have Faf only among the known faces. No backup when mixed up with an inexperienced lineup creates a big threat for them. 
READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2025-mi-squad-players-prices-and-full-swot-analysis/">IPL 2025: MI Squad, Players, Prices, and Full SWOT Analysis</a> 
SOURCE: <a href="https://www.delhicapitals.in/">DC OFFICIAL</a>

With a steal deal of KL Rahul, Delhi Capitals are ready to set fire to the IPL 2025 with their almighty strong squad. With almost every box checked, Delhi is set to rule the other 10 teams this season. We review DC Squad, Players, Prices, and Full SWOT analysis here. 

Delhi Capitals was one of the happiest teams after the IPL Auction 2025 as they bagged some big names in International cricket for a very reasonable price. 

IPL 2025: DC Squad, Players, Prices, and Full SWOT Analysis

ipl-2025-dc-squad-players-prices-and-full-swot-analysis

Ajinkya Rahane, who was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders at his base price of INR 1.5 crore, is expected to lead the defending champions in the upcoming IPL season. The veteran batter needs a better record as captain in the IPL; his last captained match was in 2019.
As reported by The Times of India, three-time IPL champions KKR purchased Rahane during the two-day auction in Jeddah, citing him as a “strong captaincy option.” KKR went all out to acquire <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venkatesh_Iyer">Venkatesh Iyer</a> for an impressive INR 23.75 crore, while Rahane is likely to return as an IPL captain after a six-year break.
Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t been captaining any side recently, as he played under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. Rahane captained the Rajasthan Royals (RR) during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, managing only 9 wins in 24 matches, which left the team unable to reach the playoffs.
Rahane also showcased his leadership skills by captaining India to one of their most historic Test victories against Australia at the Gabba in 2021, a match that ended Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the venue and secured a memorable series win for India. His record with the Indian side has been good, but he lacks results in the T20 leagues.
A source close to the franchise said, “Yes, at the moment it’s 90% confirmed that Ajinkya will be the new KKR captain. He was bought by KKR specifically for the purpose of being a viable captaincy option.”
The seasoned cricketer has featured in 185 IPL matches, amassing 4,642 runs at a strike rate of 123.42. In the past two IPL seasons, Ajinkya Rahane has been a key contributor to Chennai Super Kings’ middle order, consistently delivering valuable performances in crucial moments. Apart from this, he has also been a part of franchises like the Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Rising Pune Supergiants (not existing now).
There are also rumours that Venkatesh Iyer, bought by KKR for a record INR 23.75 crore, might also be in the running for captain. However, the team hasn’t confirmed anything yet.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/IPL-2025:-Predicted-Captains-of-All-10-Franchises-for-the-upcoming-season-of-the-IPL/">IPL's Predicted captains for the upcoming IPL season of 2025</a>

Ajinkya Rahane might be seen in the role of KKR skipper in IPL 2025

Ajinkya Rahane, who the Kolkata Knight Riders bought at his base price of INR 1.5 crore, is emerging as the top candidate for the defending champions in the upcoming IPL season.

Ajinkya Rahane, who was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders at his base price of INR 1.5 crore, is expected to lead the defending champions in the upcoming IPL season.

Veteran cricketer Ajinkya Rahane emerges as the frontrunner for captaining Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025

Veteran-cricketer-Ajinkya-Rahane-emerges-as-the-frontrunner-for-captaining-Kolkata-Knight-Riders-in-IPL-2025

The IPL 2025 mega-auction marked every franchise bringing in some new players in their squads, while many teams are also in the hunt for a new player in the role of a skipper. 
 
Though every team has included the likes of several players in their squad, they are yet to announce who would be seen in a captain’s role. Likes of great <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Dhoni">MS Dhoni</a> and Rohit Sharma, the most successful among IPL skippers, have now decided to end their role as they continue to feature for their sides as players. 
 
With five of the franchises being certain over their captains, only the likes of the remaining sides are looking for a new captain, while some teams’ like the Punjab Kings went all loose to acquire the likes of last season's title-winning skipper Shreyas Iyer. 
 
<h2 dir="ltr">Let's see a list of skipper choices from all 10 franchises:</h2>
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Chennai Super Kings</h3>
 
CSK have been the most legendary side in the history of the IPL under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, and now the captaincy has passed onto the next generation of players in Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad will continue in the role of captain. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Mumbai Indians</h3>
 
The veteran all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, who replaced Rohit Sharma as the MI skipper, would once again be resuming duties in the IPL as the skipper, having the national skippers, SKY and Rohit Sharma, play under him. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Gujarat Titans</h3>
 
The Gujarat Titans have included several new players in the role, while Shubman Gill, the rising Indian sensation, remains to be the captain of the side, as per speculations made. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Sunrisers Hyderabad</h3>
 
The SRH side was led by World Cup-winning skipper Pat Cummins last season, as he led them to another final against the KKR, which they eventually lost. The skipper was retained with a whopping INR 18 crore and will resume his duties. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Rajasthan Royals</h3>
 
Sanju Samson, the skipper of the Royals side, seems fixed from the last few years, and he will continue to do so while also being their prime gloveman and opening batter. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Lucknow Super Giants</h3>
 
The LSG side looked very interested in Rishabh Pant, as they spent almost 1/3rd of their remaining purse, as Pant was included for a whopping INR 27 crore. However, if reports were to be considered and Pant unwilling to continue as skipper, then he might be seen playing under Nicholas Pooran; otherwise, Pant would take up captaincy for LSG from IPL 2025. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Delhi Capitals</h3>
 
The Capitals have made choices that seem to be significant for their future, as KL Rahul, who was swapped in from LSG to the Capitals squad, might be considered their ideal option for the role of the Capitals skipper. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Royal Challengers Bangalore</h3>
 
RCB are in the biggest dilemma over their choice of skipper, having not retained Faf. Earlier speculations suggested that Virat Kohli might be resuming his role as the skipper; however, no confirmed reports have been made from either end of the player or the management. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Punjab Kings</h3>
 
The Punjab Kings have not included Shreyas Iyer just for fun, as Iyer, the captain with the defending title, was bought in for a whopping INR 26.75 crore to be termed the captain of the side under Ponting. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Kolkata Knight Riders</h3>
 
The defending champions have let go of their skipper and are not looking to bring any such player who can be decisive as a captain, Sunil Narine who captains their other sides, Andre Russell, while also their heavily invested Venkatesh Iyer, all would stand a chance to be seen in the role of a skipper. 

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2025-csk-squad-after-auction-players-prices-and-full-swot-analysis/">Chennai Super Kings Full Team SWOT analysis </a>

Let's take a good look at the players who can fit into the shoes of a captain.

Like Virat Kohli resuming as RCB captain, Hardik Pandya continuing as MI skipper, and Shreyas Iyer moving to PBKS as their skipper, let's take a good look at the players who can fit into the shoes of a captain.

Before the action resumes for IPL 2025, let's look at the possible choices for the franchises in the role of a skipper.

IPL 2025: Predicted Captains of All 10 Franchises for the upcoming season of the IPL

IPL-2025:-Predicted-Captains-of-All-10-Franchises-for-the-upcoming-season-of-the-IPL

The IPL 2025 mega-auctions marked one of the biggest auctions in the history of the IPL, consisting of one of the largest pools of players in over a decade. Every franchise included a huge bunch of players, as over 200 players went sold in the auction. 
 
This time around, a huge entrustment in Indian pacers was shown by the IPL franchises, as several Indian as well as overseas pacers went for some immense amount of money. From Arshdeep Singh’s whopping 18 crores to Mohammad Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Mohammed Shami getting a double-digit bid for the first time, the Indian pacers specially aced the IPL mega-auction. 
 
Among overseas options as well, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Boult">Trent Boult</a>, Jofra Archer, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazelwood emerged as a few of the most heavily invested bowlers, over whom teams went on to spend a huge amount of their purses. 
 
<h2 dir="ltr">Let’s rate every team based on their Pace bowling deck:</h2>
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Chennai Super Kings: Mateesha Pathirana, Mukesh Choudhary, Jamie Overton, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurjapneet Singh, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Nathan Ellis, Sam Curran, and Anshul Kamboj. </h3>
 
Rating: 7/10
 
Though the Chennai Super Kings have one of the finest blends of pace and spin on their side, their pace deck looks a bit inexperienced. With the Lankan speedster Pathirana leading from the front, Khaleel Ahmed and Anhsul Kamboj, who recently gained stardom owing to his 10-wicket in a single inning, might turn out to be options sharing the new ball. 
 
While English all-rounders Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, and Aussie ace T20I bowler Nathan Ellis seem to be the backup options for CSK if their bowling trio fails to capitalize. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Royal Challengers Bangalore: Josh Hazelwood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Romario Shepherd, Rasikh Dar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thusara, and Lungi Ngidi</h3>
 
Rating: 7/10
 
Rating: Owing to their lack of interest in spinners, the Challengers are not left with much except Krunal Pandya on their side. Hence, in the bowling deck, RCB would go with an all-pace attack, with experienced Bhuvi and Hazelwood leading alongside the two young Indian stars Yash and Rasikh Dar. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Rajasthan Royals: Jofra Archer, Yudhvir Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tushar Deshpande, and Akash Madhwal. </h3>
 
Rating: 7/10
 
The Royals came much later into the party, and their biggest among bids lay in Jofra Archer, the ex-Royals pace bowler who was brought back into the side. Meanwhile, Afghan pacer Farooqi might back up Archer owing to his prone injury status. 
 
Tushar Deshpande The rising talent from the CSK academy and Sandeep Sharma might be crucial to the team alongside Madhwal and Yudhvir, all not eminent yet aspiring names in the history of the game. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Delhi Capitals: Mitchell Starc, Thangarasu Natrajan, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, and Dusmantha Chameera. </h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Delhi Capitals do not have the most promising bowling lineup, as they have the least number of pacers on their side. Still, with a fine set of picks, they have included the hot favourites in the last auction's biggest buy, Mitchell Starc, and Indian medium pacers Mukesh Kumar and Natrajan as their other key seamers. 
 
Mohit Sharma played a very vital role for the Gujarat Titans last season during the death overs, while Natrajan and Mukesh were also the finest with the ball during the end phase. Now they would all play for the Delhi Capitals. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Kolkata Knight Riders: Harshit Rana, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Spencer Johnson, and Umran Malik. </h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Kolkata Knight Riders have almost retained their entire deck of quick bowlers in Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, the stars who bowled last time alongside the Aussie speedster. The Protea pacer Nortje or Aussie left-arm seamer Spencer Johnson might be placed to replace Starc in the XI. Umran Malik brings a raw pace alongside him; however, his way into the team doesn’t seem very likely, especially in the presence of an additional golden arm from Andre Russell. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, NK Reddy, Brydon Carse, Simarjeet Singh, and Eshan Malinga. </h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Sunrisers Hyderabad have completely brought in new players to their bowling side alongside skipper Pat Cummins. Cummins will be leading a pace attack now comprised of another experienced hat, Mohammed Shami. 
 
Harshal Patel, the highest wicket-taker from the seasons of 2022 and 2024, will now be seen for the Orange Army, alongside fellow all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, currently dominating Aussies in the BGT. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Lucknow Super Giants: Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Shamar Joseph, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mitchell Marsh, and Digvesh Singh</h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Lucknow Super Giants, having bought Rishabh Pant, were not left with much to invest in a lot of talented pacers; hence, though their pace deck doesn’t look fancy, it seems of great futuristic scope, especially under Zaheer Khan, the new LSG mentor. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Punjab Kings: Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur, Xavier Bartlett, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, and Lockie Ferguson. </h3>
 
Rating: 9/10
 
Punjab Kings have used their RTM to bring back their most trustworthy bowler, Arshdeep Singh, currently India’s most budding player in the shortest format. While alongside him, Marco Jansen, the lanky fast bowler from South Africa, will be an asset to Ponting’s side. 
 
Their deck would also comprise Vyshak, Stoinis the all-rounder, Omarzai, Hardie, Lockie Ferguson, and Yash Thakur, who among the main seamers can be of immense importance. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya, Raj Angad Bawa, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, and Lizaad Williams. </h3>
 
Rating: 9.5/10
 
Undoubtedly, the Mumbai Indians are one of the deadliest-looking teams when their bowling deck is considered. Other than their pacers, the overall team looks stunning on the team sheets. 
 
Led by world-class pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah, the MI pace deck will now have the services of Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult sharing the new ball in the powerplay, while middle-overs can have Pandya at the best services he can provide. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Gujarat Titans: Gerald Coetzee, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, and Ishant Sharma. </h3>
 
Rating: 10/10
 
Probably, the second pacer deck looks like a nightmare to the franchises, as Kagiso Rabada will lead the pace bowling options alongside the Indian pace maestro Mohammad Siraj. 
 
However, what seems eminent on the Titans' side would be their backup options, and the 3rd or 4th pace options look equally promising alongside the frontline pacers. Prasidh Krishna, Coetzee, and young left-arm pacer Arshad Khan are expected to have a dream track under their belt in Ahmedabad.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/bgt-2024-australia-unveil-their-squad-for-the-2nd-test-this-player-has-been-added-as-cover-for-mitch-marsh/">Aussies call in debutant for Second Test at Adelaide </a>
<h1 class="jsx-12b9302b376ac3cf Introheading"></h1>

Pacers will be crucial from the point of view of the IPL franchises for the upcoming edition

The IPL 2025 mega-auctions marked one of the biggest auctions in the history of the IPL, consisting of one of the largest pools of players in over a decade. Every team looked to bolster their pace attack and hence rate them based on their bowling strengths.

The upcoming IPL will be an event to remember for their bowlers, as it's the pace deck that will bring glory to every franchise to their extent.

Rating All 10 IPL 2025 Franchises based on the strength of their pace bowling deck

rating-all-10-ipl-2025-franchises-based-on-the-strength-of-their-pace-bowling-deck

<img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202411/image_870x_67481bd9012ce.jpg" alt="">
RCB Squad IPL 2025: The IPL 2025 auction is over, and RCB is one of the most talked-about franchises for its auction strategy. Here, we analyze the RCB squad's strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats in the upcoming IPL 2025.
Royal Challengers Bangaluru was one of the franchises with the most purse before the auction. They retained just three players- Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. With a purse of over Rs 80Cr, everyone hoped they would rope in some big names, especially in the bowling department, but the management had different ideas.  
RCB team in the auction table was slightly inactive on DAY 1 of the auction. They let go of all the big names and roped in crucial but less-known names under the eyes for cheap. They really played smart on the table but the question is- do they have a strong squad to fight in the IPL 2025?
<h2>RCB Squad For IPL 2025</h2>
The RCB management indicated a complete change in the squad and built the team around Virat at the top, Patidar in the middle, and Yash Dayal in the bowling unit. They spent 23 Cr for just two pacers—Josh Hazlewood (Rs 12.25 Cr) and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (Rs10.75 Cr). They roped in Jitesh Sharma (Rs 11 Cr) and Phil Salt (Rs 11.25 Cr) for another 22 Cr and then spent around 12 Cr for two allrounders, Krunal Pandya and Rasikh Dar. 
All in all, they have built a strong unit around some strong Indian options in all departments. Let's take a look at the RCB Squad for the Upcoming IPL 2025:
<div dir="ltr" align="left">
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 56.8074%; background-color: #f8cac6; border-color: #000000; border-style: ridge;"><colgroup><col width="59" style="width: 21.7721%;"><col width="159" style="width: 39.3382%;"><col width="158" style="width: 39.0908%;"></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Player
</th>
<th scope="col" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Price
</th>
<th scope="col" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Country
</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Virat Kohli
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 21 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rajat Patidar
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 11 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Yash Dayal
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 5 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Liam Livingstone
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 8.75 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
England
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Jitesh Sharma 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 11 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Josh Hazlewood 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 12.50 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Australia
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Bhuvneshwar Kumar 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 10.75 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rasikh Dar
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 6 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Phil Salt 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 11.50 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
England
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Krunal Pandya 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 5.75 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Suyash Sharma 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 2.60 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Swapnil Singh
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 50 lakhs
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Tim David 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 3 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Australia
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Jacob Bethell 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 2.60 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
England
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Romario Shepherd 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 1.50 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
West Indies
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Nuwan Thushara 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 1.60 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Sri Lanka
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Devdutt Padikkal
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 2 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Swastik Chhikara
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 30 lakh
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Lungi Ngidi 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 1 crore
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
South Africa
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Manoj Bhandage 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 30 lakhs
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Abhinandan Singh 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 30 lakh
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Mohit Rathee 
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Rs. 30 lakh
</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
India
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"></div>
<h2>SWOT Analysis of RCB Squad</h2>
RCB spent most of its money on middle-order players and roped in players like Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, and Tim David. They strengthened their middle order, which was the problem in the previous seasons. 
<ul>
<li>Batters: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Tim David</li>
<li>Wicketkeepers: Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma</li>
<li>All-rounders: Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Romario Shepherd, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell</li>
<li>Fast bowlers: Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Yash Dayal, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh</li>
<li>Spinners: Suyash Sharma, Mohit Rathee</li>
</ul>
<h3>STRENGTHS of RCB Squad</h3>
RCB has always been known for its batting. From Chris Gyle and AB de Villiers to Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik, they have always had a batting-heavy squad. This time, they are among the strongest when it comes to batting power. With these names, they can play free and bold cricket, and they have also managed to rope in plenty of all-rounders to the team. 
Not only batting, but they also hold pretty strong fast bowling options. They have Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, who are well-known for their tight bowling, and Rasikh Dar, who is an excellent middle over and death over bowler. 
<h3>WEAKNESSES of RCB Squad</h3>
They have weak spin-bowling options! With Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya seeming to be in the playing11, the spin department of RCB isn't promising even for their home ground. However, they have Liam Livingstone who can roll his arms, but that is not going to be enough. Spin is going to be their weak link.
<h3>OPPORTUNITIES in the RCB Squad</h3>
Playing with Virat Kohli, most likely under Virat Kohli, is a dream of many youngsters in India and across the world. There are a couple of young names in the squad, who can prove their young talent in the upcoming season. Especially, Suyash Sharma has a big opportunity to play bold and knock the international doors. 
Devdutt Padikkal is another name for opportunities. His charm and form were lost after he joined RR, but coming back to his home team, he really has a chance to unleash his potential in the IPL Stage. 
<h3>THREATS for RCB Squad</h3>
Threats for the Challengers squad are mainly not having proper backups. Their spin looks fragile, and a bad day of fast bowlers can ruin the game for them. They have enough options for bowling in the death, and bowling at the top, but concerns may arise in the middle order. 
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/hardik-pandya-destroys-new-csk-bowler-slams-4-continuous-sixes-scores-an-excellent-fifty/">Hardik Pandya destroys new CSK bowler, slams 4 continuous sixes, scores an excellent fifty</a>
SOURCE- <a href="https://www.royalchallengers.com/">RCB OFFICIAL</a>

Most cricket pundits might not have liked the RCB's work at the auction table, but they are still strong and can turn the table anytime and against anyone in the league. Here is the SWOT analysis and review of the RCB squad for IPL 2025.

IPL 2025: RCB Squad after Auction, Players, Prices and Full SWOT Analysis

ipl-2025-rcb-squad-after-auction-players-prices-and-full-swot-analysis

The IPL 2025 auction is seemingly getting exciting as the franchises slowly lose their huge purse amounts, especially with Punjab Kings reduced to less than INR 50 crores despite them entering the auction with a huge purse of INR 110.5 crores. Having made some crazy deals over the likes of captain Shreyas Iyer and iconic batsman <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishabh_Pant">Rishabh Pant</a>, who surpassed his fellow mate further to be IPL?s highest-ever bid player with INR 27 crore.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Let?s take a look at the auction purses left after the end of the 2nd set of Marquee Players with 12 players bought.</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Delhi Capitals: INR 47.25 crore</h3>



They have roped in two invaluable players, KL Rahul and Mitchell Starc, for much less money.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chennai Super Kings: INR 55 crores</h3>



Chennai Super Kings successfully tried on several players but still await their first inclusion.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rajasthan Royals: INR 41 crore</h3>



Rajasthan Royals have also tried their luck hard, though nothing went in their favor as they, despite trying, could not acquire any players.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Royal Challengers Bangalore: INR 74.25 crore</h3>



RCB have also made some good attempts, though only ending up with Liam Livingstone for 8.75 crores.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kolkata Knight Riders: INR 51 crore</h3>



KKR, the defending champions, are trying harder but still looking for their first player addition.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lucknow Super Giants: INR 34.50 crores</h3>



The Super Giants have the most unique auction, having made the highest bid of Rishabh Pant and then followed by dynamic middle-order finisher David Miller.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sunrisers Hyderabad: INR 35 crores</h3>



The SRH have now roped in Mohammed Shami as their only inclusion to their pace bowling deck as of yet.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mumbai Indians: INR 45 crores</h3>



The Indians, in the quest for many players, have not bid eagerly for any except for Jos Buttler and Mitchell Starc, though withdrawing very early.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gujarat Titans: INR 30.25 crore</h3>



The Titans can be arguably said to have the best auction day till now with the likes of Mohammad Siraj, Jos Buttler, and finally Kagiso Rabada, the best three inclusions possible for them.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Punjab Kings: INR 47.75 crore</h3>



The people with the highest purse have spent a significant amount of money to acquire the likes of Arshdeep Singh for a huge INR 18 crore, while next getting Yuzi Chahal for another 18 crore and skipper Iyer for a record-breaking INR 26.75 crore.



ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/indias-yashasvi-jaiswal-creates-history-becomes-the-batsman-to-hit-the-highest-number-of-sixes-in-a-calendar-year-of-test-cricket-ind-vs-aus/"> India?s Yashasvi Jaiswal creates history, becomes the batsman to hit the highest number of sixes in a calendar year of Test Cricket | IND vs AUS</a>

IPL 2025 Auction Updates: Every Franchise Purse Left After the Completion of the Marquee Set 2

ipl-2025-auction-updates-every-franchise-purse-left-after-the-completion-of-the-marquee-set-2

Pacers are having a day out here at Jeddah on the second day of the much anticipated IPL auction, as after several among batters and all-rounders went unsold, the pacers are making the banks of the franchises shaken up. First of all, Marco Jansen, the lanky pace bowling all-rounder from the Proteas, goes for the biggest bid of the day from the first session, with the Punjab Kings showing immense interest in the left-arm seamer.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter">
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">https://twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra/status/1860991686236647806</div>
</figure>



 Followed by a short break, the teams now seemed too determined, with the likes of Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and RCB all looking forward to decking up their pace bowling set. India?s one of the most anticipated pacers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, also the greatest ever Indian in the history of the IPL, gets rewarded for his consistency, as RCB bring him in for a whopping INR 10.75 crore, the only double-digit bid for the day.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter">
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">https://twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra/status/1861003917598883891</div>
</figure>



 While Indian pacers other than Bhuvi, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepak_Chahar">Deepak Chahar</a> earns a huge bid going to the arch-rivals MI from the Men in Yellow. While followed by him are Tushar Deshpande to the Rajasthan Royals, while Mukesh Kumar was retained by the Capitals using the RTM.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter">
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">https://twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/1861003858396451129</div>
</figure>



Coetzee is the only overseas bowler now going to the Gujarat Titans pace deck alongside national mate Kagiso Rabada, pairing for a breathtaking pace bowling duo.



Akash Deep gets a new franchise in the Lucknow Super Giants, who have their first player of the day and quite intriguing a futuristic option seemingly for the Super Giants.



Lockie Ferguson off at base price to the Punjab Kings.



ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/live-ipl-auction-2025-live-updates-day-2-latest-news-and-more-on-auction/">[LIVE] IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates DAY 2, Latest News and More on Auction</a>

The IPL Auction  Day 2 sees its first major jump; A pacers day out Bhuvneshwar Kumar sold for INR 10.75 Crores to RCB

the-ipl-auction-day-2-sees-its-first-major-jump-a-pacers-day-out-bhuvneshwar-kumar-sold-for-inr-10-75-crores-to-rcb

IPL (Indian Premier League) Teams, Playing 11, Full Squad, Caption, and News

IPL (Indian Premier League) Teams

Chennai Super Kings, one of the most iconic franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has unveiled its new jersey for the IPL 2025. This new jersey show blends the signature yellow with a sleek design and a camouflage patch honoring India's armed forces.
The five-time champions of IPL match CSK moving forwards for 6 wins with a new energy after unviel new jersey for Ipl 2025. 
The new jersey of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have unveiled their new jersey for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, CSK featuring a significant of Etihad Airways' logo has been prominently moved to the front of the jersey. That shows the good partnership between CSK and Etihad Airways, which was began in 2024 with the airline's logo. On that time this logo put in back of jersey but this year we see in front of the new CSK jersey.  
https://x.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/1889301517456547886
Also Read - <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/rajasthan-royals-unveil-the-matchday-jersey-for-the-upcoming-ipl-season-2025-new-jersey-of-rajasthan-royals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rajasthan Royals Unveil The Matchday Jersey For The Upcoming IPL Season 2025 | New Jersey Of Rajasthan Royals</a>
The new CSK jersey for IPL 2025 is available soon to purchase and available in online store to buy for fans, showcasing the Etihad logo at the front. CSK fan's will buy new jersey from online store as well as it's official website <a href="https://www.chennaisuperkings.com/shop/products?page=1&amp;limit=12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.chennaisuperkings.com</a> 
Chennai Super Kings Fans and MS Dhoni fnas can look forward to engaging activities at upcoming matches in Chennai, that also including opportunities to join the Etihad Guest loyalty program and win Guest Miles redeemable for flights. Not only that Etihad will distribute 'whistles with wings,' miniature aircraft-shaped souvenirs, that help CSK fans to get more engaged in IPL Season and show love and respect to its team. 
This collaboration Between Chennai Super Kings and Etihad Airways underscores Etihad's commitment to the Indian market, where  Etihad Airways operates 181 flights per week across 11 gateways, including 21 flights per week to Chennai.
This new jersey of Chennai Super Kings shows the world its strong leadership and honoring India's armed forces, that showcases the power and respects to country of Chennai Super Kings in IPL season 2025.
Also Read - <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/indian-sports-summit-2025-virat-kohli-to-speak-on-march-14-15/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Sports Summit 2025 – Virat Kohli to Speak on March 14-15</a>
<h3 class="article_title__MXaEX"></h3>

Chennai Super Kings Unveil New Jersey For IPL 2025 | New Jersey Of CSK 2025

Chennai Super Kings is his new Jersey for the IPL 2025. In New Jersey CSK featuring a significant update: the Etihad Airways logo.

Chennai Super King New Jersey for IPL 2025 announced.

chennai-super-kings-unveil-new-jersey-for-ipl-2025-new-jersey-of-csk-2025

Real Madrid vs Manchester City Highlights

A match was played recently between Real Madrid and Manchester City on 11 February 2025, and it is being called an unforgettable match of the Champions League.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City Highlights : Bellingham’s Last-Minute Goal Stuns Everyone

real-madrid-vs-manchester-city-highlights-bellingham-s-last-minute-goal-stuns-everyone

Afghanistan Cricket Team, as well as Mumbai Indians, have faced a massive blow. Star spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar has been ruled out of the ICC Champions 2025 as well as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 due to an injury. 
Allah Ghazanfar suffered a fracture in the L4 vertebra and will be out of action for four months. The spinner faced an injury while playing for the team during the Zimbabwe tour, and his injury surely would've disrupted the balance of both Afghanistan as well as the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. 
Allah Ghazanfar was picked by Mumbai Indians for Rs 4.80 crore in the IPL mega auction.  With the kind of talent and the skills that he brings with him, it's fair to say that he surely would've been in the playing XI for the franchise in the league right from the start. 
Allah Ghazanfar has played one Test and 11 ODIs for Afghanistan and has been decent for the team. The spinner also has played 19 T20 matches so far and has 30 wickets to his name. He also has been part of the Mumbai Indians in the ILT20 as he plays for MI Emirates in the league. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/batting-strategy-or-blunder-kl-rahul-and-hardik-pandya-at-6-and-7/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Batting Strategy or Blunder? KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya at 6 and 7</a>
<h2>Afghanistan Cricket Board confirms about  Allah Ghazanfar's injury ahead of IPL 2025 </h2>
Afghanistan Cricket Board released an official statement confirming Allah Ghazanfar's injury. The Board confirmed that he will be under the observation of the medical team during his four-month recovery period. 
The statement read: “Afghanistan’s young spin-bowling sensation, AM Ghazanfar, has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a fracture in the L4 vertebra, specifically in the left pars interarticularis. 
"He sustained the injury during Afghanistan’s recently held tour Zimbabwe, and will be sidelined for a minimum of four months and will remain under treatment during this period," ACB said in a release. 
With Allah Ghazanfar being ruled out, Mumbai Indians spin bowling will be heavily reliant on Mitchell Santner and Karn Sharma.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/australia-a-beth-mooney-pips-india-s-trisha-gongdi-to-win-icc-women-s-player-of-the-month-award-for-january/">Australia's Beth Mooney pips India's Trisha Gongdi to win ICC Women's Player of the Month award for January</a>

Mumbai Indians face huge injury blow ahead of IPL 2025 {PC:X}

Allah Ghazanfar was picked by Mumbai Indians for Rs 4.80 crore in the IPL mega auction

Star spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar has been ruled out of the ICC Champions 2025 as well as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 due to an injury. 

IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians face massive blow! Star player RULED OUT of IPL

ipl-2025-mumbai-indians-face-massive-blow-star-player-ruled-out-of-ipl-

Australia captain Steve Smith has been having a great game as captain in the ongoing first ODI against Sri Lanka. The opening game of the two-match series between the teams is taking place at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday (12th February) 
Steve Smith, who is known as one of the best fielders in the game, came up with another stunner in the ongoing game. The Australia skipper picked a blinder in the slips to send Sri Lanka batter Dunith Wellalage back into the hut and provide his team with a crucial breakthrough. 
During the last ball of the 26th over, Matthew Short bowled a delivery that got extra bounce on the length delivery outside off. Dunith Wellalage got forward to defend and the ball kissed the shoulder of the bat and went quickly towards the first slip, where Steve Smith was stationed. 
Steve Smith came with a magical effort as he took it with an outstretched right hand on the dive. His body momentum was going the other way, but he grabbed it with no fuss and got up, passing a smile to his teammates and ending Dunith Wellalage's innings on 30 runs. 
You can see the video at the end of the article: 
Steve Smith has been appointed as the captain of Australia for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as well. This comes after both Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh were ruled out of the tournament due to the injuries and the batter was given responsibility to take the role. 
Steve Smith captained Australia in the Test series against Sri Lanka as well. Under his leadership, the team won the series by the margin of 2-0 and ended their long wait for a series win in Sri Lanka. He led from the front as he slammed centuries in both the games. 
Steve Smith also has been top-notch as a captain in the ongoing game against Sri Lanka. He has made brilliant changes as captain and also has been spot-on with his field placements. With the kind of performance they have put in, they look favourites to win the match. 
<h2>Watch: Steve Smith takes a blinder to remove Dunith Wellalage in SL vs AUS 2nd ODI</h2>

Steve Smith takes a stunner to remove Dunith Wellalage in first SL vs AUS ODI  {PC:X}

Australia captain Steve Smith has been having a great game as captain in the ongoing first ODI against Sri Lanka.

Steve Smith, who is known as one of the best fielders in the game, came up with another stunner in the ongoing game.

Watch: Steve Smith takes a STUNNER in slips to remove Dunith Wellalage in first SL vs AUS ODI

watch-steve-smith-takes-a-stunner-in-slips-to-remove-dunith-wellalage-in-first-sl-vs-aus-odi-

India Cricket Team, on Tuesday (12th February), made massive changes to their squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the tournament with a back injury, which he faced during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, and it no doubt will jolt India's chances. 
In place of Jasprit Bumrah,<a href="https://www.bcci.tv"> India</a> added Harshit Rana to the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Kolkata Knight Riders pacer made his debut in the first game of the ongoing ODI series against England and so far looked decent in the first two games. 
Another massive change that India made in their squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was to replace Yashasvi Jaiswal with Varun Chakravarthy. This came as a big surprise because Jaiswal was forced to make his debut in the first ODI against, and had Virat Kohli not got injured and Shreyas Iyer not scored runs, he would've played all three games. 
<h2>Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy have been added to the team on the recommendation of head coach Gautam Gambhir - Report</h2>
The inclusion of Varun Chakravarthy, who made his debut in the second ODI against England, also came as a surprise because India already had 4 spinners in the team and out of 15 players, the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will now feature 5 spinners. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/riyan-parag-statement-finally-after-months-cricketer-riyan-parag-speaks-on-his-leaked-youtube-search-history/#google_vignette">Riyan Parag Statement : Finally After Months Cricketer Riyan Parag Speaks On His Leaked Youtube Search History</a>
With India making huge changes to their squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, it saw them facing massive criticism. However, a report in PTI has mentioned both Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy have been added to the team on the recommendation of head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Both Harshit Rana and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=varun+chakravarthy&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8">Varun Chakravarthy</a> are part of the Kolkata Knight Riders, a franchise that was mentored by Gautam Gambhir. The head coach will now be hoping that his idea to add both players to the team pays off and India wins the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be kick-starting on 19th February, and India will be playing their first game on 20th February against Bangladesh.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ind-vs-eng-kl-rahul-s-below-average-performance-with-the-bat-might-lead-to-rishabh-pant-getting-a-chance-in-ahmedabad/">IND vs ENG: KL Rahul's below average performance with the bat might lead to Rishabh Pant getting a chance in Ahmedabad</a>

Gautam Gambhir makes call to add  Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy {PC:X}

India Cricket Team, on Tuesday (12th February), made massive changes to their squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Massive change that India made in their squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was to replace Yashasvi Jaiswal with Varun Chakravarthy