IPL 2025: Meet The 10 Captains

Photo Credit: X/@IPL SRH's Pat Cummins is the only overseas captain this season. NDTV Profit Sports Desk Updated On 03:31 PM IST, 17 Mar 2025

IPL 2025

The 18th season of the Indian Premier League will begin on March 22 with defending champions KKR facing RCB in the tournament opener. Ahead of IPL 2025, take a look at the captains of all the 10 franchises. Photo Credit: X/@IPL [{ "selector": ".story-desp_p", "duration": "1.2s", "easing": "ease-in-out", "keyframes": [{ "opacity": 0 }, { "opacity": 1 }, { "opacity": 1 } ] }, { "selector": ".substory_h1", "duration": "0.75s", "easing": "linear", "keyframes": [{ "transform": "translateY(40px)", "opacity": 0 }, { "transform": "translateY(0px)", "opacity": 1 }, { "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1 } ] } ]

1. Rajat Patidar (RCB)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have named Rajat Patidar as its captain for the upcoming season. Patidar was among RCB's retained players before last year's mega auction. Photo Credit: X/@IPL [{ "selector": ".story-desp_p", "duration": "1.2s", "easing": "ease-in-out", "keyframes": [{ "opacity": 0 }, { "opacity": 1 }, { "opacity": 1 } ] }, { "selector": ".substory_h1", "duration": "0.75s", "easing": "linear", "keyframes": [{ "transform": "translateY(40px)", "opacity": 0 }, { "transform": "translateY(0px)", "opacity": 1 }, { "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1 } ] } ]

2. Ajinkya Rahane (KKR)

Ajinkya Rahane has been assigned captaincy of defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. Rahane replaces Shreyas Iyer as KKR skipper, with the latter set to lead Punjab Kings this season. Photo Credit: X/@KKRiders [{ "selector": ".story-desp_p", "duration": "1.2s", "easing": "ease-in-out", "keyframes": [{ "opacity": 0 }, { "opacity": 1 }, { "opacity": 1 } ] }, { "selector": ".substory_h1", "duration": "0.75s", "easing": "linear", "keyframes": [{ "transform": "translateY(40px)", "opacity": 0 }, { "transform": "translateY(0px)", "opacity": 1 }, { "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1 } ] } ]

3. Sanju Samson (RR)

Sanju Samson will be leading Rajasthan Royals for a fifth successive year. RR begin their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad in an away match on March 23. Photo Credit: X/@IPL [{ "selector": ".story-desp_p", "duration": "1.2s", "easing": "ease-in-out", "keyframes": [{ "opacity": 0 }, { "opacity": 1 }, { "opacity": 1 } ] }, { "selector": ".substory_h1", "duration": "0.75s", "easing": "linear", "keyframes": [{ "transform": "translateY(40px)", "opacity": 0 }, { "transform": "translateY(0px)", "opacity": 1 }, { "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1 } ] } ]

4. Pat Cummins (SRH)

Australia's Pat Cummins, who missed the recently concluded Champions Trophy, will be leading SunRisers Hyderabad this season. He led the team to the final last year, where they lost to KKR. Photo Credit: X/@IPL [{ "selector": ".story-desp_p", "duration": "1.2s", "easing": "ease-in-out", "keyframes": [{ "opacity": 0 }, { "opacity": 1 }, { "opacity": 1 } ] }, { "selector": ".substory_h1", "duration": "0.75s", "easing": "linear", "keyframes": [{ "transform": "translateY(40px)", "opacity": 0 }, { "transform": "translateY(0px)", "opacity": 1 }, { "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1 } ] } ]

5. Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK)

CSK veteran MS Dhoni had handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad a day before the IPL 2024 opener. Gaikwad did not do a bad job as a captain and a batter but CSK could not make the IPL play-offs. Photo Credit: X/@IPL [{ "selector": ".story-desp_p", "duration": "1.2s", "easing": "ease-in-out", "keyframes": [{ "opacity": 0 }, { "opacity": 1 }, { "opacity": 1 } ] }, { "selector": ".substory_h1", "duration": "0.75s", "easing": "linear", "keyframes": [{ "transform": "translateY(40px)", "opacity": 0 }, { "transform": "translateY(0px)", "opacity": 1 }, { "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1 } ] } ]

6. Rishabh Pant (LSG)

Dynamic keeper-batter Rishabh Pant is the captain of Lucknow Super Giants for the upcoming IPL. Pant was picked at the mega auction for an IPL record Rs 27 crore by the franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka. Photo Credit: X/@LucknowIPL [{ "selector": ".story-desp_p", "duration": "1.2s", "easing": "ease-in-out", "keyframes": [{ "opacity": 0 }, { "opacity": 1 }, { "opacity": 1 } ] }, { "selector": ".substory_h1", "duration": "0.75s", "easing": "linear", "keyframes": [{ "transform": "translateY(40px)", "opacity": 0 }, { "transform": "translateY(0px)", "opacity": 1 }, { "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1 } ] } ]

7. Shubman Gill (GT)

Shubman Gill will be leading the Gujarat Titans once again this year. He was retained by the franchise along with Rashid Khan, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan. Photo Credit: X/@IPL [{ "selector": ".story-desp_p", "duration": "1.2s", "easing": "ease-in-out", "keyframes": [{ "opacity": 0 }, { "opacity": 1 }, { "opacity": 1 } ] }, { "selector": ".substory_h1", "duration": "0.75s", "easing": "linear", "keyframes": [{ "transform": "translateY(40px)", "opacity": 0 }, { "transform": "translateY(0px)", "opacity": 1 }, { "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1 } ] } ]

8. Axar Patel (DC)

Axar Patel has been appointed captain of Delhi Capitals for upcoming IPL season. He is currently the team's longest-serving player, having played six seasons since 2019. The 31-year-old was DC's top retention for Rs 16.50 crore ahead of the mega auction last November Photo Credit: X/@IPL [{ "selector": ".story-desp_p", "duration": "1.2s", "easing": "ease-in-out", "keyframes": [{ "opacity": 0 }, { "opacity": 1 }, { "opacity": 1 } ] }, { "selector": ".substory_h1", "duration": "0.75s", "easing": "linear", "keyframes": [{ "transform": "translateY(40px)", "opacity": 0 }, { "transform": "translateY(0px)", "opacity": 1 }, { "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1 } ] } ]

9. Shreyas Iyer (PBKS)

Shreyas Iyer, who guided KKR to their IPL title triumph in 2024, will be the captain of Punjab Kings. Iyer was roped in by PBKS for a record-breaking Rs 26.75 crore, making him the second-most expensive player during the November auction. Photo Credit: X/@ShreyasIyer15 [{ "selector": ".story-desp_p", "duration": "1.2s", "easing": "ease-in-out", "keyframes": [{ "opacity": 0 }, { "opacity": 1 }, { "opacity": 1 } ] }, { "selector": ".substory_h1", "duration": "0.75s", "easing": "linear", "keyframes": [{ "transform": "translateY(40px)", "opacity": 0 }, { "transform": "translateY(0px)", "opacity": 1 }, { "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1 } ] } ]

10. Hardik Pandya (MI)

Hardik Pandya will be leading Mumbai Indians for the second consecutive season this year. He faced backlash in IPL 2024 as the management decided to hand him the leadership role, replacing Rohit Sharma. Photo Credit: X/@IPL [{ "selector": ".story-desp_p", "duration": "1.2s", "easing": "ease-in-out", "keyframes": [{ "opacity": 0 }, { "opacity": 1 }, { "opacity": 1 } ] }, { "selector": ".substory_h1", "duration": "0.75s", "easing": "linear", "keyframes": [{ "transform": "translateY(40px)", "opacity": 0 }, { "transform": "translateY(0px)", "opacity": 1 }, { "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1 } ] } ]