When you have a high-octane tournament like the Indian Premier League, captains play a big role in the difference between winning and losing.
As we approach the 18th edition of the premier tournament in 2025, let’s analyse the captains of each team, who range from data-driven strategists to instinctive risk-takers.
PBKS: Shreyas Iyer (The Analytical Architect)
Let’s start with Punjab’s new King, Shreyas Iyer. Shreyas first captained the Delhi Capitals under the mentorship of the head coach, Ricky Ponting, from mid-2018 to 2022. He was later bought by Kolkata Knight Riders, who had Gautam Gambhir as the lead coach. The one-year stint gave KKR their third IPL title. With the Iyer-Ponting combo back together at Punjab Kings, one can only hope they will take this 17-year-old franchise to its first podium finish.
Qualities as Captain:
Shreyas, while captaining KKR, showed the power of analytical leadership. He believed in preparing meticulously with detailed match-ups and statistical insights.
He often likes to stay one step ahead; analysing every batsman’s weakness, every bowler’s strength, and creating specific plans for different phases of the game.
This methodical approach was very evident in how precisely KKR deployed their spinners. Iyer masterfully used Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine against specific batsmen at unexpected moments to disrupt the opposition’s rhythm. KKR’s bowling changes yielded the highest success rate among all captains in the last season. Data said that 68% of the time it resulted in wickets within the first two overs of a new spell.
LSG: Rishabh Pant (The Instinctive Maverick)
In contrast, Rishabh Pant, who will captain the Lucknow Super Giants for the first time, is the kind of leader who relies on his instincts.
Qualities as Captain:
Pant’s captaincy is all about bold, often surprising decisions that catch opponents off guard.
His infectious energy and enthusiasm bring a spark to the team. His animated celebrations, vibrant presence and constant chatter on the field fire up his teammates, and you can see it in the sharpness of Delhi’s fielding in the last two seasons.
SRH: Pat Cummins (The Strategic Pacesetter)
Taking SRH to their 3rd IPL finals last year, the ODI World Cup winning captain is once again warming up to have yet another successful campaign with his fresh-looking SRH side.
Qualities as Captain:
As a captain, Pat Cummins brings a calm yet flexible approach to leadership. He leads with a composed attitude but isn’t afraid to switch to an aggressive mindset when the situation calls for it.
Unlike some captains who are more outwardly expressive, Cummins prefers a measured, team-oriented style, often consulting with senior players while still maintaining clear authority when it comes to decision-making.
His brings in his unique quality of being a bowler-captain when it comes to setting field placements and making bowling changes.
CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad (The Emerging Strategist)
Taking over a team shaped by MS Dhoni for 15 years must be daunting. There’s always the nagging question, “What would Dhoni have done?” As a relatively new captain in the IPL, Ruturaj Gaikwad brings a fresh perspective to his side, shaped by the wisdom he gained while playing under MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings.
Qualities as Captain:
The leadership traits you would have closely watched Gaikwad show in his first season as captain would be his analytical thinking, calm decision-making, and leading with quiet confidence. Most importantly, he prefers clear and precise communication over emotional displays.
Gaikwad’s captaincy stands out for his ability to connect with senior players and emerging talents. He is brilliant at keeping his cool in crucial moments, and with the seasons to come and MSD at his back, he is only going to get better at his captaincy skills.
KKR: Ajinkya Rahane (The Thoughtful Tactician)
When KKR management appointed Ajinkya Rahane as captain, various debates opened among the fans and the well-wishers. Many expected Venkatesh Iyer, a younger player and their most expensive buy during the auction, to take on the captaincy role. However, the team chose to rely on their experienced leader.
Qualities as Captain:
Looking at how Ajinkya Rahane has led the Indian side, RR, and the Mumbai Ranji team before, one can see that he has the experience and a thoughtful approach to leadership.
With his careful planning and wise decisions, rather than being flashy or relying purely on instinct, he can help the team stay more stable.
He makes everyone on the team feel very inclusive by often consulting with senior players and key bowlers before making final decisions.
He has a knack for understanding different player personalities, which helps him create an environment where each player feels valued and respected.
With his new stint in KKR as captain, he can strike a perfect balance between traditional cricket wisdom and the fast-paced demands of T20.
RR: Sanju Samson (The Expressive Innovator)
One of the few success stories in the Indian Premier League is Rajasthan Royals, with Sanju Samson as its captain. When RR trusted the young Sanju Samson, who was not a regular in the national side, he repaid that trust by leading the team to the Playoffs in two out of four seasons.
Qualities as Captain:
As an energetic and dynamic personality on the field, Sanju has always been bold in making decisions, whether it’s supporting and backing youngsters or taking calculated risks during bowling changes.
He often engages in animated discussions and communicates openly with his teammates.
One of his key strengths is his ability to encourage unconventional approaches when the team needs them. He leads by example with aggressive batting at the top of the order.
As a wicketkeeper, he also has an edge in reading batsmen’s intentions.
MI: Hardik Pandya (The Assertive Energizer)
What stands out most about Hardik Pandya is his passion for the game. Even though it can sometimes be seen in his emotional reactions, it shows how much he wants to win. This fits the vision the Mumbai Indians management has for their team, and they must have believed there was no one better than the younger Pandya brother for the captaincy role after Rohit Sharma.
Qualities as Captain:
Hardik Pandya’s captaincy is all about boldness, energy, and impact.
His body language reflects his immense confidence in himself and his teammates, and his performances under pressure never fail to inspire.
He’s known for making quick decisions. As an aggressive lower-order batter, he always looks for the balls that could win games with the bat, instead of playing it safe.
As an all-rounder, he understands both batting and bowling, which helps him better relate to players’ perspectives.
I would call Hardik a modern captain who can adapt well to the pressure of high-paced T20 cricket and align with MI’s strategy to win it all.
GT: Shubman Gill (The Cerebral Prodigy)
One challenge with a calm-minded leader is that it can be difficult to bring order if they lack authority over their team. Shubman Gill’s inexperience was evident in his first year as captain, but hopefully, this won’t be the case for the Gujarat Titans this year. His retention shows the team’s trust in him, and it’s expected that this faith will be repaid.
Qualities as Captain:
As one of the youngest captains in the league, Gill brings a combination of thoughtful and analytical leadership.
His calmness and growth as a player over the last few years have been immense, and his demeanour is impressive for his age.
What stood out in Gill’s captaincy last year was his ability to make the right bowling changes and field placements. Now, he returns as a player who has been part of the ICC Champions Trophy-winning team, and that experience will only help him grow further as a captain.
He fosters a collaborative atmosphere, always keeping the team’s success in mind.
As a solid opening batsman and captain, his role is to build the innings and put the team in a winning position.
While he’s still growing as a leader, Gill has the potential to significantly shape the future of the Gujarat franchise.
DC: Axar Patel (The New Visionary)
Though we have seen very little of Axar Patel’s captaincy so far in the tournament, his nature suggests that he will be a leader with calm and composure. We’ve seen him work magic on the field as a batter, bowler, and fielder—so why not as a captain?
Qualities as Captain:
He’s not someone who is vocal or makes a lot of noise from the sidelines, but he is definitely the kind of leader who commands respect from his players.
His friendly nature can help foster strong partnerships on and off the field within the team.
As an all-rounder who can bat in the middle order, he can let his performances do the talking.
He is starting now, and we will have to wait and see how he handles field setting and bowling changes throughout the 2025 edition.
This is what Abhishek Porel, the DC wicketkeeper-batter has to say about Axar, when asked during a select media interaction, “Axar bhai has been with Delhi Capitals for the last 3-4 (7) years, so he knows everything. He is a good choice. It’s good for us too. He is like a big brother and has helped me a lot, both on and off the field. He is funny off the field and focused on the field. I am really excited to play under him, and I am sure DC will win a trophy under his captaincy.”
RCB: Rajat Patidar (The Rising Leader)
Rajat Patidar is still finding his feet as a captain, but there are already glimpses of his potential as a leader.
Qualities as Captain:
Looking at his approach, it is clear that he is calm, composed, and level-headed—which is crucial when you have legendary names like Virat Kohli on the team.
The sharp cricketing mind he possesses must be the reason why he has been trusted to lead a side with such a remarkable tradition and a huge fan base.
The new RCB captain should focus on building a strong, collaborative team environment where everyone feels supported.
Given his early success as a player, it’s exciting to see how Rajat Patidar will evolve as a captain. It will also be interesting to see how he leads a team filled with dreams and exciting players as the 2025 season progresses.
Looking Ahead
IPL is not just about the Sixes and Yorkers but also the strategic battles that teams undergo on and off the field during the two months span. The captains play a big role in that. Unlike other sports, captains are the show-runners in cricket.
The ones who can adapt their leadership style to ever-changing situations often succeed. It is crucial to know when to trust in numbers and when to go with their instincts.
Let’s see who comes out with the success this time!
Read Now: IPL 2025 Complete Teams – Players Lists
