The Indian Premier League (IPL) is about to get underway with its 18th edition on March 22. And as has been the case, the best cricketers will be in action for two months.
Some are in great touch, while others have points to prove. Whatever the reason, everyone would like to make an impact with their performances.
And here are five players who can potentially have stellar outings in IPL 2025. So watch out for them!
KL Rahul
KL Rahul will be seen in new colours in IPL 2025 after spending three seasons with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). He was the captain of the franchise and a lead batter.
LSG managed to break into the playoffs in their first two seasons, but they crashed out of the league stage last year. And thus the franchise decided to let go of Rahul.
The main factor behind parting ways with LSG was his batting. Rahul has scored a big chunk of runs, but his strike rate has been a concern. Many have pointed out that.
And now, with no captaincy responsibility, Rahul might address the issue. Plus, he is also coming in with a considerable form with the bat. So he would look forward to continuing the momentum while revamping his batting style.
Ishan Kishan
Like Rahul, Ishan Kishan will also don a new jersey this season. Last year, he turned up for Mumbai Indians (MI), but a below-par performance meant the franchise didn’t retain him.
On top of that, the keeper-batter has been out of favour of the Indian squad since late 2023.
Barring a few IPL seasons, Kishan hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations. On many occasions, he failed to provide explosive starts, which would have made a huge difference.
As Kishan begins the new season, he has a lot to prove. The Jharkhand batter will have the company of fellow left-handers – Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma – who had fiery outings last season.
Kishan would like to emulate their performance and hopefully redeem his spot in the Indian setup.
Also Read | IPL 2025 Orange Cap: Predicting Top 5 Run-Scorers
Noor Ahmad
Noor Ahmad is one spinner who is in high demand in the T20 franchise circuit. Like his fellow countrymen, he is hoping from one league to another, catching batters off guard.
The young Afghanistan spinner has also made a mark in the IPL. He represented Gujarat Titans (GT) and picked up 24 wickets in two seasons while bowling in tandem with Rashid Khan.
Now this year, Noor will turn up for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). And given CSK play on the spin-conducive Chepauk pitches, the left-arm wrist spinner could play a crucial role.
Noor will join forces with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to spin a web around batters.
Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill is among the top batters from India right now. But he hasn’t quite sealed his spot in all three formats for India.
The right-hand batter faces a lot of competition to break in as a permanent opener after nailing down his positions in Test and ODI setups.
Gill’s stellar outing in IPL 2023, where he accumulated 890 runs, seemed like a gateway to the T20I squad. But an inferior 2024 season, perhaps due to the captaincy duties, pushed him down the pecking order.
Now Gill is coming on the back of good form in IPL 2025. And he would like to use that as a platform to build on a memorable season.
Hardik Pandya
After returning to his first IPL franchise, Hardik Pandya had a below-average season last year. There were quite a few factors behind it, from the captaincy handover to the dull team environment. The all-rounder couldn’t quite deliver as a captain and a player.
But Pandya has bounced back from the gloomy period. He was crucial in India lifting the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy within nine months.
And Pandya would like to add another trophy to his name by the time the IPL ends. He will aim to contribute with both bat and ball and write his redemption story.
Read Next | How Player Trade Works in the IPL?
