IPL 2025: Top 3 frontrunners to win the title this season

If the mega auction was any indication, IPL 2025 is not poised to have clear favorites. While some teams retained their core, others underwent a complete overhaul at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Irrespective of the approach adopted ahead of the 18th edition, almost every team looks balanced as they gear up to commence the title chase. In a competition featuring 10 teams, however, equilibrium rarely lasts, with top performers making the difference. From previous trends to current squad strength, let's take a look at the teams that appear slightly ahead of the rest in the race to win the IPL 2025 title.

Who are the leading contenders to win IPL 2025?

IPL 2024 noted the trend of batters going berserk, with every second match showcasing a score past 200. With an attacking approach in the powerplay, the likes of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders set the standard. With the impact player rule still intact, the trend of batters dominating the IPL looks here to stay. Now, for a team to be deemed a favorite to win the title, multiple factors come into play, from home advantage to the form of players. The team with all the cogs working in sync makes rapid strides to leave an impact. This year as well, there's a clear view of the teams that hold the advantage, with their players in form, a strengthened squad, and a favorable match schedule.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad first stunned with an explosive opening pair in Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head and then maintained to keep up their form across the run. The 2016 winners batted their way through the league stage and the playoffs to set up the final against Kolkata Knight Riders. While they lost on the title, the management identified their strength as the core was retained ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.  The likes of Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins, and Travis Head are all set to don the orange jersey again.

Moreover, their picks from the mega auction only add into their strengths with Ishan Kishan amping up the firepower in the batting order. In the bowling unit, meanwhile, SRH added Adam Zampa, Mohammed Shami, and Rahul Chahar, quality picks to bolster both the spin and seam lineups. Harshal Patel, the purple cap winner last season is now also in the SRH squad. In 2024, SRH turned their 20-over batting innings into a six-hitting spectacle. Now, with an even more explosive lineup and a successful template from last season, there’s little reason for them to change their approach. Moreover, with Pat Cummins at the helm as the captain, SRH doesn't look lacking in any aspect as they gear up for IPL 2025. 

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians have not witnessed the things aligning favorably for them over the last few seasons, despite being the most successful team in the league along with CSK. However, with the ghosts of the last year drama now brushed away, MI looks perched on the patch of excellence. Rohit Sharma, who was replaced as MI’s captain before the 2024 season in favor of Hardik Pandya, went on to guide India to two ICC trophies, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest white-ball leaders. Pandya, once at the center of controversy, played key roles in both triumphs and remains MI’s captain in 2025.

Suryakumar Yadav now looks comfortable as India’s T20I skipper, and Jasprit Bumrah, as always, continues to deliver match-winning performances. While Bumrah remains doubtful to play, MI further homes reliable pace options, as they brought back Trent Boult in the mega auction. Moreover, their overseas have plenty of firepower. Mitchell Santner, Ryan Rickelton, and Will Jacks bring quality and could prove vital. Deepak Chahar, eager to revive his form, might find Mumbai the perfect setting for his resurgence. With the likes of captain Pandya, Rohit, SKY, and Tilak in their top form, MI looks strong enough to redeem their standings this time around.

Chennai Super Kings

Would be a travesty to not mention Chennai Super Kings here, just by an eye on the splendid records the team has in entering the playoffs and the final. IPL started in 2008 but 2020 was the first time for the IPL playoffs to not feature CSK in the Top 4. In the 17 seasons of IPL, CSK has played 12 playoffs and has managed to convert those 12 appearances into 10 finals. The unmatched records of the five-time champions projects them as one of the leading contenders for the playoffs yet again. 

In this season, with seven games at Chepauk, a venue that remains a fortress, CSK’s spin-heavy attack featuring Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, and Noor Ahmad is well-equipped for the slow surfaces. Their batting may not look as intimidating as other teams, but their ability to assess and chase par scores with minimal fuss has been a trademark strategy. Additionally, CSK have a reputation for extracting the best from their squad, something most franchises struggle with. Players like Deepak Hooda, Devon Conway, Khaleel Ahmed, Rahul Tripathi, Sam Curran, and Vijay Shankar, all of whom could use a career boost, might find themselves thriving under CSK’s system. Ruturaj Gaikwad now has a season of captaincy experience under his belt, and this could be the year he truly stamps his authority as CSK’s leader in the IPL.