IPL 2025: 5 teams likely to get new skippers after auction for the biggest T20 league

Since the beginning of the IPL in 2008, some of the biggest and most able names in cricket have led their teams as captains. 

From MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir, and David Warner are a few of the longest-serving IPL captains who played a huge part in the game.

Ahead of the 2025 edition of the famed T20 league, its franchises will meet on November 24 and 25 for the IPL mega-auction. 

In the run-up, here are those teams out of the competing 10 that are likely to have new skippers.

1) Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): At 40 years of age, Faf du Plessis is in the latter part of his career. While he gave a decent performance in IPL 2024, Royal Challengers Bengaluru is likely aiming to build a younger team.

As such, they have released du Plessis from the team and are currently without a named captain.

Following the upcoming auction, Virat Kohli is likely to take over as RCB captain for IPL 2025 due to his leadership experience and on-field performance.

2) Delhi Capitals (DC): The franchise recently released Rishabh Pant, their 2024 skipper, ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.

Despite his impressive track record, including 3248 runs from 111 matches in the IPL, the franchise felt his T20 game and captaincy were not up to the mark.

Going into the next season, DC may be looking to book Axar Patel as their new captain. Accordingly, another likely name doing the rounds is Shreyas Iyer.

3) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Kolkata Knight Riders decided not to retain Shreyas Iyer ahead of the IPL 2025 auctions.

Although the 2024 skipper led the side to a win in their final clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, a reportedly mutual decision between the team management and Iyer, had him released, leaving KKR without a captain.

Now, name of Andre Russell, a key player of the team, is doing the rounds as the likely new skipper in IPL 2025.

4) Punjab Kings (PBKS): In IPL 2024, Shikhar Dhawan led the Punjab Kings as their skipper. However, following an illness, he opted out and Sam Curran replaced him for the remainder of the last season.

Furthermore, Dhawan will not be returning as PBKS' captain for IPL 2025 as he has retired from cricket.

The team will seek a new candidate in this mega-auction, who could likely be Rishabh Pant, former skipper of Delhi Capitals.

5) Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): Lucknow Super Giants may see Nicholas Pooran take over as the new captain following the exit of KL Rahul.

Despite his usual consistent performance, Rahul’s strike rate fell below 135 during the last season, and the team, too, finished 7th in IPL 2024 with 14 points. Such disappointments reportedly forced the team to release him.

A new skipper will also allow LSG a fresh start and the management’s focus on young players during the IPL 2025 auction.