With IPL 2025 now underway, cricket fans are buzzing about which teams look most likely to lift the trophy on May 25. After a busy auction season and some smart retentions, a few franchises have built squads that stand out from the rest. Let’s look at the five teams with the strongest squads this season with Kheloexch.
1. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
The 2016 champions have assembled a formidable squad with explosive batting power that could rewrite T20 records. SRH’s biggest strength lies in their batting lineup, which has been described as having “brute force till No.6”. The combination of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma at the top, followed by Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, and Nitish Kumar Reddy creates a lineup capable of hitting 300 in an innings.
Their bowling attack, though sometimes overlooked, is surprisingly well-rounded. Pat Cummins leads the charge with his experience and leadership, supported by the additions of Mohammed Shami and Harshal Patel. In the spin department, they’ve added Adam Zampa and Rahul Chahar to provide variety and control.
Captain Pat Cummins brings exceptional all-round capabilities, with both batting and bowling indices above 50, giving the team tactical flexibility. With Heinrich Klaasen retained for a whopping ₹23 crore, SRH have invested heavily in maintaining their core strengths.
The only potential weakness for SRH might be their bench strength, as they’ve invested heavily in their starting XI. Additionally, while their bowlers are fierce wicket-takers, they “have the tendency to leak big runs”, which could be problematic if their batting doesn’t fire.
2. Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Punjab Kings have had their share of tough seasons, but this time around, they’ve put together a team that actually looks like it could go all the way. With Shreyas Iyer stepping up as captain, a lot of people are calling this PBKS squad the most balanced in the IPL.
Their batting lineup has something for everyone. Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya can blast off from the start, while Shreyas Iyer keeps things steady in the middle. But the real game-changer? Their all-rounders.
With players like Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Marco Jansen, they’ve got depth in batting and plenty of bowling options, no matter the pitch or situation.
The bowling’s looking sharp too. Arshdeep Singh leads the fast bowlers, teamed up with Lockie Ferguson’s serious pace and Marco Jansen’s versatility. For spin, grabbing Yuzvendra Chahal might just be the move of the season, and Harpreet Brar’s there to back him up solidly.
What’s got everyone excited about PBKS this year is how their big names are firing. Omarzai, Josh Inglis, and Shreyas Iyer have been in top form lately—way better than what you’d have guessed from the auction. They’re looking like a team to watch.
3. Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals have built a squad that feels like a great mix of old hands and young guns, with Axar Patel taking the reins as captain. Their bowling, in particular, looks like it could cause some serious trouble this season.
Mitchell Starc is leading the pace attack, and he’s got a solid crew with Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, and Mohit Sharma—all dependable Indian quicks. On the spin side, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav can lock down eight overs between them, and they’re tough to get away.
The batting’s got some real heavy hitters—Faf du Plessis, KL Rahul, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Tristan Stubbs. The only thing is, they’re stacked with top-order guys, so someone might have to shift down the lineup, which could get tricky.
Still, with that kind of bowling strength and batting talent, DC seem like they’re in a good spot to do better than before and maybe even make a run for the trophy.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
The defending champs, KKR, have kept the heart of their winning team together, which gives them a real edge going into this season. What makes them stand out is their deep batting lineup and having two guys in the top seven who can bowl their full four overs.
Up top, you’ve got Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh—a mix that’s got both firepower and a steady hand. Then there’s Andre Russell, who can turn games with his big hitting lower down, making KKR’s batting one of the scariest in the tournament.
Their bowling’s not bad either. Varun Chakravarthy brings his tricky spin, Anrich Nortje adds lightning pace, and young Harshit Rana’s starting to make a name for himself. Throw in Narine and Russell, who can both bowl their overs, and KKR’s got options for days.
The one thing people are wondering about is their new captain, Ajinkya Rahane. He’s not a lock for the XI based purely on runs, but with the core of last year’s winning squad still there, KKR look like they’ve got a solid shot at defending their title.
5. Gujarat Titans (GT)
Gujarat Titans might not be everyone’s top pick before the tournament started, but they’ve quietly built a squad that could surprise a lot of folks. Their bowling, especially, looks like it could cause headaches for any batting side.
The spinners are led by Rashid Khan, who’s as good as it gets, with Glenn Phillips, R Sai Kishore, and Washington Sundar backing him up. On the pace side, they’ve got a killer combo—Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj bring the experience, while Prasidh Krishna and Gerald Coetzee add some young energy.
For batting, picking up Jos Buttler to team up with captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan gives them a top three that’s tough to crack. The middle order might not have the same punch, but Glenn Phillips and Rahul Tewatia are the kind of players who can close out a chase or push the score late.
GT won it all back in 2022, so they know what it takes. With this well-put-together squad, they could definitely be in the mix for another trophy this time around.
Summing Up
As the tournament unfolds, injuries and player form will naturally influence which teams reach the playoffs. But if we’re looking purely at squad strength, five teams stand out as the ones most likely to go the distance in IPL 2025.
What’s making this season especially interesting is how these top teams have gone about putting their lineups together. SRH has loaded up on aggressive batsmen, PBKS has aimed for a well-rounded mix, DC has prioritized a solid bowling attack, KKR has stuck to their proven strategy, and GT has built a versatile squad with strength across the board.
That said, while these five teams might look the best on paper, the IPL has a way of proving that auctions don’t win titles. It’ll come down to how well the players gel, the choices captains make, and who steps up when the stakes are high. With the tournament now underway, it’ll be exciting to see if these strong squads can turn their potential into results when it counts. The final on May 25 will show who comes out on top. Stay updated with Kheloexch360
