IPL 2025 has already delivered a dose of drama, disruption, and high-octane cricket. What began with packed stadiums and breakout performances was quickly interrupted by unexpected geopolitical tensions that forced a temporary halt to the tournament. Now, with a revised schedule in place and play set to resume, the stage is once again set for a thrilling run to the playoffs.

Despite the pause, momentum still matters — and some franchises are better placed than others to carry it forward. Others will see the break as a much-needed chance to reset. With a handful of matches remaining before the knockout stage, every over, decision, and tactical adjustment is set to have amplified consequences.

This article presents a team-by-team breakdown of IPL 2025, highlighting key players, mid-season form, and what each side needs to do to book their spot in the playoffs. From powerhouse squads to struggling line-ups hoping for a turnaround, we’ll assess which teams have the depth, balance, and belief to push through — and who might just fall short.

As the tournament resumes, one thing is certain: IPL 2025 is far from done writing its story — and it’s shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable editions yet.

1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Chennai Super Kings entered IPL 2025 with a transitional squad and plenty of questions surrounding leadership and consistency. With MS Dhoni no longer active, Ruturaj Gaikwad has taken over as captain — and while the franchise hasn’t collapsed, it hasn’t found top gear either.

CSK’s batting has been reliant on Ruturaj, Shivam Dube, and the ever-dangerous Moeen Ali, while the likes of Rachin Ravindra have offered glimpses of brilliance. However, their bowling has lacked bite, particularly in the powerplay. Injuries to key pacers and a lack of wicket-taking options in the middle overs have held them back.

With matches left against top-table sides, Chennai will need to rediscover their tactical sharpness and rely on home conditions at Chepauk to gain points. Their qualification chances hang in the balance — but no team should count them out, especially with playoff pedigree on their side.

In IPL 2025, CSK feels like a team in flux — capable of brilliance, but still searching for its next dominant identity.

2. Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Rajasthan Royals look like one of the most complete teams of IPL 2025. Their top order — featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, and Sanju Samson — has consistently set aggressive platforms, while their bowling unit has been the best in the competition so far.

The real star, however, has been Riyan Parag, whose transformation from fringe batter to reliable match-winner has been central to their success. On the bowling side, Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal have led with experience, while Avesh Khan has chipped in with crucial spells.

RR have executed their match-ups smartly, rotated bowlers well, and maintained fielding standards — all signs of a confident, in-form unit. Their only concern may be middle-order stability if early wickets fall, but so far, they’ve handled pressure brilliantly.

As IPL 2025 resumes, Rajasthan looks like a solid bet for the playoffs — and maybe even a shot at a second title if they keep their core players fit and firing.

3. Mumbai Indians (MI)

Mumbai Indians started slowly — again — but are slowly finding their rhythm. Under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, the team has begun to evolve into a flexible, punchy unit that can bat deep and bowl aggressively.

Suryakumar Yadav has returned to form at the right time, while Tilak Varma and Tim David continue to grow as finishers. The real X-factor, however, has been Jasprit Bumrah, who has looked unplayable in the death overs and key in the powerplay. His economy and wickets are keeping MI competitive even when totals look below par.

That said, inconsistency from Ishan Kishan and the absence of a settled spin attack are red flags. They’re a team that can chase 200 one night and collapse for 130 the next. Mumbai’s playoff hopes will hinge on finding that middle ground and not leaving it all to Bumrah and SKY.

In IPL 2025, MI are still dangerous — but they’ll need a strong final leg to convert a mid-table run into a top-four finish.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Kolkata Knight Riders have been one of the most exciting teams to watch in IPL 2025, blending flair with unpredictability. Under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, they’ve been aggressive in approach, especially with the bat, but that same boldness has occasionally backfired.

Phil Salt has lit up the top order with high-impact knocks, while Rinku Singh continues to thrive as one of the league’s best finishers. With Andre Russell regaining form and fitness, KKR possess real firepower in the lower middle order. However, inconsistency from Venkatesh Iyer and a lack of depth in spin have raised concerns.

Bowling-wise, Sunil Narine remains a reliable asset, and Harshit Rana has shown potential, but the lack of a world-class Indian pacer is starting to hurt in tight matches. Their fielding has improved, but discipline with the ball remains an issue.

KKR are hovering around the mid-table and must string together back-to-back wins to make a serious playoff push. If their batting clicks more consistently, they can still be a threat in the final stages of IPL 2025 — but the margin for error is shrinking fast.

5. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Lucknow Super Giants are a team of moments rather than momentum so far in IPL 2025. While they boast an exciting squad, they’ve struggled to build rhythm across multiple games. Captain KL Rahul has been solid at the top but hasn’t quite set the tempo that modern T20 requires.

Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran have provided powerful cameos, but their middle-order performances have lacked consistency. Ayush Badoni and Deepak Hooda have also yet to make the kind of impact that LSG need in pressure situations.

Their bowling has been a mixed bag. Mark Wood’s raw pace is thrilling but often expensive, while Ravi Bishnoi’s spin remains crucial in middle overs. Death bowling, however, continues to be a headache — with no standout performer consistently closing games.

LSG aren’t out of the playoff race, but they’ll need a strong surge post-resumption. Improved intent from the top order and more aggressive match-ups with the ball could be key. If they can find balance, they might just sneak into the top four — but in IPL 2025, inconsistency could easily be their undoing.

6. Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals entered IPL 2025 with renewed hope — especially with Rishabh Pant making his much-anticipated return. While his presence has lifted team morale, the results on the field have been a rollercoaster.

Pant has looked solid with the bat and sharp behind the stumps, but the Capitals’ top order has underdelivered. Prithvi Shaw and David Warner have struggled for fluency, and the team often finds itself recovering from poor powerplay starts. In contrast, Jake Fraser-McGurk, a breakout revelation, has provided firepower and should be promoted up the order.

On the bowling front, Anrich Nortje’s pace and Kuldeep Yadav’s guile have been the bright spots. But DC’s lack of depth in all-round options and their tendency to lose control during death overs remain serious concerns.

DC will need to win almost every remaining match to make the playoffs. If Pant can inspire a turnaround and the batting order starts to click, there’s still a narrow path forward. But as it stands, their IPL 2025 campaign is teetering on the edge — one more loss could end the race entirely.

7. Gujarat Titans (GT)

After a fairytale debut season in 2022 and a strong follow-up, Gujarat Titans have faced a rougher ride in IPL 2025. The departure of Hardik Pandya to Mumbai Indians left a void in leadership and team identity, and while Shubman Gill has taken over as captain with composure, the team has lacked its previous ruthlessness.

Sai Sudharsan and David Miller have held the batting together, but the absence of consistent top-order runs has exposed their lower middle order. Rahul Tewatia remains a finisher to fear, but hasn’t had many chances to control chases or rescue collapses.

The bowling has leaned heavily on Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan, both of whom continue to deliver. But without Pandya’s overs and with Alzarri Joseph blowing hot and cold, the attack lacks flexibility in crunch moments.

GT are still in the mix, but they don’t look like title favourites this time. To stay alive in IPL 2025, they’ll need their senior players to lift and for Gill’s captaincy to turn bold rather than safe.

8. Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Punjab Kings have become synonymous with underachievement, and IPL 2025 has unfortunately continued that trend. Despite a squad packed with talent, they’ve lacked consistency and failed to close out games that were within reach.

Shikhar Dhawan’s captaincy has brought calm, but not the spark required to inspire match-turning moments. Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone have had flashes of brilliance, but their strike rotation and middle-order stability have been major concerns. Jitesh Sharma has looked promising, but hasn’t consistently finished games.

With the ball, Arshdeep Singh continues to impress at the death, and Kagiso Rabada has shown patches of form. Yet, Punjab’s bowling unit remains one-dimensional, often unable to defend par scores or pick wickets in the middle overs.

Unless they pull off a near-perfect second half, PBKS are likely to miss the playoffs again. Their problem isn’t talent — it’s execution. Until that changes, their role in IPL 2025 may be more about disrupting others than chasing their own trophy dreams.

9. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Sunrisers Hyderabad have been bold, brash, and borderline chaotic in IPL 2025 — and that’s made them one of the most entertaining sides to watch. Under new leadership, they’ve committed to an aggressive brand of cricket, but that approach has brought mixed results.

Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head have formed one of the most dangerous opening pairs this season, often giving SRH flying starts. But the middle order has lacked control, with Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen both struggling to convert starts into match-winning knocks.

Bowling has been their biggest Achilles’ heel. While T Natarajan has delivered solid spells, their overseas pace options have been expensive, and the spin attack has lacked penetration — particularly on flatter pitches.

SRH’s playoff hopes are slim but mathematically alive. They’ll need their batting firepower to cover up bowling vulnerabilities and hope to win shootouts rather than low-scoring scraps. In IPL 2025, they’ve brought the chaos — but it’s yet to translate into consistency.

10. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Another season, same storyline — RCB’s campaign in IPL 2025 has been defined by big names and bigger frustrations. Despite a star-studded top order featuring Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, and Glenn Maxwell, the team has failed to convert strong starts into victories.

Kohli has been consistent, and Dinesh Karthik has played a few vintage cameos, but the middle order has collapsed too often under pressure. Rajat Patidar and Mahipal Lomror have had limited impact, and the team lacks a dependable finisher in close contests.

The bowling has been their bigger concern. Mohammed Siraj has lacked rhythm, Reece Topley has been underwhelming, and the spin department has been both expensive and ineffective. Without wicket-taking threat in the middle overs, RCB have found it tough to defend even competitive totals.

RCB are near the bottom of the table and staring at another early exit. For fans who keep hoping this will be their year, IPL 2025 is shaping up to be yet another reminder that talent without cohesion rarely brings titles.

IPL 2025 Match Results and Points Table

As of May 12, 2025, the IPL 2025 season has witnessed intense competition, with teams battling for playoff spots. Below is a summary of the match results and the current standings.

Selected Match Results

Note: This table includes a selection of matches for brevity. For a complete list of fixtures and results, please refer to the official IPL website.

Current Points Table

Note: The Net Run Rate (NRR) is a crucial factor in determining rankings when teams have equal points.

Conclusion: Who Holds the Edge as IPL 2025 Resumes?

With the league set to resume following its unexpected mid-season pause, IPL 2025 is more open than ever. While teams like Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders look well-balanced and in form, others — like Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals — will view the break as a chance to regroup and surge.

What remains clear is that no team can afford to coast. With only a handful of league games left, every point is critical, and even net run rate may decide playoff fates. Leadership, bench strength, and match awareness will separate contenders from pretenders.

From title favourites to potential spoilers, each side has something to play for. And as always with the IPL, expect drama, late twists, and new heroes to emerge just when you least expect it.

No matter where your allegiance lies, IPL 2025 promises a thrilling finish — and perhaps, a new chapter in the league’s rich legacy.