In the IPL 2025 Auction, all 10 franchises are keen to strengthen their squads with top-tier players. Notably, several teams have released their captains and are now in search of strong leadership. Royal Challengers Bangalore parted ways with Faf du Plessis, Lucknow Super Giants ended their association with KL Rahul, and following Shikhar Dhawan’s retirement, Punjab Kings are also in search of a new captain.
Released captains are likely to draw interest from other franchises as possible captaincy options. Teams in need of experienced leaders may target these players, capitalizing on their proven records. In addition, some franchises might look to new candidates for a leadership role, offering first-time captaincy stints to young talents. In this article, let’s discuss five potential captaincy options available in the IPL 2025 Auction.
1. Rishabh Pant (PBKS)
This year, Delhi Capitals ended their eight-year relationship with Rishabh Pant, who made his IPL debut for the franchise in 2016. In 2021, he was appointed captain, and his leadership journey was impressive. Under his captaincy, DC excelled in IPL 2021, finishing at the top of the points table after winning ten league matches. However, they were unable to reach the final, losing both qualifier matches. Since that season, Delhi Capitals have struggled, failing to qualify for the playoffs in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Rishabh Pant is expected to attract huge bids in the IPL 2025 auction. He can contribute to the team in three ways: as a captain, wicketkeeper, and batsman. Punjab Kings’ head coach, Ricky Ponting has hinted that they will target Rishabh Pant. Both Ponting and Pant share a good bond; while their partnership at Delhi Capitals may not have worked out, they could achieve success together at Punjab Kings.
2. KL Rahul (RCB)
KL Rahul has been captaining in the IPL since 2020. He led Punjab Kings in 2020 and 2021, before taking over as captain for Lucknow Super Giants for the next three seasons. His captaincy record with LSG has been quite commendable, as the team made it to the playoffs in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. However, the 2024 season did not go as well for him, and reports suggest that there were some disagreements between him and the LSG franchise. Following these issues, he decided to part ways with the franchise.
Rumors have emerged that RCB is targeting KL Rahul as a potential captain for the upcoming IPL season. Born in Bengaluru, Rahul began his IPL career with RCB in 2013 and is well-acquainted with the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where he began his cricket journey. Rejoining RCB would provide the perfect setting for Rahul, allowing him to thrive in a home environment. The chance to represent his home franchise could serve as a major source of motivation for him.
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3. Shreyas Iyer (LSG)
Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to the IPL 2024 title, was surprisingly not retained by the franchise. Reports suggest that this decision was made by Iyer himself, as he wants to explore his market value in the IPL 2025 Auction. With his entry into the auction, huge bids are expected for him.
Lucknow Super Giants might be eyeing Iyer, especially after releasing KL Rahul and seeking a new captain. While Nicholas Pooran is also a strong captaincy candidate, LSG is likely to prioritize an Indian captain, and there’s no better option than the defending IPL champion, Shreyas Iyer.
