The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League will be remembered not just for Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally breaking their title drought, but for the incredible individual brilliance that lit up the tournament. From seasoned legends to teenage prodigies, IPL 2025 was a showcase of elite talent and game-defining moments. With batters rewriting scoring records and bowlers mastering pressure situations, this season gave fans a Dream XI that perfectly captured the drama, flair, and unpredictability of T20 cricket. Here’s a closer look at the standout performers who not only owned the stats sheets but also shaped the narrative of one of the most memorable IPL seasons.
1. Sai Sudharsan
In a season filled with towering sixes and dramatic finishes, it was the understated elegance of Sai Sudharsan that stood tall. The Gujarat Titans opener emerged as the Orange Cap winner of IPL 2025, amassing 759 runs in 15 innings at a remarkable average of 54.21 and an imposing strike rate of 156.17. What stood out was not just the volume of runs, but the manner in which he accumulated them — calculated, composed, and classically correct.
The 23-year-old left-hander scored one century and six 50s, showing maturity beyond his years. His game wasn’t built on brute power but on timing and placement. With 88 boundaries across the tournament, Sudharsan maintained a rate of nearly six fours per game. His ability to keep the scoreboard ticking while maintaining composure under pressure marked him as a true asset to the Titans.
Whether it was his crucial knock against Rajasthan Royals or the measured anchor role against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Sudharsan proved to be the Titans’ batting backbone. For purists and modern fans alike, he was a joy to watch — a reminder that technique and temperament still hold value in T20 cricket.
2. Virat Kohli
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and their talismanic No. 18, the long-awaited glory arrived at last. Virat Kohli, in his 18th IPL season, finally lifted the trophy that had eluded him for nearly two decades. And true to character, he didn’t just play — he led with the bat, accumulating 657 runs at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71.
Kohli hit eight half-centuries in 15 innings, continuing his remarkable streak of 600+ runs in three consecutive seasons. His partnership with Phil Salt was foundational to RCB’s powerplay success, with Salt taking the attacking route and Kohli anchoring with elegance. In the final, it was Kohli who steadied the ship with a composed 43 off 35 balls, laying the foundation for a defendable total before the bowlers stepped in.
Kohli’s contributions this season also came in crunch moments: a match-winning 76 not out against Delhi Capitals (DC), a composed 62 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and crucial cameos under pressure. At 36, his hunger remains undiminished, and in IPL 2025, he closed a long-running chapter with a triumphant flourish.
3. Mitchell Marsh
Mitchell Marsh may have played for a misfiring Lucknow Super Giants outfit, but his individual brilliance was impossible to overlook. The big-hitting Aussie was a nightmare for bowlers during the Powerplay, racing away to 627 runs in just 13 games. His strike rate of 163.70 was among the highest in the tournament, and his season featured one century and six 50s.
Marsh’s ability to muscle the ball over the infield with effortless ease gave LSG much-needed aggression up front. He started the campaign with four 50s in five games and ended it with a century and two more 50s in his final three outings. Even when LSG faltered as a unit, Marsh ensured they were competitive with the bat.
His standout knock came against Rajasthan Royals (RR) — a brutal 102 off just 53 balls — where he single-handedly took the game away despite little support. Beyond just numbers, it was the fear factor Marsh brought to the crease that set him apart. Fielding captains had to rethink their strategies every time he walked in.
4. Shreyas Iyer
Few captains have made as strong a leadership case in recent IPL history as Shreyas Iyer. Having previously led DC and Kolkata Knight Riders to finals, the 2025 season saw him work his magic with Punjab Kings (PBKS) —guiding them to their first final in 11 years.
Iyer was more than just a tactical brain. With 604 runs at a blistering strike rate of 175.07, he led from the front. Six 50s, a high score of 87 off 41 in the Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians (MI), and a season tally of 39 sixes cemented his reputation as a complete package. He wasn’t just a captain; he was the team’s best batter and motivator-in-chief.
Though the final didn’t go his way, Iyer earned praise from fans and pundits alike. To captain three franchises to the IPL final in five years is a feat of its own. That he did so while being one of the tournament’s most destructive batters speaks volumes.
5. Suryakumar Yadav
In IPL 2025, Suryakumar Yadav turned the ordinary into the extraordinary — and did it with consistency never seen before in a non-opener. Mumbai Indians’ batting maestro racked up a staggering 717 runs in 16 matches, averaging 65 with a jaw-dropping strike rate of 167.91. His five half-centuries were just the statistical tip of an iceberg built on innovation, balance, and sheer audacity.
What made Surya’s season phenomenal was his consistency. He became the first-ever non-opening batter to cross 700 runs in a single IPL season, in the process surpassing AB de Villiers’s record of 687 in 2016. Even more impressively, he was never dismissed for less than 25 in any of his 16 innings, a feat unmatched in IPL.
He was Mumbai’s rock during a turbulent start, often arriving with the scoreboard in disarray and steering the innings with his signature ramps, scoops, and flicks. Whether it was the match-defining 81 not out against RCB or a brutal 66 off 28 balls against CSK, Suryakumar’s innings had both flair and function. Suryakumar’s dream season ensured MI made the playoffs despite early setbacks, and if not for a heartbreaking Qualifier 2 exit, he may have lifted another IPL trophy to cap off an iconic individual campaign.
6. Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler’s shift from Rajasthan Royals to Gujarat Titans raised eyebrows during the pre-season, especially given his hefty auction price tag. But as the 2025 season unfolded, the England wicketkeeper-batter proved every doubter wrong — delivering match-winning performances and bolstering the Titans’ formidable top order.
Buttler scored 538 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 163, notching up five crucial half-centuries. Though he didn’t cross the 600-run mark like some others in the Dream XI, his impact was immense — setting the tone early with Sudharsan and Gill in one of the most explosive top-orders in the league.
Known for his fearless strokeplay, Buttler combined power with precision, often targeting the opposition’s best bowlers in the first six overs. His 79 off 38 balls against KKR and a sublime 92 not out against LSG were standout innings that highlighted his ability to shift gears effortlessly.
Perhaps the biggest testament to Buttler’s value came in his absence. An untimely injury kept him out of the all-important Eliminator against Mumbai Indians — a game Titans lost narrowly. His presence at the top could well have made the difference.
With his glove work tidy and his strike rate elite, Buttler once again reminded everyone why he’s one of the most destructive batters in the modern game. For Gujarat Titans, his move was a blockbuster investment that nearly paid off with another final appearance.
7. Krunal Pandya
When Royal Challengers Bengaluru signed Krunal Pandya, it seemed like a depth move — a steady, experienced all-rounder to plug the gaps. What they got instead was a game-changer. Krunal not only brought leadership and poise to the RCB camp, but also emerged as the silent hero of their championship run.
With the ball, Krunal claimed 17 wickets at an economy of 8.23 — the best for any RCB bowler this season. More importantly, his wickets came during middle overs, when momentum shifts are most likely. In the IPL 2025 final, he produced a spell for the ages — 4-0-17-2 — breaking the back of the Punjab Kings middle order and earning Player of the Match.
Though not classified as a specialist spinner, Krunal defied expectations with subtle variations, smart fields, and relentless pressure. He consistently out-thought batters with flight and accuracy. With the bat, he chipped in with a vital half-century and crucial cameos that added stability to RCB’s lower-middle order.
Having already won two IPL titles with Mumbai Indians, Krunal added a third with RCB, cementing his status as one of the league’s most valuable utility players. He was RCB’s tactical fulcrum — bowling to match-ups, rotating strike with the bat, and mentoring younger players.
8. Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood’s impact in IPL 2025 can be summed up in one word: authority. The Australian quick was RCB’s spearhead, claiming 22 wickets in just 12 matches. More than the numbers, it was his knack for delivering in pressure moments that made him indispensable.
Hazlewood began the season on the sidelines, recovering from injury. But once fit, he bowled with venom and control, mixing seam movement with sharp bouncers. His economy rate of 8.77 might seem moderate, but most of those runs came at the death, when he bowled to set fields and hunted wickets.
His defining moment came in the Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings, when he took three for 21 in just 3.1 overs, skittling the opposition for 101 and powering RCB into the final. Though he was slightly expensive in the final, his early dismissal of Priyansh Arya was a turning point in the match.
Whether opening the bowling or returning at the death, Hazlewood’s line, length, and mental fortitude stood out. For a team desperate for silverware, he was the pillar of belief. Calm, consistent, and clinical — Hazlewood delivered exactly what RCB needed to end their 18-year wait.
9. Prasidh Krishna
After a three-year hiatus from the IPL, Prasidh Krishna returned in 2025 like he was never away — fitter, faster, and more lethal than ever. Spearheading the Gujarat Titans bowling attack, Krishna bagged the Purple Cap with 25 wickets in 15 matches, announcing his resurgence with thunderous precision.
His economy rate of just over 8.00 was commendable, considering that he often bowled the toughest overs: the first powerplay and the death. Krishna’s control of length and bounce made him a menace on flatter pitches, and his ability to deliver under pressure turned many tight games in Titans’ favour.
What made his comeback even more remarkable was the lack of a strong support cast. With Titans’ other bowlers struggling for rhythm, Krishna carried the attack alone. His mental strength and fitness after a long injury layoff added layers to his already polished game.
For Gujarat Titans, Prasidh Krishna wasn’t just a bowler. He was the heartbeat of their campaign — steady, reliable, and unrelenting.
10. Jasprit Bumrah
Every great season has its comeback hero, and IPL 2025’s was Jasprit Bumrah. After missing the first four matches, many doubted whether Bumrah could recover in time — let alone dominate. But dominate he did, spearheading Mumbai Indians’ charge to the playoffs with 18 wickets in 12 games at an astounding economy rate of 6.67.
In a format built on chaos, Bumrah brought calm. Whether it was his menacing yorker to dismiss Washington Sundar in the Eliminator or his miserly spells in crunch games, Bumrah reminded everyone why he’s the gold standard of T20 fast bowling.
His economy was the best among bowlers who bowled 10+ overs this season. His variations — slow bouncers, pinpoint yorkers, and searing pace — returned with finesse. His fitness and rhythm post-injury was a masterclass in workload management and cricketing IQ.
Bumrah didn’t just play the season — he controlled it. His leadership, death bowling, and ability to break partnerships made him MI’s most prized asset. Once again, Jasprit Bumrah proved that class is permanent, and comebacks are sweeter when crafted through resilience.
11. Noor Ahmad
For a Chennai Super Kings side that finished at the bottom of the IPL 2025 table, 20-year-old Noor Ahmad was the rare glimmer of hope. The Afghan left-arm wrist-spinner made a stunning debut for CSK, taking 24 wickets in 14 matches and earning praise from none other than M.S. Dhoni himself.
Ahmad thrived on Chennai’s slow, turning tracks, mixing his googlies with deceptive flight to confound batters. His best came early — a match-winning four for 18 against Mumbai Indians followed by a brilliant three for 36 versus RCB. Even when CSK’s campaign crumbled, Noor delivered consistently, often dragging the team into contests single-handedly.
His economy rate of 8.16 was impressive considering his attacking mindset. What made him special was his ability to bowl in powerplays and at the death — rare for a wrist-spinner. He wasn’t just playing for experience; he was making statements.
In a season of learning for CSK, Noor emerged as their most bankable asset. With Dhoni’s mentorship and tactical guidance, he matured into a bowler who could read batters, set traps, and execute with finesse.
