Ranking the top 5 captaincy options at IPL 2025 Auction ft. KL Rahul
Excitement is building as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Mega Auction approaches, set to take place on November 24-25 at the Abadi Al Johar Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With all franchises having announced their retained players, they are now focusing on strategizing for the auction and deciding where to spend their remaining budgets.
While franchises are certainly eyeing players who can deliver with bat and ball, many will also be looking for the right leader to guide their squad. The captaincy in the IPL is crucial, as it involves not just tactical decision-making but also managing high-pressure situations and maintaining team morale.
This year, several top-tier leadership candidates — both Indian and international — will be up for grabs. As the competition intensifies each season, franchises will be looking for leaders who combine tactical acumen, poise under pressure, and the ability to inspire their teams. On that note, here’s a look at the top five captaincy contenders who could make a big impact at the IPL 2025 auction.
#5 Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram joined the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2022 for INR 2.6 crores and had a solid debut season, amassing 381 runs in 14 matches, including three half-centuries. His strong leadership credentials earned him the captaincy for the 2023 season, following his success with Sunrisers Eastern Cape, whom he led to the SA20 title in 2022-23.
However, Markram’s captaincy in IPL 2023 didn’t produce the desired results. Under his leadership, SRH won just four out of 13 matches and finished at the bottom of the points table. On the flip side, Markram continued to impress in the SA20, guiding Eastern Cape to another title in the 2023-24 season, further solidifying his reputation as a capable leader in T20 cricket.
He was relieved of the SRH captaincy ahead of the 2024 edition, with Pat Cummins taking over and leading the team to the final. Markram also had a disappointing season with the bat, managing only 220 runs in 11 matches, which led to his release ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Despite a mixed record in the IPL, Markram’s leadership experience in both the SA20 and with the South African national team — where he led the Proteas to the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup — makes him an appealing option for franchises.
His ability to lead in high-pressure tournaments, combined with his versatile batting skills, positions Markram as a strong candidate for captaincy at the IPL 2025 auction. With his wealth of experience, he is likely to be one of the most sought-after players in the upcoming auction.
#4 Jos Buttler
Another high-profile player released ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction is England’s white-ball captain, Jos Buttler. Although Buttler has never captained an IPL franchise, his outstanding record with the national team and his impressive batting abilities make him a prime candidate for leadership. At 34 years old, he is expected to attract significant attention from several franchises.
Buttler led England to their second T20 World Cup title in 2022, guiding them to a victory over Pakistan in the final. He has captained England in 40 T20Is, winning 22 and losing 17, with one match ending in a no result.
In the IPL, Buttler has an exceptional track record, accumulating 3,582 runs in 107 matches at an average of 38.11. His tally includes 19 fifties and seven centuries, the second-most in IPL history, trailing only Virat Kohli (8).
His standout season came in 2022 when he scored a remarkable 863 runs in 17 matches and won the Orange Cap. Given his wealth of experience and form, Buttler is expected to be one of the most sought-after players in the upcoming auction.
#3 Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant, the dynamic Indian wicketkeeper-batter, joined the Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2016 and remained with the franchise until 2024, before deciding to part ways ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
This move came as a surprise, given the significant impact Pant had for DC over the years. He played 111 matches for the franchise, amassing 3,284 runs, including 18 fifties and one century.
Pant took over as captain in the 2021 season when regular skipper Shreyas Iyer was sidelined due to injury. Iyer returned midway through the season, but DC retained Pant as captain for the remainder of the campaign.
Under his leadership, DC reached Qualifier 2 in 2021, only to be knocked out by Kolkata Knight Riders. However, Pant's captaincy didn’t yield playoff berths in the 2022 and 2024 seasons.
Overall, Pant captained DC in 43 matches, winning 23 and losing 19. At 27 years old, Pant enters the IPL 2025 auction with a wealth of leadership experience and proven match-winning abilities with the bat. Given his credentials, it would be no surprise if the left-hander attracts a huge bid at the auction.
#2 KL Rahul
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) missed the playoffs in the 2024 season, marking their first such failure in the IPL. The season also saw a heated exchange between skipper KL Rahul and team owner Sanjiv Goenka following a loss to the SunRisers Hyderabad. As a result, Rahul has been released by the franchise ahead of the 2025 mega auction.
Although Rahul has faced some form struggles recently, his ability to dominate when in peak form remains unparalleled. He joined the Punjab Kings in 2018 and captained the team in the 2020-2021 seasons. In 27 matches as Punjab's captain, Rahul won 12 and lost 15 before moving to LSG ahead of IPL 2022.
During his three seasons with Lucknow, Rahul captained the side in 37 games, winning 20 and losing 17. With extensive leadership experience, he could be an ideal candidate for franchises like RCB or DC.
Meanwhile, his batting record is equally impressive, with 4,683 runs in 132 matches at an average of 45.47, including 37 fifties and four centuries. With Rahul’s all-round capabilities, several teams are likely to compete fiercely in the bidding war to secure him.
#1 Shreyas Iyer
It’s not often that you see a team part ways with a player who led them to a title the previous year, but that’s exactly what happened with Shreyas Iyer. The star batter has separated from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after guiding them to victory in the 2024 IPL.
Iyer began his IPL journey with Delhi Capitals in 2015 and was handed the captaincy midway through the 2018 season after Gautam Gambhir stepped down following a lackluster campaign. Iyer proved his leadership skills, taking DC to the playoffs in 2019 and then to the final in 2020, marking the franchise’s first-ever appearance in the tournament's title match.
However, an injury forced him to miss the early part of the 2021 season, with Rishabh Pant taking over as captain. Iyer led DC in 41 matches, winning 23 and losing 18, before joining KKR ahead of the 2022 season.
In his first year with the Knight Riders, Iyer was unable to guide them to the playoffs. After missing the 2023 season due to injury, he returned in 2024 and led KKR to their third IPL title. Over 29 games as KKR captain, Iyer won 17, lost 11, with one match ending in no result.
Now, as he enters the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, the 29-year-old is expected to attract a significant bid. Alongside his leadership record, his batting form has been impressive, with 3,127 runs in 115 matches, including 21 fifties. Given his all-round contributions, he’s likely to be one of the most sought-after players at the auction.