Three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are the reigning champions. So, they have huge pressure for the IPL 2025 mega auction as the team has to set up to defend their title for the IPL 2025. 

After retaining six players, four capped and two uncapped players, KKR started the IPL 2025 mega auction with a remaining purse of INR 51 crore (after an official deduction of INR 69 crore). 

Pre Auction Retentions

(Capped)

Rinku Singh (Indian): INR 13 Crore

Varun Chakravarthy (Indian): INR 12 Crore

Sunil Narine (Trinidadian): INR 12 Crore

Andre Russell (Jamaican): INR 12 Crore

(Uncapped) 

Harshit Rana (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Ramandeep Singh (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Right-to-Match (RTM) card availability for the mega auction 

None

Mega Auction Buys

Venkatesh Iyer (Indian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 23.75 crore

Anrich Nortje (South African): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 6.50 crore

Quinton de Kock (South African): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 3.60 crore

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 2 crore   

Three-time IPL winners and reigning IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) went all out in the IPL 2025 mega auction opening day to retain Venkatesh Iyer. KKR stunned by spending INR 23.75 crore for the capped Indian player. 

Although Kolkata Knight Riders didn't retain Venkatesh Iyer before the IPL 2025 auction, they bought the 29-year-old capped all-rounder for INR 23.75 crore. In the IPL 2025 mega auction, KKR were desperate for the known face, whose price IPL value has jumped huge from INR 8 crore to INR 23.75. 

LSG and RCB challenged KKR in the auction

From his base price of INR 2 crore, KKR started the bidding war with Lucknow Super Giants. After their bid ended INR 7.75 crore, Royal Challengers Bengaluru joined the battle with big bids. That intense expensive battle crossed the INR 23 crore mark, where the KKR finally won the bid. 

Iyer's IPL career

The 29-year-old Venkatesh Iyer has played all 51 IPL matches for KKR between 2021 and 2024. While the left-handed batter scored 1326 runs with an average of 31.57 and a strike rate of 137.12, including one century and 11 half-centuries, the right-arm medium pacer has bagged three wickets in his IPL career. 

During the IPL 2023, Iyer scored his most runs in an IPL edition, 404 runs in 14 innings (average of 28.86 and strike rate of 145.84), including his first IPL century. While he finished as the third leading run-scorer for his team in that season, he also finished in the same place for the IPL 2024 champions by scoring 370 runs in 13 innings (average of 46.25 and strike rate of 158.79) with the help of four half-centuries. 

In the meantime, the right-arm medium took all three IPL wickets in his debutant IPL season (2021). 

By spending a huge amount on Iyer in the IPL auction, the KKR have restricted their next auction battles, as the remaining purse suddenly dropped to less than INR 30 crore. 

The IPL 2025 mega auction began with a bang. All eyes were on Shreyas Iyer, the star Indian middle-order batter. Iyer lived up to expectations as he broke all records, becoming the first Indian and the only player in IPL history to command a jaw-dropping bid of ₹26.75 crore. Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru were locked in an intense bidding war for the former IPL-winning captain before he was snapped up at this historic amount.

This milestone comes on the heels of Iyer’s scintillating knock in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on November 23, where he hammered an unbeaten 130 off just 57 balls for Mumbai. Displaying masterful strokeplay, Iyer smashed 11 fours and 10 sixes, propelling Mumbai to a mammoth total of 250/4. The innings further solidified his reputation as one of the most sought-after players in T20 cricket.

Shreyas Iyer: The hottest pick in IPL 2025 auction

Shreyas Iyer’s record-breaking ₹26.75 crore bid marks a significant moment in IPL history. Iyer, who was surprisingly not retained by Kolkata Knight Riders after leading them to the IPL 2024 title, has consistently proven his worth as a dependable middle-order batter and a shrewd captain. The 29-year-old has played for Delhi Capitals and KKR in previous seasons, famously leading Delhi to the IPL final in 2020.

This time, Delhi Capitals were determined to bring back their former captain. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings, with Ricky Ponting at the helm, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, looking for a successor to Faf du Plessis, also entered the fray. With a base price of ₹2 crore, Iyer’s meteoric rise in value underscores his unparalleled impact on the game.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑 🔄 𝐒𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐘𝐀𝐒! ♥️#ShreyasIyer #IPL2025Auction #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/jpJHcXPepQ

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) November 24, 2024

𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐞-YESSS! 🤩

Welcome to the den, paaji! ❤️#ShreyasIyer #IPL2025Auction #PunjabKings

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) November 24, 2024

41 Cr ke purse ke saath 22 Cr ke bids dekhte hue hum… pic.twitter.com/KshLPw4iwe

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) November 24, 2024

See Also: King Kohli’s 7th Australian Test ton powers India in Perth

The road ahead for Shreyas Iyer

Iyer’s historic auction moment wasn’t just about the money; it reflected his unmatched talent and leadership skills. As the IPL 2025 season looms, the player will have the added pressure of living up to his price tag. With franchises investing heavily, fans eagerly await how Iyer will lead and perform in the upcoming season.

From setting the stage ablaze in domestic cricket to creating history at the IPL auction, Shreyas Iyer’s journey is a testament to his grit and brilliance in the shortest format of the game.

Kolkata Knight Riders had a memorable previous edition, earning their third-ever IPL title after a massive gap of ten years. With an optimum mix of reliable players and a robust coaching staff, the team bet all the odds and claimed success. But, their retained list had several polar opinions from critics and fanatics, as they haven't retained the captain who led to their triumph.

With their retention list comprising of emerging and experienced campaigners, they haven't opted for having the Right-to-Match (RTM) option as they have filled all the spots so that it will be some new players venturing into the defending champions' side. That said, here are the potential five-player picks that the Knight Riders would go all out for in the forthcoming 2025 IPL Mega Auction. 

Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis could be one of the primary targets for the Men in Purple management, as he ticks the boxes of an experienced power batter and a reliable captain. Considering that the side only has INR 51 Crore left in their purse, they can give their all to buy him, as they can rely on his captaincy expertise.

With just three editions for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he has taken them twice to the final stages of the playoffs; the side can rest assured in giving him the captaincy position for the upcoming editions. In the last edition, he has made 438 runs in 15 matches at a decent average of over 30.

Ishan Kishan

The Kolkata Knight Riders will not change their powerful hitting lineup for IPL 2025. They can, however, target young Indian wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan, who has been freed by the Mumbai Indians, keeping in mind that the team also requires a reliable wicketkeeper. Kishan is known for his aggressive batting and power-hitting ability.

Kishan could be an excellent addition to KKR's star-studded batting lineup, which includes Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh. Kishan has recently been uneven with the bat, but recent matches in the local arena have helped to boost the confidence of all franchises in the Mega Auction. In 2024, he made 320 runs in 14 games, averaging at 23. 

Mohammed Shami

The Kolkata Knight Riders will now want to add an experienced fast bowler to their team for the IPL 2025. In the IPL 2025 mega auction, they might want to sign experienced Indian bowler Mohammed Shami. The right-arm bowler is now recovering from a knee injury sustained during his outstanding 2023 Cricket World Cup performance, in which he took an incredible number of wickets in just a few games.

Surprisingly, he has been released by the Gujarat Titans. The KKR management is expected to spend a large sum on him at the mega auction in Jeddah since he has played an essential role in whichever squad he has been a member of in his cricketing environment. Also, with several other franchises putting all their efforts into his acquisition, he could probably be one of the most expensive players in the upcoming mega auction.

Also Read: IPL 2025: 5 players Royal Challengers Bengaluru should target for in the upcoming IPL Mega Auction

Phil Salt

Phil Salt excelled in the top order for KKR in the IPL 2024. His aggressive hitting style might help the squad get off to a fast start. In this case, KKR wants to return him to the team for another season. Phil Salt was pivotal to KKR's successful season last year, scoring 435 runs at an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 182 in 12 innings, including four fifties.

Despite his excellent performance, KKR dismissed him due to a surplus of players. On the other hand, Salt is an aggressive top-order batsman who maintains wickets and has league experience. Given his achievements, the three-time champions would go all and out for bringing him back to the side, even with the unavailability of an RTM card. 

Rahul Tripathi

Rahul Tripathi symbolises a solid IPL-batter package, thanks to his aggressive approach in obtaining crucial runs. He has consistently performed for any team he has ever represented, frequently stepping up when the squad needed him the most.

His ability to anchor innings and accelerate when needed makes him essential. Tripathi's IPL experience and ability to score crucial runs make him a solid pick for any club. His retention would offer the squad stability and a player around whom to build tactics. In his 2024 stay, he scored 165 runs in just six matches, with a remarkable strike rate above 140. 

Australian seamer Mitchell Starc marked another milestone in his illustrious career, achieving 100 ODI wickets on home soil during a fiery spell against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday. The experienced pacer rattled the Pakistan lineup with a remarkable display of pace and control, securing his place among Australian greats. Meanwhile, Starc also shared his disappointment regarding a lack of communication from his IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who released him ahead of the 2025 season despite his contributions to their 2024 title win.

Starc’s spell wreaks havoc against Pakistan

In the first ODI against Pakistan, Starc delivered a spectacular new-ball performance that immediately placed Pakistan under pressure. His pace and precision paid dividends as he dismissed openers Saim Ayyub and Abdullah Shafique in quick succession. Starc’s first victim, debutant Ayyub, fell after getting an inside edge back onto his stumps in Starc’s second over. Not stopping there, he removed Shafique shortly after, as the batter inadvertently edged the ball to wicketkeeper Josh Inglis while attempting to leave the delivery. Starc later shattered the stumps of Shaheen Afridi, finishing his spell with figures of 3/33 in ten overs.

This outstanding performance helped Starc reach the coveted milestone of 100 ODI wickets in Australia, making him only the sixth Australian bowler to achieve this feat. He joined the elite company of legends Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Craig McDermott, and Steve Waugh. With Pakistan struggling to maintain momentum, Starc’s impressive spell left them floundering after losing both openers at 24 runs, putting Australia in a strong position early in the game.

Starc gets the ball rolling! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/CYXcVECkj1

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 4, 2024

See Also: BCCI mulling to take strict action against Gautam Gambhir following an annihilating series whitewash

KKR exit leave Starc disappointed despite stellar IPL season

Despite his success on the international front, Starc’s IPL career encountered a setback after KKR decided not to retain him for the 2025 season. The seamer expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the KKR management, as he was not informed of his release. The IPL retention policy now allows franchises to retain up to six players, leading KKR to secure the services of Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy. Starc and winning captain Shreyas Iyer were among those released, a decision that surprised fans given Starc’s pivotal role in KKR’s 2024 title win.

Reflecting on the abrupt decision, Starc stated, “I still haven’t heard from them. It is what it is, that’s franchise cricket.” Despite the release, his contributions were memorable: acquired for a record INR 24.75 crore, Starc played a crucial role in KKR’s championship run, claiming 17 vital wickets, including match-winning performances in the playoffs and final against Sunrisers Hyderabad. KKR’s CEO Venky Mysore acknowledged the challenge of retention decisions following a title win, noting the difficulty of maintaining a champion squad under the new guidelines.

The three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will play the IPL 2025 as the defending champions. They have announced the retained played before the mega auction. 

Apart from winning the IPL 2024 after defeating SunRisers Hyderabad in the final, KKR won their first two IPL trophies in 2012 and 2014. 

Before winning the IPL 2024 trophy, KKR finished the league stage as the points table leader. 

Shreyas Iyer has been leading the KKR since the 2022 edition and he led the team to win the trophy in the last season. However, due to his unavailability for the 2023 season due to an injury, Nitish Rana led the team in the 2023 season. 

Talking about KKR’s success, we should also talk about their runners-up finishing at the Champions League T20 2014, which is now defunct. 

Kolkata Knight Riders player retention

KKR retained six players for INR 57 crore. The defending champions have retained four capped and two uncapped players. Due to using four capped (18 cr+14 cr+11cr+18cr) and two uncapped players (4 cr+4 cr), KKR will lose INR 69 crore. So, they will start the mega auction with a purse value of INR 51 crore.  

(Capped)

Rinku Singh (Indian): INR 13 Crore

Varun Chakravarthy (Indian): INR 12 Crore

Sunil Narine (Trinidadian): INR 12 Crore

Andre Russell (Jamaican): INR 12 Crore

(Uncapped) 

Harshit Rana (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Ramandeep Singh (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Right-to-Match (RTM) card availability for the mega auction

None

Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has concluded his illustrious journey with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), a franchise with which he won four IPL titles. Bravo will now transition to a mentorship role at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) from the 2025 season, marking the next chapter in his cricketing career.

Bravo bids farewell to CSK, joins KKR as mentor

Dwayne Bravo, who turns 41 in October, has officially joined KKR as a mentor for IPL 2025, replacing Gautam Gambhir, who recently took over as India’s head coach. This change follows Gambhir’s leadership in helping KKR secure their third IPL title. Bravo’s move was confirmed soon after his retirement from all forms of cricket, including T20 leagues, which he announced a day prior to his appointment.

The move comes after Bravo’s meeting with KKR CEO Venky Mysore during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where they finalized a long-term agreement. In addition to his role with KKR, Bravo will oversee all Knight Riders franchises in other T20 leagues, including Trinbago Knight Riders (CPL), Los Angeles Knight Riders (MLC), and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ILT20).

Venky Mysore expressed his excitement about Bravo’s arrival: “DJ Bravo joining us is an exciting development. His relentless drive to win, along with his vast experience and deep knowledge, will greatly benefit our franchise and players.”

Bravo’s transition from player to coach

Dwayne Bravo, who was part of CSK’s iconic squad, enjoyed a successful stint with the franchise after joining them in 2011. He retired from playing in the IPL after the 2022 season but stayed with CSK, transitioning to their bowling coach for the 2023 season. His impact was immediate, as CSK clinched their fifth IPL title that year, defeating defending champions Gujarat Titans.

Bravo has an illustrious T20 career, being the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history and the only player to win the Purple Cap twice. His experience in the game, especially as a death bowler, made him a crucial player and, later, an astute tactician.

See Also: "BCB is not a security agency like the police or RAB," says BCB chief about Shakib’s security

“I’ve been part of Trinbago Knight Riders for the last 10 years in CPL. Having played for and against the Knight Riders in various leagues, I have a lot of respect for how they operate,” said Bravo. “This is the perfect platform for me as I transition from playing to mentoring and coaching the next generation of players.”

Bravo’s coaching journey has been on a steady rise, with him recently serving as a consultant coach for Afghanistan during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where the team made history by reaching the semi-finals. With this next step at KKR, Bravo aims to share his expertise and guide players across the Knight Riders’ T20 franchises globally.

Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has joined Lancashire County Cricket Club for the next five weeks. Known for his standout performance with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their IPL 2024 title win, he will participate in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup and the final two rounds of the Vitality County Championship in late August.

Lancashire County Cricket Club confirmed his signing in a statement on Friday. Venkatesh, the energetic Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, is excited about this chance and aims to make a strong comeback to the Indian national team.

Venkatesh’s excitement about county cricket debut

“I am incredibly excited about heading over to England and to have the opportunity to play county cricket for the first time in my career. Lancashire is a very historic county with a long history of welcoming Indian players to their club. I am looking forward to emulating the likes of Farokh Engineer, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, and most recently, Washington Sundar in wearing the Red Rose colours at Emirates Old Trafford,” Venkatesh stated.

“To test my skills in both one-day and first-class cricket in English conditions is going to really benefit my game. I hope that I can entertain the fans and help my Lancashire teammates to achieve their targets in both formats this summer.”, He added.

Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Performance, is thrilled about the new addition. “Venkatesh will add experience to a young side during the One-Day Cup, whilst providing an explosive batting option in the middle-order and another seam bowler that we can turn to with the ball,” Chilton said. He confirmed that Venkatesh will play in the County games against Surrey and Hampshire.

Venkatesh’s plans to return for Duleep Trophy

Media reports suggest that Venkatesh has not agreed to a long term contract, as he wants to return to India in time for the Duleep Trophy, which starts on September 5. He plans to use this domestic tournament to re enter the Indian national team setup.

The four squads for the Duleep Trophy will be chosen after India’s tour to Zimbabwe. Venkatesh’s performances for Lancashire will be closely watched by selectors as they finalize the teams for this prestigious domestic competition.

After leading India to a T20 World Cup win in 2024, Rahul Dravid is now looking at a new role in the IPL. Since finishing his time as head coach of the Indian team, Dravid has been linked with several IPL teams.

Rumors of Kolkata Knight Riders role

There were rumors that Dravid might join Kolkata Knight Riders after their mentor Gautam Gambhir, left to take Dravid’s former role with the Indian team. However, recent reports suggest Dravid is now in talks with Rajasthan Royals, his old IPL team.

While Dravid seeks a new challenge, Gambhir has already started his journey as India’s head coach, heading to Sri Lanka with the team. Before leaving, Gambhir acknowledged the big shoes he had to fill after Dravid’s successful tenure.

Talks with Rajasthan Royals

“Talks are going on between RR and Dravid, and an announcement in this regard is round the corner,” Times of India(TOI) quoted a source as saying.

Dravid’s T20 World Cup success

After India’s T20 World Cup victory against South Africa, Dravid joked about being ‘jobless’ and asked reporters if they had any job offers. Given his talent and vast experience, it’s no surprise that IPL teams are eager to have him.

Dravid chose not to continue as India’s head coach because he didn’t want to spend 10 months a year traveling and away from his family. The IPL, however is different. It only requires a 2-3 month commitment, which Dravid might find appealing.

Dravid’s IPL experience

Dravid has previously worked as a mentor and coach for IPL teams. He was the coach of Delhi Daredevils until 2017 when he left due to a ‘conflict of interest.’ Since then, he has coached India’s junior teams and was the head of the National Cricket Academy before taking the India job in 2021.

Now in talks with Rajasthan Royals, it will be interesting to see what role Dravid might take on with the team.

The 2024 IPL edition is one of the most intensifying tournaments in the Indian franchise-based fraternity. With many broken records and some commendable performances, the team’s captains have acted as the epitome of such cricketing displays, making the concluded edition more memorable for the cricketing world.

With different captains having different strategies and intent, here is a ranking of all the teams’ heads who have contributed to the fullest with their cricketing minds and calibre in the recently concluded IPL 2024 edition. The ranking is based on a combination of factors, including the team’s performance, the captain’s leadership skills, and their contributions to the team’s success.

1. Shreyas Iyer- Kolkata Knight Riders

The 2024 IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, have been a jack-of-all-trades team, checking all the boxes in all aspects, with particular praise from their skipper, Shreyas Iyer, and the coaching staff. Shreyas Iyer has done well as a captain, and the team is doing well under his leadership.

His decision-making has been sound, with no significant weaknesses identified in his leadership. KKR has perhaps the finest balance of bat and ball. The leading cause for this has been player selection and, therefore, player performance. He played aggressive cricket with the bat, hitting 351 runs at a strike rate of 146.

2. Pat Cummins- Sunrisers Hyderabad

Pat Cummins excelled as a captain. After performing well for Australia, which has a strong lineup, the star player’s challenge was to turn around SRH’s fortunes. And he did just that. Thanks to Cummins’ inspired captaincy, the hitters transformed the dynamics of the league with their aggressive style, and the developing bowlers dominated it to the fullest.

Cummins was also effective with the ball, taking 18 wickets over the season. As a captain, he inspired the SRH team to break records in the IPL 2024. Cummins has pulled the best out of numerous players this season, leading them to the grand finals.

3. Faf du Plessis- Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Though the team had one heck of a forgettable start, Royal Challengers Bengaluru made a fantabulous and memorable comeback, even when there was a bleak 1% chance of qualification. All credit would go to the former South African ace opener, Faf du Plessis, who focused on strengthening its batting core and improvising its bowling department.

Overall, it was a valiant display of captaincy and team effort by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. As of his batting performance, du Plessis made 438 runs at a strike rate of 161.

4. Sanju Samson- Rajasthan Royals

In the initial and mid stages of the league, Rajasthan Royals (RR) were the favourites to finish first in the points standings, having won eight of their nine games. However, their season deteriorated following that, and they made the playoffs in third place.

This was primarily about critiquing the team’s consistency and captain Sanju Samson’s evolving plans and methods. If not for this season, Samson is praised for his constant batting and captaincy efforts, which was unsurprising given his performance this season. He had a spectacular batting tenure, amassing 531 runs with a strike rate of 153.

5. Rishabh Pant- Delhi Capitals

Rishabh Pant returns to play after being out for more than 15 months. After avoiding a life-threatening accident, the top player returned to cricket and performed well as a batsman. But he was a decent skipper. He began his IPL 2024 campaign with some difficulties.

But by the second half of the tournament, he had returned to his excellent levels. The Delhi Capitals skipper scored 446 runs with a strike rate of 155. Pant made poor selections about the team’s batting and bowling. Pant would need to improve over time for the following season.

See Also: Gambhir reveals KKR’s 2024 victory secret

6. Ruturaj Gaikwad- Chennai Super Kings

Ruturaj Gaikwad captained Chennai Super Kings for the first time in IPL history. His leadership was not up to par, but it could have a future influence on the team’s destiny in the long term, especially after a long and prosperous era of MS Dhoni. The batting order constantly changed in numerous games, hampered the players’ performance.

Ruturaj Gaikwad led Chennai Super Kings through a consistent season, not to forget his spectacular batting stint by scoring 583 runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament. Gaikwad won only seven games in his 14-match campaign, indicating significant room for development.

7. Sam Curran- Punjab Kings

Though Shikhar Dhawan had to lead the Punjab Kings full-time, Sam Curran’s appearance as a captain for majority of time was interesting to check out. However, he wasn’t appealing with his overall all-rounder performance, as he made just 270 runs at a strike rate of 123 and snapped 16 wickets.

But, his ability to utilise emerging domestic talent has prompted his arsenal to change the game and can act as the future of the team’s successes. In the end, the team was able to win just a mere five wins and ended up ninth in the points table.

8. KL Rahul- Lucknow Super Giants

KL Rahul led the Lucknow Super Giants to a 50-50 record, winning seven of their fourteen matches. Under his guidance, the squad won as many games as it lost, indicating an up-and-down season. They started brightly but lost momentum in the middle.

Meanwhile, Rahul scored 520 runs this season, but his strike rate of 136 was significantly below average and ordinary for openers in the IPL 2024 season, which was a high-scoring event. It sums up his tactics of runs coming off his bat, but not at the rate his side needs.  The Super Giants missed the playoffs for the first time in their three-season history.

9. Shubman Gill- Gujarat Titans

Shubman Gill, a budding opening batter, has become the captain of the Gujarat Titans after Hardik Pandya moved to the Mumbai Indians. In his first stint as captain, Gill faced challenges, including critical player injuries, leading to some perplexed and vague decisions.

Despite this, he viewed it as a learning experience. The team won only five out of 14 matches, but Gill’s batting was solid, with 426 runs in 12 games. But it will be interesting to see how he evolves as a captain for the Gujarat Titans.

10. Hardik Pandya- Mumbai Indians

Hardik Pandya, the new Mumbai Indians captain, was perhaps the most disappointing captain and big-name player of the IPL 2024 season, especially given that he led Gujarat to an IPL trophy and a runners-up finish in the previous two seasons.

Despite huge expectations, the Mumbai Indians ended at the bottom of the points table, winning only four matches out of 14 games. Hardik scored 216 runs at an average of 18 as a player and took 11 wickets. Given his previous success, Pandya’s captaincy has been more forgettable this season.