Punjab Kings’ Home Ground - Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA Stadium), also known as Dharamsala Cricket Stadium, in Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh is another important home venue for the IPL team Punjab Kings. Since 2010, Punjab Kings have been using this venue as one of their home venues. In the IPL 2025, HPCA Stadium will host three home matches for Punjab Kings. 

Recent matches played by PBKS at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium

• IPL 2024 League Match: PBKS vs RCB - Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 60 runs

• IPL 2024 League Match: PBKS vs CSK - Mumbai Indians won by 9 runs

• IPL 2023 League Match: PBKS vs RR - Rajasthan Royals won by 3 wickets

Punjab Kings’ IPL 2025 Home Matches at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

How to Buy Tickets for PBKS Matches at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

(All the following information about IPL 2025 tickets is only expected. The actual information will be updated once the official statements)

Online Booking:

• Available on BookMyShow, PayTM Insider, and the Punjab Kings official website.
• Select your match, choose your seats, and make the payment.

Offline Purchase:

• Offline tickets may be available at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium box office and selected retail outlets.

Ticket Prices (Estimated):

• INR 2000-3000 (General Tickets)
• INR 5000-15000 (Pavilion Stands)
• INR 18000 (Dream11 Club Lounge Main Pavilion)
  

Punjab Kings’ Home Ground - Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh

Punjab Kings have been using Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh as the home venue since IPL 2024. It is their primary home venue at present. In the IPL 2025, PBKS will play their four home matches at this venue. 

Recent matches played by PBKS at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium

• IPL 2024 League Match: PBKS vs GT - Gujarat Titans won by 3 wickets

• IPL 2024 League Match: PBKS vs MI - Mumbai Indians won by 9 runs

• IPL 2024 League Match: PBKS vs RR - Rajasthan Royals won by 3 wickets

Punjab Kings’ IPL 2025 Home Matches at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh

How to Buy Tickets for PBKS Matches at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur in New Chandigarh

(All the following information about IPL 2025 tickets is only expected. The actual information will be updated once the official statements)

Online Booking:

• Available on BookMyShow, PayTM Insider, and the Punjab Kings official website.
• Select your match, choose your seats, and make the payment.

Offline Purchase:

• Offline tickets may be available at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium box office and selected retail outlets.

Ticket Prices (Estimated):

• INR 500-9500 (General Blocks)
• INR 13000 (VIP Boxes)
• INR 15000 (Corporate Boxes)

The IPL 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) are desperate to end their long wait for the IPL playoffs, as they haven't experienced IPL playoffs for the last 10 seasons. Last season, they finished in ninth place. Let's check PBKS’ top buy in the auction, full squad, and completed squad for the IPL 2025.   

Punjab Kings (PBKS) Top Buys at IPL 2025 Auction

• Shreyas Iyer (INR 26.75 crore):  Shreyas Iyer led the Kolkata Knight Riders to win their IPL 2024 title. Punjab Kings broke the most expensive auction buy record to secure Shreyas Iyer, and it was broken by Lucknow Super Giants to sign Rishabh Pant for INR 27 crore.  
• Arshdeep Singh (INR 18 crore): The Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is an outstanding pacer who likes to dominate in the powerplay and slog overs with his unplayable swing deliveries and incredible yorkers. 
• Yuzvendra Chahal (INR 18 crore): The Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is the leading wicket-taker in IPL history with 205 wickets. 
• Marcus Stoinis (INR 11 crore): Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis likes to dominate with his aggressive batting and useful pace bowling skills. 
• Marco Jansen (INR 7 crore): South African left-arm pacer Marco Jansen likes to dominate with his fast bowling, while the right-handed lower-middle-order batter is also known as a hard-hitter. 
• Glenn Maxwell (NR 4.20 crore): Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is known for his aggressive batting, which can destroy any in-form bowlers, and his off-spin is also useful. 

Punjab Kings (PBKS) Full Squad for IPL 2025

Punjab Kings (PBKS) IPL 2025 Complete Schedule

March 25: Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings at Ahmedabad (19:30 IST)

April 1: Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings at Lucknow (19:30 IST)

April 5: Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals at Mullanpur (19:30 IST)

April 8: Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings at Mullanpur (19:30 IST)

April 12: SunRisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings at Hyderabad (19:30 IST)

April 15: Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Mullanpur (19:30 IST)

April 18: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings at Bengaluru (19:30 IST)

April 20: Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Mullanpur (15:30 IST)

April 26: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings at Kolkata (19:30 IST)

April 30: Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings at Chennai (19:30 IST)

May 4: Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants at Dharamsala (19:30 IST)

May 8: Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals at Dharamsala (19:30 IST)

May 11: Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians at Dharamsala (15:30 IST)

May 16: Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings at Mumbai (19:30 IST)

English seamer Saqib Mahmood has been one of the few amongst the visitors to impress in their ongoing limited-overs tour of India so far. The Birmingham-born speedster, known to touch 145 kmph, is renowned for getting the ball to reverse, but has been unable to display this skill due to the paucity of time.
While he has, in the past, concentrated on red-ball cricket, having rejected an IPL offer in 2022 to concentrate on his Test career, a white-ball contract with Lancashire recently might mean he is now available for T20 leagues, including the IPL. With that in mind, here are three teams that could go after Saqib Mahmood in the upcoming IPL auction.

1.Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Build the feared bowling attack that is going to be unstoppable Mahmood’s knowledge could perhaps be most by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who don’t have any overseas seamers beyond the young Shamar Joseph from West Indies. While Joseph is a new-ball specialist, Mahmood would have been the one who gives accuracy along with an all-round package.

Why LSG should consider Mahmood?
Mahmood LSG pacer aimed to get in the mix:  Mahmood is a good paceman for sure, with no other regular overseas seamer in LSG.
Mahmood would give tremendous variety and balance restricting the powerful Indian seamers such as Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Akash Deep, and Mohsin Khan.
Only Ravi Bishnoi even has serious IPL experience in LSG's bowling attack and their pace department looks very green.
Lucknow Super Giants, with Mahmood in the lineup, would have one of the worst pace attacks and would not lead them to the good part of the season. 

2.Rajasthan Royals (RR) – Strength to the Fast Bowling Unit
The Rajasthan Royals have always been a team which seeks youth and emerging talent. Mahmood would be the perfect fit for their fast bowling unit. They have some great bowling assets already, such as Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna. But they might need another express pacer who can provide breakthroughs both in the powerplay and the death overs.

Why RR May Go For Mahmood?
With Boult aging and probably playing selective matches, RR needs a backup strike bowler.
Mahmood generates sharp bounce and movement. That makes him a good choice.
RR play half their games at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium where pacers get some help with the new ball.
If Rajasthan Royals can manage to get his services, then Mahmood would prove to be a deadly combination with their current quicks and their bowling line-up would look all the more dangerous.

ALSO READ:Rashid Khan Matches Dwayne Bravo’s T20 Wicket Record, Enters Elite Club

3. Punjab Kings
Had Mahmood been picked by the Punjab Kings in the auction held in November 2024, they may not have gone for the Australian Xavier Bartlett. And this may not have been a bad decision, given that Mahmood has much more experience in international cricket than the Brisbane Heat's Bartlett.

With Lockie Ferguson the second overseas seamer and Arshdeep Singh a leader of the attack, Mahmood would have enjoyed being a part of the PBKS. The pitches in PCA Stadium at Mohali as well as the new one at Mullanpur do encourage pace and carry, and this would have been music to Mahmood's ears.

Glenn Maxwell's Blazing Form Keeps Melbourne Stars' Playoff Hopes Alive, Sets IPL 2025 Stage for Punjab Kings

Glenn Maxwell is really proficient at cricket. Mr. Maxwell just played an exceptionally wonderful game in the Big Bash League where his team, the Melbourne Stars, needed to win to keep their chances for the playoffs. Glenn hit a large amount of runs fast, getting 76 without getting out and he only needed 32 balls to do it! Because he played so amazing, his team achieved a very special score of 219/5 vs Hobart Hurricanes.

It was their 40th match. All the fans and even other teams think Glenn is amazing because he can bat and bowl really well that's what being an all-rounder means. Mr. Maxwell helps his team win lots. Nathan Ellis, the captian  of the Hobart Hurricanes team, decided his team would bowl first. The Melbourne Stars batted at the start, and they wanted to score a lot of runs. Glenn Maxwell, who is a top rate cricket player from Australia, was amazing at hitting the ball. Mr. Maxwell hit the ball very hard and it went really far, over the fence, six times!

Also, he hit it to places where no one was there four times. Maxwell has been playing really, really good lately. Mr. Maxwell has scored more than fifty runs three times in a row in these games. When he was to bat now, he was really great again and helped his team achieve a large score. Apart from Maxwell, Beau Webster also chipped in with a valuable 51 runs off 31 balls, ensuring that the Stars posted a good total. The pair put on a partnership that crushed the Hurricanes’ bowling attack, leaving them with a daunting chase.

ALSO READ: Shakib Al Hasan in trouble as an arrest warrant issued against him

Maxi is PUMPED 😤 #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/Mr4K78JnBi

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 19, 2025

Set back for Rcb

The cricket fans are conversing quite a bit about Maxwell today because he's very good at the game. He can hit the ball very hard and knows how to play different styles. RCB, which everyone knows as Royal Challengers Bangalore, didn't keep him for the 2025 season of IPL. It shocked some people because he's wonderful. But then, the Punjab Kings picked him up. They need to have Maxwell on their team because they paid ₹4.20 crore for him at the major IPL 2025 auction.

With his consistent form in the BBL, including scores of 20* (10), 58* (32), 90 (52), and now 76* (32), Maxwell has sent a strong message to RCB and the rest of the IPL franchises. His rapid accumulation of runs, coupled with his ability to finish games, makes him one of the most dangerous players in limited overs cricket. This recent form, along with his IPL experience, will make him a key player for Punjab Kings in the upcoming season.

A Big Gift for the Punjab kings

The Punjab Kings chose Maxwell to join their team for IPL 2025, and he is very good at playing cricket recently. Maxwell comes from Australia and is great because he can hit a lot of runs fast when the team must be victorious. He's going to make the games incredibly fun for Punjab Kings since he's great at batting when everyone is nervous. It appears clearly picking him for the team was a very smart and well thought out idea!

As the BBL 2024-25 continues, all eyes will be on Maxwell to see if his form helps Melbourne Stars secure a playoff spot. With the team needing a win to stay in contention, Maxwell’s match-winning ability could be the difference maker. For Punjab Kings, IPL 2025 just got a whole lot more exciting with Glenn Maxwell in their lineup. Fans can expect to see fireworks as the Australian all-rounder continues to shine in the ipl also.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have made a bold approach to end their lengthy wait for their first title by assembling a well-balanced roster under new head coach Ricky Ponting. With the biggest purse of INR 110.5 Crores in the 2025 IPL Mega Auction, PBKS made numerous high-profile, costly and tactical deals. Keeping important players like Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, the franchise has addressed vital areas like top-order batting, finishers, and death-over experts.

With a new strategy and clever additions, PBKS is ready for a potential IPL 2025 season, hoping to break its pattern of unreliability and win its first-ever coveted title. As it implies, it is no surprise that they are one of the favourites to emerge victorious for the forthcoming title. That said, here we look at the two strengths and one weakness of the newest version of the Punjab Kings squad.

Punjab Kings 2025 IPL Squad: Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Pyla Avinash, Pravin Dubey.

2 Strengths:

Shreyas Iyer

As the title says it all, no sugarcoating and just cutting to the chase, Shreyas Iyer is the vital strength aspect that Punjab Kings possesses for the 2025 edition of the tournament. After releasing almost everyone from their previous squad, their higher purse value and tactical strategies have given them a chance to completely renovate their team, with Shreyas Iyer's acquisition as the captain being the foundation stone of it.

Whether clinching titles in the domestic circuit for the Mumbai Cricket Team or leading the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third-ever IPL title, Iyer could convert the dream of the Punjab Kings winning an IPL title into a reality. His impeccable performance with the willow and abilities to bolster the top and middle order is the icing on the cake. It will be interesting to see how the side's colossal INR 26.75 Crore investment in him would be a game-changing move for the team ever since its inception.

Star-studded lineup across all departments

Punjab Kings is a franchise that spent a hefty on several overseas and emerging players in the previous IPL auctions. Though many of them couldn't convert it into valuable performances and ended up on the losing side, this time,e it's been different. With robust intent and valid tactical aspects, Punjab Kings has undergone significant restructuring in a king-size way.

The Punjab Kings' bowling squad, including IPL's leading wicket-taker, Yuzvendra Chahal, reliable wicket-taker Arshdeep Singh the tall and dangerous Marco Jansen, and Kiwi quick Lockie Ferguson, demonstrates their versatility and strength. Also, under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis and Shashank Singh are key players who will most likely bat in the middle order for the side as they go all guns blazing with the bat, where we can expect some high-scoring innings.

1 Weakness:

Limited reliable emerging and domestic campaigners

The Punjab Kings have a good foundation of elite international players and a robust lineup of Indian talent. However, their bench aspect across all the departments is questionable. They lack seasoned domestic Indian players with a successful IPL record. While players like Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Musheer Khan show potential in the IPL ecosystem, they have yet to influence and impact the competition significantly.

This lack of experience in the backup-hitting lineup might be an issue if their key batters are injured or out of form. In the absence of competent domestic alternatives, the Punjab Kings may struggle to find adequate choices in critical moments, perhaps exposing their batting depth.

Punjab Kings Set to Announced IPL 2025 Captain on Bigg Boss 18 Tonight

During a weekend episode of Bigg Boss 18, that happened on January 12, and was led by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, the team Punjab Kings (PBKS) released a very important announcement. They said Shreyas Iyer is going to be their leader for the Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2025. This was a first  IPL team ever revealed on who's leading them by using a reality TV show. It's a new combination of playing cricket and watching TV.

The announcement, which took place around 9:30 PM IST, followed weeks of speculation. PBKS had broken the bank at the IPL 2025 auction, securing Iyer for a whopping INR 26.75 crore. With his proven leadership credentials, including guiding Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to an IPL title last season, Iyer was the clear frontrunner for the role. The promo featuring Iyer, along with Yuzvendra Chahal and Shashank Singh, had already heightened anticipation among fans. This announcement reflects PBKS's ambitions to end their playoff drought and aim for their first IPL title since their final appearance in 2014.

🚨 IPL CAPTAIN'S ANNOUCEMENT IN BIG BOSS SHOW...!!! 🚨

- Salman Khan will announce Shreyas Iyer as Punjab Kings' captain for IPL 2025 tonight on Big Boss. pic.twitter.com/cusn9NZfRp

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 12, 2025

Shreyas Iyer: The Leading Contender

Shreyas Iyer is going to be the captain for Punjab Kings in the 2025 IPL season. They announced it on January 12 when Salman Khan was hosting Bigg Boss 18. It's not surprising they picked Iyer the individual's really proficient at leading.

Last season, Iyer captained Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title, ending a decade long title drought. Despite his success, KKR chose not to retain him or use their Right to Match (RTM) card during the IPL 2025 auction, allowing PBKS to swoop in and secure him for a massive INR 26.75 crore.

With Iyer’s leadership and PBKS's strategic acquisitions, including star leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, the franchise aims to break their playoff drought. PBKS last qualified for the playoffs in 2014, where they reached the final but fell short of the trophy. By bringing in proven match winners like Iyer, PBKS hopes to change their fortunes and contend for their maiden IPL title. Shreyas Iyer’s appointment signals a new era for Punjab Kings, with renewed determination and ambition for IPL 2025.

ALSO READ: Karun Nair's Historic Fourth Consecutive Century Powers Vidarbha to Semis

All Eyes on Bigg Boss 18 Tonight

The Punjab Kings, also known as PBKS, pulled off a surprise by picking Shreyas Iyer to be their captain for the 2025 IPL season. They shared this news on the show Bigg Boss 18, which Salman Khan hosts. This happened on the January 12 weekend episode. It's very amazing how it shows sports and entertainment coming together in India.

This groundbreaking move reflects a sharp and informed marketing strategy, leveraging the popularity of reality TV to connect with a broader audience. It’s a first for Indian cricket, blending the excitement of the IPL with the glamour of Bigg Boss.

Shreyas Iyer, secured by PBKS for a massive INR 26.75 crore at the auction, stood out as the obvious choice for captaincy. His leadership credentials were cemented last season when he guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title, breaking a 10-year drought. With his appointment, PBKS hopes to end their own playoff drought and aim for their maiden IPL trophy, having last reached the final in 2014.

By mixing cricket with entertainment, PBKS has not only raised anticipation for the IPL 2025 season but also set a precedent for how sports teams can engage with fans in new and creative ways.

PBKS full squad for IPL 2025

Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh (Rs. 18 crore), Shreyas Iyer (Rs. 26.75 crore), Yuzvendra Chahal (Rs. 18 crore), Marcus Stoinis (Rs. 11 crore), Glenn Maxwell (Rs. 4.20 crore), Nehal Wadhera (Rs. 4.20 crore), Harpreet Brar (Rs. 1.50 crore), Vishnu Vinod (Rs. 95 lakh), Vijaykumar Vyshak (Rs. 1.80 crore), Yash Thakur (Rs. 1.60 crore), Marco Jansen (Rs. 7 crore), Josh Inglis (Rs. 2.60 crore), Lockie Ferguson (Rs. 2 crore), Azmatullah Omarzai (Rs. 2.40 crore), Harnoor Pannu (Rs. 30 lakh), Kuldeep Sen (Rs. 80 lakh), Priyansh Arya (Rs. 3.80 crore), Aaron Hardie (Rs. 1.25 crore), Musheer Khan (Rs. 30 lakh), Suryansh Shedge (Rs. 30 lakh), Xavier Bartlett (Rs. 80 lakh), Pyla Avinash (Rs. 30 lakh), Pravin Dubey (Rs. 30 lakh).

After the thrilling and unforgettable mega auction, all ten teams are set for IPL 2025. It is now time for team analysis and to choose the best and worst teams before the beginning of the IPL 2025. While some franchises have impressed on the mega auction table, some franchises have disappointed despite buying talented players. Let's look at the Cricketwinner ratings of all the 10 squads

1. Gujarat Titans

After some good retentions (Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tiwari, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan), IPL 2022 champions Gujarat Titans battled hard to secure Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Prasidh Krishna. The retained and top-signed players love to dominate in their respective duties. Moreover, GT added more good all-rounders like Glenn Phillips, Sherfane Rutherford, Karim Janat, Washington Sundar, etc. Overall, the franchise has built up a well-balanced team for the IPL 2025, as there is hardly any gap. 

GT full squad for IPL 2025: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Sherfane Rutherford, Gerald Coetzee, Glenn Phillips, Sai Kishore, Mahipal Lomror, Karim Janat, Gurnoor Brar, Arshad Khan, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Kumar Kushagra, Nishant Sindhu, Manav Suthar, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya.

Team rating: 8.5/10

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Shocking Unsold Star Players in the IPL history

2. SunRisers Hyderabad

IPL 2016 champions and IPL 2024 runners-up SunRisers Hyderabad set a new example of dominant batting in the last IPL season. We can expect the same in the IPL 2025 as most of the key batters are retained in the squad along with the skipper and pacer Pat Cummins. Apart from some strong all-rounder names, SRH also have strong pacers and spinners. It seems that the franchise has built up another well-balanced T20 side. 

SRH full squad for IPL 2025:  Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Abhinav Manohar, Adam Zampa, Simarjeet Singh, Eshan Malinga, Brydon Carse, Sachin Baby, Kamindu Mendis, Zeeshan Ansari, Aniket Verma, Atharva Taide.

Team rating: 8/10

3. Kolkata Knight Riders

Due to the strong retention and the addition of more regular faces from the auction, the three-time and reigning IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) can maintain their champion charms in IPL 2025. The overseas dominant all-rounders are match-winners (Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, Rovman Powell) along with Ramandeep Singh and Venkatesh Iyer. 

Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi are strong names in batting. With Sunil Narine and Moeen Ali, Indian cricketers Varun Chakravarthy and Mayank Markande provide strong spin bowling options. South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje and rising Indian pacer Harshit Rana are two big names in the pace-bowling line-up. 

KKR full squad for IPL 2025:  Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Spencer Johnson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Rovman Powell, Ajinkya Rahane, Umran Malik, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Mayank Markande.

Team rating: 7.5/10

4. Chennai Super Kings

The present Chennai Super Kings squad has many known faces for the Yellow Army fans. Not only their retained players, but also the RTM Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Sam Curran, and Ravichandran Ashwin also have great memories with the team. If the experienced team management can work well with the Indian pace-bowling line-up, the five-time IPL champions can create a new IPL history.

CSK full squad for IPL 2025: Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, Noor Ahmad, R Ashwin, Devon Conway, Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Anshul Kamboj, Sam Curran, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Vijay Shankar, Vansh Bedi, Shreyas Gopal, C Andre Siddarth, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shaik Rasheed, Mukesh Choudhary, Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

Team rating: 7/10

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Steal Deals from the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

5. Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Three-time IPL runners-up Royal Challengers Bengaluru have strong batting lineups on top and in the middle. Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, etc. are big names in the RCB batting line-up. The pace-bowling lineup is equally strong with the Indians and overseas names. All-rounders can fill up the spin-bowling gap.   

RCB full squad for IPL 2025: Virat Kohli, Rajit Patidar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Tim David, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Salam, Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Romario Shepherd, Swapnil Singh, Swastik Chikara, Manoj Bhandage, Abhinandan Singh, Lungi Ngidi, Mohit Rathee

Team rating: 6.5/10

6. Delhi Capitals

Although Delhi Capitals had to release Rishabh Pant, they still have built up a good team for IPL 2025. While the team has strong foreign names in the batting (Jake Fraser-McGruk, Harry Brook, Faf du Plessis, Tristian Stubbs), the Indian batting names are limited to KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel. The team has young talented all-rounders, where Axar Patel has to play an important role. The pace-bowling has strong names, both from India (Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, Mohit Sharma) and overseas (Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera). Meanwhile, the experienced spinners are Kuldeep Yadav and all-rounder Axar Patel. 

DC full squad for IPL 2025: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mukesh Kumar, Harry Brook, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Sameer Rizvi, Dushmantha Chameera, Donavan Ferreira, Vipraj Nigam, Manvanth Kumar, Darshan Nalkande, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari.

Team rating: 6.5/10

7. Mumbai Indians

The five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians are desperate to break their recent inconsistent status. While they retained important names, batting looks strong with the question of its depth and strong replacements. Pace bowlers are very strong with the leading charges of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. All-rounder Mitchell Santner is the only powerful experienced spinner in the team. 

MI full squad for IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Allah Ghazanfar, Mitchell Santner, Ryan Rickelton, Reece Topley, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Bevon Jacobs, Ashwani Kumar, Krishnan Shrijith, Arjun Tendulkar, Lizaad Williams, Vignesh Puthur.

Team rating: 6/10

8. Punjab Kings

The IPL 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings are desperate to remove their underperformer tag from the IPL 2025, as the team has failed to reach the playoffs the last ten seasons. They have big overseas names Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, and Lockie Ferguson, along with the Indian stars Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal. While there is a lack of Indian alternatives, the PBKS’ success in the IPL 2025 depends on the performances of the Indian cricketers. 

PBKS full squad for IPL 2025: Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Pyla Avinash, Pravin Dubey.

Team rating: 5.5/10

9. Lucknow Super Giants

Lucknow Super Giants have strong overseas batting options along with Rishabh Pant, whose INR 27 crore bid broke the IPL auction record. Apart from Pant, the franchise’s Indian batting option isn’t strong enough. The team has been filled with young talented Indian pacers and spinners, who need proper guidance in tough times. By looking at the team initially, the franchise hasn’t set up a balanced team for the IPL 2025.   

LSG full squad for IPL 2025: Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan, Rishabh Pant, Avesh Khan, David Miller, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Akash Deep, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Shamar Joseph, M Siddharth, Himmat Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, Digvesh Singh, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Akash Singh, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Aryan Juyal.

Team rating: 4.5/10

10. Rajasthan Royals

While the inaugural IPL champions Rajasthan Royals have retained strong names, the exclusion of English white-ball captain Jos Buttler was the big blow for Royals. The franchise still has enough explosive Indian batters, and their pace and spin bowling options are fully talented and consistent. While they haven’t any experienced Indian spinners, their Indian pace bowling experience is limited.

RR full squad for IPL 2025: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma, Jofra Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Nitish Rana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kwena Maphaka, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Akash Madhwal, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh, Kumar Kartikeya, Kunal Rathore, Ashok Sharma.

Team rating: 3.5/10

The IPL 2025 mega auction, held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, made headlines for its record-breaking bids and strategic team-building. The Lucknow Super Giants stunned everyone by securing Rishabh Pant for an unprecedented ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. Punjab Kings showcased their aggressive intent, acquiring Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore and Arshdeep Singh for ₹18 crore, strengthening their squad with both batting firepower and bowling depth. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders went all-in for Venkatesh Iyer, shelling out ₹23.75 crore to bring the all-rounder back to their camp. The seasoned leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal also fetched ₹18 crore, marking Punjab Kings as the team with three of the top five buys in this auction.

The auction reflected a clear shift in franchise strategies, emphasizing proven match-winners and game-changers. Punjab Kings' bold moves signaled their determination to break their IPL title drought, assembling a star-studded lineup under a hefty price tag. Lucknow's decision to splurge on Rishabh Pant suggested a long-term vision to build their squad around a dynamic leader, while Kolkata's faith in Venkatesh Iyer aimed to rejuvenate their middle order and all-round capabilities. With record sums exchanged and marquee players switching loyalties, the stage is set for IPL 2025 to be one of the most competitive seasons yet.

See Also: Should KL Rahul Have Commanded a Higher Price in the IPL Auction?

Breakdown of all top 5 buys in IPL 2025 mega auction 

The IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah was not just a spectacle of staggering bids but also a testament to the star power and proven credentials of its top players. Rishabh Pant, acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for a record-breaking ₹27 crore, emerged as the headline act. Pant's IPL career stats underline his explosive batting and leadership potential. With 3,284 runs at a strike rate of 148.93, including a blazing 128* as his highest score, he embodies the modern-day T20 prototype: a power-hitting wicketkeeper-batter who can single-handedly change games. With 18 half-centuries, a century, and the added value of 75 catches and 23 stumpings, Pant's role as a captain for LSG is expected to galvanize their campaign.

Shreyas Iyer, bought by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore, brought his reputation as a reliable middle-order batter and a title-winning IPL captain to the table. While his batting is often deemed one-dimensional due to a moderate strike rate of 127.48, his consistent run tally of 3,127 runs across 115 matches, including 21 fifties, makes him a vital anchor in any lineup. Punjab’s aggressive bidding for Iyer reflects their ambition to establish stability and leadership at the top, hoping to leverage his tactical acumen to finally secure an elusive IPL title.

Kolkata Knight Riders made waves by reclaiming Venkatesh Iyer for ₹23.75 crore. The flamboyant batting all-rounder has been a revelation in the IPL, amassing 1,326 runs at a brisk strike rate of 137.13. His middle-over exploits, complemented by a century and 11 fifties in just 50 matches, make him a dynamic game-changer. While his bowling hasn't been heavily utilized in the IPL, his potential as a sixth bowler adds a tactical edge. KKR’s faith in Venkatesh signals their intent to fortify their middle order with explosiveness and all-round balance.

Punjab Kings dominate IPL 2025 auction

Punjab Kings continued their aggressive spending spree by snapping up Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal for ₹18 crore each. Arshdeep, known for his versatility as a new-ball and death-overs bowler, brings immense value with 76 wickets at an economy of 9.03 across 65 matches. His ability to deliver under pressure and a best of 5/32 position him as one of the most reliable Indian pacers. Meanwhile, Chahal, with 205 wickets in 160 matches at an average of 22.45 and a strike rate of 17.18, is a proven match-winner. As the second-leading T20I wicket-taker for India, his knack for dismantling batting lineups makes him a prized asset.

With three players among the top five buys, Punjab Kings have showcased their intent to build a squad capable of dominating IPL 2025. Their acquisitions of Iyer, Arshdeep, and Chahal reflect a balanced approach, combining batting depth, wicket-taking prowess, and tactical leadership. Lucknow Super Giants’ record-breaking investment in Pant highlights their focus on a game-changing leader, while KKR’s commitment to Venkatesh Iyer emphasizes their desire for middle-order explosiveness. As these stars gear up for the upcoming season, the stage is set for a thrilling competition where these marquee players are expected to justify their hefty price tags.

IPL 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) are desperate to end their underperformed tag, which they have been carrying on since the 2015 season. In the last 10 years, PBKS failed to advance to the playoffs. In the last two seasons, PBKS finished in eighth and ninth places, respectively, out of ten participating teams.  

In the retention deadline, PBKS unsurprisingly retained only two uncapped players. Wicketkeeper Prabhsimran Singh and all-rounder Shashank Singh were the retained names before the mega auction

SEE ALSO: IPL 2025: Know about Priyansh Arya, Gurjapneet Singh, and Eshan Malinga

Punjab Kings: Key additions from the mega auction

While Punjab Kings started the mega auction with INR 110.50 crore, it was clear that they could go longer for any top players. PBKS won Shreyas Iyer’s bid, who was the IPL 2024 winning captain for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for INR 26.75 crore. It was the first time in IPL auction history to experience a bid of more than INR 25 crore. 

While they used RTM for Arshdeep Singh by spending INR 18 crore, PBKS bought the leading IPL wicket-taker Yuzvendra Chahal, and Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis for INR 18 crore and 11 crore, respectively. 

The franchise also bought more overseas big names like South African all-rounder Marco Jansen, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, Afghan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson, Australian fast bowler Xavier Bartlett, etc. 

PBKS Full Squad

Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Pyla Avinash, Nehal Wadhera, Priyansh Arya, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan

Wicketkeepers: Prabhsimran Singh (retained), Josh Inglis (Australian), Vishnu Vinod

All-rounders: Shashank Singh (retained), Glenn Maxwell (Australian), Marcus Stoinis (Australian), Aaron Hardie (Australian), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghan), Marco Jansen (South African), Suryansh Shedge

Spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal, Praveen Dubey, Harpreer Brar

Pacers: Lockie Ferguson (New Zealander), Xavier Bartlett (Australian), (RTM) Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur

Brief SWOT analysis

Once again, PBKS had flaws in the auctions. Although they spent strong amounts to buy top overseas all-rounders and pacers, they can only use four of them in a match. Their Indian options are very limited in every aspect and mostly don’t have proper Indian alternates. 

There is no doubt that the team is very exciting with popular overseas names, but the team value is still not high enough due to very limited experienced Indian options. If the young and unfamiliar names do better, PBKS can dream of ending their long-struggling periods. 

PBKS Best Possible XI for IPL 2025

Prabhsimran Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson/Marco Jansen