IPL 2025 Schedule, Auction Highlights, and Playoff Predictions

The IPL 2025 season is set to kick off on March 14 and will run until May 25, featuring 74 matches across two months of action-packed cricket. If you’re gearing up for your fantasy cricket lineups, keeping track of team changes, player signings, and squad strengths is crucial. Let’s break down everything you need to know, from record-breaking auction deals to the teams most likely to make the playoffs.

Biggest Auction Moves You Should Know

The IPL 2025 mega auction, held on November 24-25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, saw teams going all out to build strong squads. Punjab Kings grabbed headlines by signing Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore, making him the most expensive player ever in an IPL auction—at least for a short while.

Just when it seemed like the record was set, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) threw ₹27 crore at Rishabh Pant, making him the highest-paid IPL player in history. If you’re planning your fantasy team, both Iyer and Pant will be crucial picks, as they are expected to lead Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, respectively.

Which Teams Have the Best Playoff Chances?

With 10 teams fighting for four playoff spots, picking the right players for your fantasy lineup requires understanding team balance and weaknesses. Based on squad depth, auction strategy, and past performances, here are the four teams most likely to make it to the playoffs.

1. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

LSG looks dangerous on paper, especially with Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, and David Miller in the batting lineup. Their pace attack—Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Avesh Khan—can trouble even the best batters.

Fantasy Tip: LSG’s bowling attack is strong, but they lack experienced backup for their overseas batters. If Nicholas Pooran or David Miller misses games, their batting depth could take a hit.

📌 Predicted Finish: 4th Place

2. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

KKR will rely on Venkatesh Iyer and Quinton de Kock to carry the batting, while Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy will handle the spin department. However, their pace attack is a bit of a gamble, with Spencer Johnson and Anrich Nortje struggling last season.

Fantasy Tip: Spinners could be KKR’s game-changers. Narine and Chakravarthy are solid fantasy picks, especially on slow pitches.

📌 Predicted Finish: 3rd Place

3. Punjab Kings (PBKS)

PBKS made some serious moves this season, bringing in Ricky Ponting as head coach and signing Shreyas Iyer as captain. They stacked their squad with all-rounders like Azmatullah Omarzai, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, and Glenn Maxwell, which gives them flexibility.

Fantasy Tip: PBKS has one of the best-balanced squads. Keep an eye on Shashank Singh and Arshdeep Singh as budget-friendly fantasy picks.

📌 Predicted Finish: 2nd Place

4. Mumbai Indians (MI)

MI’s squad looks like an Indian all-star team, with Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah leading the side. Their pace attack—featuring Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, and Bumrah—could dominate most matches.

Fantasy Tip: Mumbai Indians’ biggest strength is their depth in every department. Pick bowlers like Bumrah and Boult, who can consistently deliver fantasy points.

📌 Predicted Finish: 1st Place

What to Expect in IPL 2025?

With squads locked in, the competition will be fierce. Whether you’re setting up your fantasy team for daily matches or the entire season, keeping track of player form, injuries, and playing conditions will be key. If you’re still finalizing your dream lineup, these teams should be at the top of your list