IPL 2025: 4 Teams that might not make it to playoffs

IPL 2025 is around the corner, and all ten teams are working hard to prepare for the tournament. Just like every other year, the upcoming season is expected to be a blockbuster. However, as per the rules, only four out of the ten teams will qualify for the playoffs. 

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The fight for those spots would not be easy, as no team will be willing to give away a single chance. Despite that, some big teams might still struggle to make it to the IPL 2025 playoffs. 

Here are the four teams that might not make it to the playoffs

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

The defending champions, KKR, might struggle even to qualify for the playoffs, making their dream of winning back-to-back titles difficult. While they have retained most of their title-winning squad from last season, the major concern is the absence of their captain, Shreyas Iyer. They have yet to announce a new skipper for IPL 2025.

As per reports, Ajinkya Rahane is a strong candidate due to his leadership experience with Mumbai in domestic cricket and with Team India. Another option is Venkatesh Iyer, whom KKR secured for INR 23.75 crore, indicating they might trust him with the captaincy. However, whether either of these choices will be successful remains to be seen.

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Adding to the challenge, KKR will be without Gautam Gambhir as a mentor, as he has taken over as Team India’s head coach. His presence played a key role in shaping KKR’s aggressive approach last season. Without him, KKR will need to find a way to maintain their dominant style of play.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

MI is one of the most successful teams in IPL history, but last season was a nightmare as they finished at the bottom of the table. Disappointed fans demanded Rohit Sharma’s return as captain after just one season under Hardik Pandya. However, MI stuck to their decision, retaining Rohit and confirming Hardik as skipper for IPL 2025.

Hardik is a proven match-winner and has led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to an IPL title and another final. However, MI face two major challenges—lack of quality spinners and a weak bench strength. While they have Mujeeb-ur-Rahman (who replaced the injured Allah Ghazanfar) and Mitchell Santner, both are overseas players, making team selection tricky.

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In a long tournament like the IPL, injuries are inevitable, and MI’s lack of experienced backups could hurt their chances. These weaknesses might make it difficult for them to secure a playoff spot.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

A lot of speculation surrounded the possibility of Virat Kohli reclaiming RCB’s captaincy. However, putting all rumours to rest, RCB’s new era will begin under Rajat Patidar. The reliable batter has been a consistent performer for the franchise, but leading an IPL team will be a whole new challenge for him.

The silver lining is that he has Virat Kohli by his side for guidance. However, looking at RCB’s final squad, securing a top-four finish seems tough. Their spin attack, featuring Swapnil Singh and Krunal Pandya, lacks firepower compared to other teams. With such gaps in their squad, RCB’s long wait for an IPL title might continue.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals (RR) have been an exciting team to watch in recent years. While their aim remains the same, making the playoffs in IPL 2025 might be a tough challenge for them. One key concern is the lack of top-quality Indian spinners. 

They have Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, but playing both in the XI could be tricky due to the overseas player limit. Additionally, Sanju recently underwent finger surgery, though he is expected to be fit in time for the tournament. With these challenges, RR might struggle to secure a playoff spot this season.

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