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The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set for another enthralling season in 2025. Teams will be keen to fine tune their squads during the upcoming mega auctions ahead of the 2025 edition.
The IPL 2025 mega auction is set to be held later this year. There are already speculations as to which players will be retained and who will be released by their respective teams.
Moreover, some franchises will look for an overhaul in their captaincy as well. Certain teams could potentially look at new faces to lead in the 2025 season. That said, the present skippers of some of these teams might not be retained.
On that note, let us take a look at three such captains who could be released ahead of IPL 2025.
3 captains who could be released ahead of IPL 2025
#3 Faf Du Plessis
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Faf Du Plessis did not have an exceptional 2024 IPL season with the bat. It can be argued that he has showcased good form in recent T20 leagues.
However, Faf is now 36 years old and the franchise would want to look ahead for a future long-term captain during the mega auctions. Given the auction dynamics and retention policies, it could also get difficult for RCB to retain Faf ahead of other key overseas players in their side.
While Faf did lead them to the playoffs last season, captaining the side in what was a dramatic turnaround to qualify, it is highly likely that the franchise could release him and look beyond.
#2 Shikhar Dhawan
Veteran southpaw Shikhar Dhawan is among the top run-scorers in the league. However, there are a few reasons why the Punjab Kings might decide against keeping him.
A primary issue is Dhawan's reduced involvement in cricket. After being dropped from international cricket in 2022, he has played only a limited number of matches, with most of his participation confined to the IPL and little engagement in domestic fixtures.
Age is another obvious concern. At 38, Dhawan suffered a shoulder injury early in the 2024 season, which kept him out for the rest of the season. With India's premier franchise league evolving and becoming more fast-paced, the Punjab Kings may look for a younger leader to rejuvenate the team, especially considering their recent finishes which have been poor as they have failed to make the playoffs.
#1 KL Rahul
A crucial consideration for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) regarding Rahul's retention is his exclusion from the 2024 T20 World Cup squad and his absence from the Sri Lanka T20I series. Although Rahul led LSG to third place in the IPL during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the 2024 season was a major disappointment, with the team ending up in seventh place after a lackluster performance.
KL Rahul has often been criticized for his strike rate in the format and the young franchise might as well look for young legs to lead the side.
Additionally, the relationship between Rahul and LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka seems to be strained, especially after an on-field incident following a heavy loss to the SunRisers Hyderabad in the 2024 season.
