The Indian Premier League is back to provide another thrill ride for T20 cricket fans over the course of the next couple of months.
Mumbai Indians are the pre-tournament favourites with Hardik Pandya’s side bidding to go from worst to first in the space of 12 months.
The five-time champions boast a star-studded lineup that features T20 World Cup winners Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah.
The Chennai Super Kings, who narrowly missed out on playoff qualification in 2024, have bolstered their batting lineup with key acquisitions like New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra alongside young Indian stars Rahul Tripathi and Vijay Shankar.
And the Sunrisers Hyderabad, runners-up last season, round out the top three favourites in the betting. Pat Cummins’ side have retained a formidable squad headlined by explosive batters Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen.
IPL Betting Tips
- Lucknow Super Giants to win the IPL @ 11/1 with bet365
- Virat Kohli to be Top Batter @ 10/1 with bet365
- Harshal Patel to be Top Bowler @ 16/1 with bet365
Luck could be on Super Giants’ side
It’s always easier to rule teams in rather than out at this stage of proceedings, but there are some doubts about the Indians that will need to be dispelled quickly if they are to perform up to expectations.
Bumrah is still being troubled by the back injury that forced him to pull out of the recent Champions Trophy, so Mumbai’s bowling attack may be vulnerable until he regains full fitness.
Pandya missed their opening match through suspension and let’s not forget that this team has finished bottom of the pile in two of the last four editions of IPL.
There is considerable value in the middle of the outright betting market where a team such as Lucknow Super Giants could spring a surprise. They have appointed Rishabh Pant as their new captain after acquiring him for a record fee.
The World Cup winner’s aggressive approach to batting and captaincy could bring a fresh dynamic to the team. They may be a little short on top quality at the top of their order but they bat deep with possibly the strongest middle order around.
With Nicholas Pooran, David Miller and Mitchell Marsh batting around Pant, there will be no shortage of power and cricket intelligence in the side.
The Super Giants have a capable bowling attack led by Ravi Bishnoi and if their injured pacers recover in time, they could form a potent bowling unit.
And with such squad depth at their disposal, Lucknow look well placed to exploit the impact player regulation.
IPL Tip 1: Lucknow Super Giants to win the IPL @ 11/1 with bet365
Kohli’s enduring class hard to ignore
Virat Kohli accumulated a staggering 741 runs in last year’s tournament, which was over 150 more than any other player.
Kohli is the leading run-scorer in Indian Premier League history with 8,004 runs from 252 innings and enters the 2025 tournament as joint-favourite with Indian teammate Shubman Gill to retain the Orange Cap.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star’s recent form in white ball cricket is exceptional.
He scored 218 runs at an average of 54.50 in the Champions Trophy, despite playing all his games at one of the trickier venues for batting in Dubai.
Kohli’s class makes him the standout pick to outscore every other player in this year’s competition too.
IPL Tip 2: Virat Kohli to be Top Batter @ 10/1 with bet365
Patel can pick up a third Purple Cap
Harshal Patel clinched his second Purple Cap last season after taking 24 wickets in IPL 2024, three more than his nearest rival.
The right-armer remains Sunrisers Hyderabad’s go-to bowler in crucial situations.
The team will rely on him to make breakthroughs during the powerplay and he is often on hand to pick up wickets in the death overs when batters try to target his lesser pace.
But that did not harm his record last season and Harshal could once again emerge as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
IPL Tip 3: Harshal Patel to be Top Bowler @ 16/1 with bet365
