IPL 2025: New Beginnings Ft. Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer & More

There were plenty of movements during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction, with plenty of top players moving their bases. With the new season of the IPL set to get underway on March 22 (Saturday), we take a look at players who could make the best of their new beginnings and force their way into contention for the T20 International (T20I) side.

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant made the headlines when he was bought by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a record INR 27 crore. After being part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) for nine years and leading them since 2021, the 27-year-old begins a new chapter with LSG. Pant did a decent job at three in India's successful T20 World Cup triumph but has played just a couple of games since then, with Sanju Samson preferred ahead of him, and rightly so, as the Kerala man has slammed three tons in 16 innings since the mega event.

However, Pant is too talented to be kept out of the team for a long time, and a good outing this season could force the selectors to draft him back in national colours.

KL Rahul 

KL Rahul had a superb run in India's Champions Trophy campaign recently, successfully donning the role of a finisher. After being bought for INR 14 crore by DC one felt he is the likely candidate to lead the franchise given his past experience, but they went ahead with Axar Patel.

According to reports, Rahul could bat in the middle-order, with Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk opening the innings. As a result, the 32-year-old might once again be forced to take up a new role - which is something he has not done since making his international debut in 2014.

Moreover, Rahul, as a non-opener, has an average of under 30 and strikes at 118. It would certainly be a gamble for DC, but if everything goes to plan, he could give the Indian team more depth, not just as a batter, but also as a wicketkeeper.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the title last season, but once the franchise did not retain him, one could sense that big bucks would be splashed on the Mumbaikar. That's exactly what happened, as Punjab Kings (PBKS) splashed INR 26.75 crore on him. As an added incentive, he will also link up with head coach Ricky Ponting, who had a good rapport with him at DC.

Iyer has not played a T20I since December 2023, and he might not have done anything flashy with the bat, but since 2022, he has 442 runs at 36.83 and a strike rate of 145.4, which are quite good numbers. While it could be tough to break into a middle-order that consists of Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh, the selectors will be forced to take note if Iyer does a stellar job with PBKS.

Yuzvendra Chahal

It's going to be a big season for Yuzvendra Chahal, who was bought for INR 18 crore. The leg-spinner has not played for India since 2023, and there were indications that he is not completely discarded as he was part of the squad when India won the T20 World Cup. 

However, with India preferring Kuldeep Yadav, along with two spin-bowling all-rounders, Chahal's chances have gone down considerably, and it will be a tough road back for the 34-year-old.

Chahal is the only bowler to have over 200 IPL wickets, and he has taken at least 18 wickets every season since 2019. With the T20 World Cup at home next year, Chahal could certainly put himself in contention with another good season in the IPL.

Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan's poor IPL 2024 mirrored the Mumbai Indians (MI)'s performance. They finished last last season with Kishan having one of his worst seasons, managing just one fifty in 14 innings.

However, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) may have given Kishan a new lease of life, which could allow him to make a fresh start. They procured his services for INR 11.25 crore and are certain to add more firepower to the top three, which already consists of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head.

The 26-year-old certainly has age on his side, and his journey with SRH could be his way back into the India side. As far as T20Is are concerned, he is perhaps behind Samson, Pant and even Rahul among wicketkeepers in the pecking order, but the upcoming season could be an opportunity for the southpaw to make his way up. His 16-ball 53 in the intra-squad match recently was certainly a great start.

Jitesh Sharma

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) splashed INR 11 crore on Jitesh Sharma, who is yet to hit an IPL fifty, having played 40 matches in the tournament. He had a season to forget for PBKS last season, having scored just 187 runs in 12 innings. 

Once thought of as a wicketkeeper who can play the role of a finisher, Jitesh has faded away as far as his India prospects are concerned, failing to add to his nine appearances. 

He had a decent outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy recently, scoring at an average of 33.75 and a strike rate of 225. He will hope to make that No. 5 or 6 position in the team his own, and push his case for a place in T20Is.

Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj played three games in the T20 World Cup and three games against Sri Lanka after that but had little to no impact. In fact, he has picked up just three wickets from his last eight T20I appearances, and as a result, his chances of making it back to the Indian team have taken a hit. 

His move to the Gujarat Titans (GT) could be a terrific opportunity to reinvent himself. In his seven seasons with RCB, Siraj struggled for consistency. He has never had excellent seasons back-to-back, which was frustrating given his quality, especially in the powerplay.

Only three other bowlers have picked up more wickets than Siraj (31) in the first six overs in IPL since 2020 and could be a vital cog for them again, considering how pace-friendly the conditions have been in Ahmedabad. While Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami continue to be India's first-choice pacers, Siraj too will hope to show that he belongs in the same league.