The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has treated fans to some exhilarating cricketing action in the last few weeks. Quality cricket has been on offer day in and day out as teams are putting it all on the line to reach the playoffs.

Delhi Capitals got off to a fantastic start in the tournament as they won their first four games. Meanwhile, five-time champions Chennai Super Kings have some catching up to do after managing just two wins and five defeats from their first seven games.

There have been some standout performances in all three aspects of the game – batting, bowling, and fielding. In this analysis, CricTracker lists the five most exciting player pairings in the 18th edition of the cash-rich league

Top 5 most exciting player duo in IPL 2025

5. Digvesh Rathi and Ravi Bishnoi

Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) Digvesh Rathi has been one of the finds of IPL 2025. The leg-spinner has bowled with a lot of heart, and some would say that he has overshadowed the more experienced Ravi Bishnoi. However, keeping comparisons aside, Rathi and Bishnoi have been a treat to watch, especially when they are bowling in tandem through the middle overs for the Rishabh Pant-led side.

Rathi has picked up nine wickets from seven games at an average of 23.11. Meanwhile, Bishnoi has taken eight wickets from seven matches at 34.88. He didn’t have a great start in the tournament but his performances have improved in the last couple of matches.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Mayank Yadav likely to join LSG camp on April 15

4. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have scored a lot of runs as an opening pair in IPL 2025, getting the Gujarat Titans off to some fantastic starts. While Shubman has scored 208 runs from six innings at an average of 41.60, Sudharsan has amassed 329 runs from six innings at 54.83.

Shubman and Sudharsan registered a 120-run partnership against LSG in Ahmedabad this season. This is the third-highest opening partnership for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. The highest opening partnership record also belongs to this duo, as they put on a 210-run stand against CSK last year in Ahmedabad.

3. Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam

The two wrist spinners have played a key role in Delhi Capitals’ dominance in the first half of the season. Kuldeep Yadav has used his experience to bamboozle batters. Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Vipraj Nigam has shown his knack for picking up crucial wickets in important moments.

Kuldeep is the current holder of the IPL Purple Cap. He has picked up 10 wickets from five matches at an average of 11.20. Meanwhile, Nigam has accounted for seven wickets at 20.29. The Capitals would hope that the duo keeps applying the pressure on opposition sides by picking up wickets through the middle overs.

2. Virat Kohli and Phil Salt

Phil Salt has been a fantastic addition to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) setup. He has formed a formidable opening pair with the legendary Virat Kohli at the popular franchise. Salt’s aggressive mindset and the ability play the big shots from ball one allows Kohli to settle in before accelerating his scoring rate.

The duo has notched up three 50-plus partnerships for RCB in six games. Kohli is fourth on the IPL Orange Cap list with 248 runs from six matches at an average of 62. On the other hand, Salt has amassed 208 runs from six matches at a strike rate of 185.71.

1. Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh have played some sensational knocks at the top of the order for LSG. While Marsh has opened the innings, Pooran has walked in to bat at No. 3. Both players have pulverised opposition bowlers with disdain in most games.

Pooran is the current Orange Cap holder, having aggregated 357 runs from seven innings at an average of 59.50 and a strike rate of 208.77. On the other hand, Marsh has scored 295 runs from six innings at an average of 49.17 and a strike rate of 171.52.