The Indian Premier League (IPL) has grown beyond just being a cricket tournament; it is now a global spectacle of skill, intensity, and drama, bringing together the best cricketers from around the world. As the 2025 edition approaches, the anticipation among fans and experts is at an all-time high. The tournament’s rich history, featuring breathtaking performances, close finishes, and high-voltage encounters, makes it one of the most competitive sporting events in the world. While several franchises boast formidable squads, former Australian captain Michael Clarke has made a bold prediction regarding the likely winners of IPL 2025.
Australia’s Michael Clarke picks the winner of IPL 2025
Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Clarke responded to host Erin Holland’s question about which team he believes will lift the trophy this year. Without hesitation, the ODI World Cup 2015-winning captain backed Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to claim their second IPL title. Clarke admitted that his pick for IPL 2025 champions might be slightly biased, given his strong affinity for Australian players, but he firmly believed that SRH have assembled a squad capable of going all the way.
“I’m probably going to be a little bit biased if I pick a winner now – it’s based on favoritism for sure. But I’m going to go with Pat Cummins and the Sunrisers. Go the Aussies!,” Clarke said with enthusiasm.
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A world-class batting lineup and leadership
Clarke highlighted that SRH’s batting unit is already one of the best in the league, making them serious contenders for the title. In IPL 2024, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma redefined aggressive powerplay batting, dismantling opposition attacks with their fearless stroke play. With Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy and the newly added Ishan Kishan in the middle order, SRH possesses immense firepower.
Having led SRH to the final in his very first season as captain, Cummins will return even stronger in IPL 2025. Clarke believed Cummins has grown significantly as a leader in T20 cricket and will use the experience of last season to fine-tune his captaincy further.
“The Sunrisers’ batting is strong enough to win the tournament, no doubt about it. They have got the firepower at the top and in the middle order to take down any team. Patty as a captain, he would have learned a lot last year. So I think his captaincy will improve again this year in this format of the game. He will make better decisions in crucial moments and lead from the front,” the 43-year-old added.
While Clarke has complete faith in SRH’s batting, he emphasized that their biggest challenge will be managing their bowling resources effectively.
“It’s just their bowling—they cannot afford their quicks to get injured. Their death bowling is so important, and Cummins is a massive part of that. If they manage their bowlers well, they can win it all,” Clarke concluded.
SRH were heartbreakingly close to winning IPL 2024 but fell short in the final against Kolkata Knight Riders. This season, they enter the tournament as one of the most well-rounded squads, boasting a lethal mix of explosive batters, experienced bowlers, and an astute leader in Cummins.
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