IPL 2025 Knockouts: Top 5 players to watch out for Qualifier 2 and the Final.
After two months of fierce competition, packed stadiums, and countless standout moments, IPL 2025 is nearing its conclusion. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have already stormed into the final by securing a thumping win in Qualifier 1, while Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will battle in Qualifier 2 for the remaining spot.
This season has thrown up rising sensations setting the stage on fire and resurgent veterans. But as the tournament enters its decisive phase, it’s often the seasoned campaigners who carry their sides through pressure-cooker moments.
Here’s a look at five players who have defined IPL 2025 so far—and why they might be the difference-makers in the knockouts.
Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai Indians)
Matches: 15 | Runs: 673 | Avg: 67.30 | SR: 167.83 | 5 fifties
Suryakumar Yadav’s, who was struggling with the form coming into the tournament, 2025 season has been nothing short of a masterclass in T20 batting. Coming into the tournament on the back of indifferent international form, SKY has responded with typical flair—adapting, innovating, and dominating every bowling attack in sight.
He has been the glue in Mumbai’s middle order, frequently walking in at undre pressure and turning the tide with aggressive yet calculated strokeplay. His consistency at a strike rate nearing 170 stands out in a format known for volatility. He is yet to be dismissed under 25 runs atleast once in the tournament.
Suryakumar again is someone who thrives under pressure. He has played key knocks in MI’s past title runs and showed in the Eliminator against Gujarat Titans that he remains MI’s crisis man. On a truer surface in Ahmedabad, PBKS will need a foolproof plan to contain him—or risk watching the game slip away in the space of five overs.
Read More: MI or PBKS? Which team is more likely to meet RCB in IPL 2025 Final?
Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Matches: 11 | Wickets: 21 | Purple Cap Position: 3rd
Injuries threatened to derail Josh Hazlewood’s 2025 campaign after he picked up the shoulder injury mid-season. RCB did miss him in the first few games before he returned to the fray ahead of the crucial playoffs. The Australia quick has been surgical with the new ball and RCB have looked a different gravy with him being in the lineup.
Josh Hazlewood has the second most wickets (9) in powerplay this season after Khaleel Ahmed (10), who played three games more than him. Hazlewood along with two-timer Purple Cap winner Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal for company, RCB have emerged as the most successful bowling attack in powerplay with 26 wickets and 8.74 economy.
His spell in Qualifier 1—removing Shreyas Iyer, Josh Inglis, and Azmat Omarzai—ripped through PBKS’s batting order and set the tone for RCB’s commanding win.
Hazlewood’s success is built on relentless accuracy, intelligent variations, and the ability to extract movement even on flat Indian tracks. His economy under pressure and knack for early breakthroughs make him indispensable. Notably, Hazlewood hasn’t lost any finals across all formats which he has played in his career.
Hazlewood brings vast big-game experience from IPL finals and World Cups. For RCB, who have often faltered in high-stakes games, he offers control and calmness that can tilt the final in their favour.
Read More: Top performers for RCB on their road to the final
Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings)
Matches: 15 | Runs: 516 | Avg: 46.90 | SR: 170.86 | 5 fifties
As captain, Shreyas Iyer has overseen a remarkable transformation at PBKS. With four uncapped India batters in their top seven, PBKS were expected to struggle—but Iyer’s leadership and red-hot form have been central to their march to the playoffs.
He’s hit 31 sixes this season—fourth most in the league—and consistently found boundaries during middle overs. He is arguably one of the most improved batter in last couple of years. He always had a great game against spin, but he worked a lot on his game against short pitch deliveries and is the leading run getter for PBKS this season.
Iyer, who has struggled in Mullanpur in entire IPL 2025, might get some confidence ahead of the crucial qualifier game against Mumbai Indians, having played 97-run blitzkrieg against GT in Ahmedabad earlier this season.
While Iyer’s IPL record in knockouts is modest, his temperament and tactical acumen shine through. He’s one win away from becoming the first captain to lead three different franchises to the IPL final. On a flatter Ahmedabad pitch, he will be hungry to make amends for his failure in Qualifier 1.
Read More: IPL 2025, Eliminator, GT vs MI: Mumbai hold their own in high pressure tie, GT eliminated
Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)
Matches: 11 | Wickets: 18 | Economy: 6.36
Jasprit Bumrah is to IPL playoffs what Roger Federer was to Centre Court—effortlessly dominant. This season, Bumrah, who missed first few games due to injury, has bowled like a man on a mission, cutting through top orders, stifling batters in the death overs, and giving MI breathing room even when others leaked runs.
Captain Hardik Pandya’s comments on Bumrah says it all, how important and great bowler he is. “It’s very simple: whenever you feel the game is going far [away], just get him. It’s like Mumbai housing prices – he’s that expensive! I just need to throw the ball,” Pandya on Bumrah’s presence in the XI.
Against GT in the eliminator, Bumrah delivered a spell that reshaped the game. Despite dew and injuries around him, he produced another world-class effort, yorking Washington Sundar and silencing critics who questioned MI’s bowling depth.
Bumrah’s record in IPL knockouts is among the best in league history. His ability to bowl the tough overs—1st, 6th, 17th, and 20th—makes him Hardik Pandya’s most reliable weapon against an aggressive PBKS lineup.
Read More: Virat Kohli crosses 9000-run mark for RCB: The story of an unbreakable bond
Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Matches: 14 | Runs: 614 | Orange Cap Position: 5th | 8 fifties
Virat Kohli is chasing not just runs this season, but history. The talismanic batter has carried RCB into the final with his vintage consistency—scoring heavily in the powerplay and often anchoring the innings without compromising on strike rate.
Despite a rare failure in Qualifier 1, Kohli’s 614 runs and eight fifties make him RCB’s heartbeat. His emotional connection with the franchise and hunger to win a maiden IPL title remain unmatched. However, it’s not the old RCB that used to heavily depend on him. This year, they have seen eight different players earning Player of the Match awards and many others playing match-winning knocks for the side.
Kohli’s knockout record in the IPL is a mixed bag, but there’s no denying his aura and ability’s rise on the big night. The final could be the perfect stage for him to exorcise past demons and finally lift the IPL trophy that has eluded him.
As MI and PBKS prepare to duel in Qualifier 2, and RCB await their opponent for the summit clash, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In a tournament defined by momentum and moments, these five stars stand out for their form, flair, and fearlessness.
Whether it’s SKY’s fireworks, Bumrah’s precision, Iyer’s aggression, Hazlewood’s discipline, or Kohli’s determination, expect these names to dominate headlines as IPL 2025 reaches its crescendo.
Read More: IPL 2025: Iyer-Ponting reunion as captain-coach duo worked well for PBKS
