The 2025 IPL season concluded in June with the Royal Challengers Bangalore winning their first-ever title. As usual, the league delivered fully on its reputation as the most popular cricket league in the world. It shattered viewership records, recording a staggering 840 billion minutes of global watch time and amassing over 23.1 billion views on the league’s official streaming platform. Unsurprisingly, it also drew massive betting activity, with millions of punters placing wagers on every aspect of the tournament. You can check out the best cricket odds alongside exciting titles like the online Vortex game in your free time.
Beyond the numbers and the headlines, one thing the IPL consistently guarantees is high-quality cricket and exceptional talent on display. As always, it proved to be a launchpad for a new generation of rising stars. Several players, some relatively unknown and others right on the verge of breaking out, stepped up in a big way and delivered exceptional performances that reshaped their careers.
This article highlights the top five breakout players of the just-concluded 2025 IPL season. We’ll examine their overall performance and the impact they had on their teams.
Priyansh Arya (Punjab Kings)
24-year-old Priyansh Arya is one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket at the moment. The left-handed opener represents Delhi in domestic cricket and the Punjab Kings in the IPL.
Arya made his IPL debut this season, and his impact was definitely felt. He featured in 16 matches, amassing 451 runs at an average of 28.19. He also racked up 51 fours and 25 sixes, including a blistering 39-ball century against Chennai Super Kings, which made him the third-fastest Indian to hit an IPL ton. His strike rate of 183.33 also puts him among the most aggressive openers this season.
Arya, alongside his opening partner Prabhsimran Singh, was very instrumental in the Punjab Kings’ impressive performance this season. The team finished first in the group stage for the first time in 11 years, with nine wins and just four losses. They also made it to the final, which was their first IPL final appearance in over a decade.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals)
With his debut at the 2025 IPL season, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player in IPL history. Suryavanshi, who is a left-handed batter from Bihar, was signed by the Rajasthan Royals in the 2024 IPL mega auction for ₹1.1 crore. At the time, many thought his procurement was for the future. However, he turned out to be one of the most explosive performers of the season.
Despite the Rajasthan Royals’ disappointing campaign, which saw them finish 9th on the table with just four wins from 14 matches, Suryavanshi’s performance is a major highlight in the tournament. In just seven appearances, he racked up 252 runs at an average of 36.00. Fans couldn’t get enough of his maturity, shot selection, and the sheer audacity with which he took on seasoned bowlers.
Notably, Suryavanshi began playing for Bihar’s Under-19 side at just 12, becoming one of the youngest players in Ranji Trophy history. He’s the youngest player to debut in both T20s (at 13 years and 241 days) and List A cricket (at 13 years and 269 days) for Bihar. He’s also one of the youngest to represent the India B U-19 squad.
Ayush Mhatre (Chennai Super Kings)
After losing captain Ruturaj Gaikwad to injury midway through the season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were in a bind. They needed someone to step up and fast, which is why they brought in Ayush Mhatre, a 17-year-old left-handed opener.
Mhatre made his presence felt immediately. In his first game against the Mumbai Indians, he smashed a quickfire 32 off just 15 balls, injecting the much-needed momentum into CSK’s sluggish powerplay. Just a couple of weeks later, he delivered one of the most impressive knocks of the season, an electrifying 94 off 48 balls in a high-pressure chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
In total, Mhatre featured in 7 matches, scoring 240 runs at a solid average of 34.29 and an explosive strike rate of 188.97. Even though CSK had a disappointing season, finishing at the bottom of the group stage, Mhatre’s performance was still brilliant. For a teenager making his IPL debut in the middle of a chaotic campaign, his numbers were nothing short of exceptional.
Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans)
Although 23-year-old Sai Sudharsan had shown flashes of brilliance in previous IPL seasons, he took things to a whole new level this season. Over the course of 15 matches, the left-handed top-order batter amassed a staggering 759 runs at an average of 54.21. He also had a strike rate of 156.17, 88 fours, and 21 sixes to his name.
His red-hot form played a major role in the Gujarat Titans’ campaign, helping them secure nine wins in the group stage and clinch a playoff spot by finishing fourth. Although their journey ended in the eliminator against the Mumbai Indians, Sudharsan’s brilliance was a clear highlight of their season.
Sai Sudharsan has been a key figure for the Gujarat Titans since joining the franchise in 2022. Although he didn’t see much game time in his debut IPL season, his performances steadily improved each year. In 2023, he made headlines with a brilliant 96 in the IPL final against CSK, nearly dragging Gujarat Titans to a second consecutive title.
By 2024, he had established his place as a key part of the team’s batting lineup, finishing as their highest run-scorer with 527 runs. He carried that momentum into 2025, where he dominated bowling attacks and also etched his name in the record books. He became the youngest player ever to win the Orange Cap and to score over 700 runs in a single IPL season.
Vipraj Nigam (Delhi Capitals)
Vipraj Nigam plays domestic cricket for Uttar Pradesh. He made his IPL debut this season for Delhi Capitals after being signed for ₹50 lakh in the mega auction.
Nigam made an instant impact in his debut match against Lucknow Super Giants in Vizag, smashing a quickfire 39 off just 15 balls and taking a wicket. It was a performance that set the tone for the rest of his season. The 23-year-old all-rounder went on to feature in all 14 matches of the season, establishing himself as a reliable dual-threat option. With the ball, he delivered 39 overs and 18 wickets, maintaining an economy rate of 9.12 and a bowling strike rate of 21.27. With the bat, he chipped in with 142 runs at an average of 20.29, including 15 boundaries and eight sixes.
However, despite Nigam’s brilliance, Delhi Capitals couldn’t quite build the consistency they needed. They finished fifth on the table with seven wins, six losses, and one no result, just shy of a playoff berth.
Conclusion
The 2025 season once again proved why the IPL is recognized as the world’s best cricket league. As always, it was more than just thrilling matches and packed stadiums; it was a stage for fresh talent to shine. It served as a launchpad for various cricketing talents, who, contrary to expectations, lit up the tournament and captured the imagination of the billions of fans who watched it worldwide.
