Sunil Gavaskar Predicts IPL 2025 Winner

With IPL 2025 entering its final phase, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has made a major prediction about this season's champion. Amid intense competition, Gavaskar has backed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to lift their maiden IPL trophy — a title that has eluded them for 17 seasons.

RCB – The strongest contender this season

In a conversation with India Today, Gavaskar praised RCB's consistency and all-round performance this season. The cricketer-turned-commentator acknowledged the threat posed by Mumbai Indians, who are on a six-match winning streak, but still placed RCB slightly ahead. 

"Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They’ve batted well and fielded superbly too. Mumbai Indians are close, but they’ve only just started their surge. The question is whether they can maintain it, as they have three tough matches coming up against top teams. How they carry that momentum will be key. But yes, RCB are definitely the title favourites," Gavaskar said in the interview.

Under Rajat Patidar's leadership, RCB has won 7 out of 10 matches and currently holds 14 points, placing them third in the standings. With four league games left — three of them at home — they are well-positioned to make the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 playoffs.

RCB's success has been powered by contributions from experienced stars and young talents alike. Virat Kohli, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Devdutt Padikkal, and Josh Hazlewood have all delivered strong performances this season, helping RCB emerge as one of the most balanced sides in the tournament.

Big test ahead against CSK

RCB faces Chennai Super Kings next on May 3 - a team they beat earlier in the season. While CSK is already out of playoff contention, the match presents RCB with a chance to solidify their position and move closer to a top-two finish.

Also on ABP Live | Why Vaibhav Suryavanshi May Not Be Eligible For Team India Despite IPL Heroics

ipl