Power Shift: How Departures and Data Are Redrawing the IPL 2025 Playoff Race

IPL 2025: Crunch Time After 58 Matches - Who’s Rising and Who’s Reeling

With 58 matches played, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. But this season’s story has shifted: a schedule reshuffle and the departure of several overseas stars have tilted the balance. So, who’s still soaring, and who’s scrambling? Let’s dive into the data.

Reminder: How the Rankings Work

To make fair comparisons across teams with uneven match counts, all player ratings are normalized as if every franchise had played 11 matches — the fewest any team has played so far. Players who missed games aren’t penalized but are less likely to accumulate run and wicket aggregates that inherently reduce their impact. (More on the model and methodology here).

The Top 3: Who’s Lighting It Up?

1. Suryakumar Yadav - The Sky‑High Accelerator

SKY has taken off since the last update, vaulting to No. 1 overall. He ranks in the top five for both Aggression and Consistency, averaging 64 at a strike rate of 170, all while batting in the third-toughest conditions across the league.

2. Jos Buttler - The Consistency King

Buttler’s machine keeps humming: 500 runs, a 71 average, and a strike rate of 164. Those raw numbers are outstanding, but Gujarat's matches have averaged 195 runs compared to 180 for Mumbai, making Suryakumar’s performances more impactful in context.

3. Prasidh Krishna - The Titan Enforcer

Still the tournament’s leading bowler by most measures. He ranks 1st in Run Restriction and 2nd in Wicket Frequency. A couple of quieter outings (1-37 and 1-47) have trimmed his edge slightly, but he remains Gujarat’s frontline force.

The Strugglers: Who’s Feeling the Heat?

• Rishabh Pant remains at the bottom of the table, averaging 12 with a strike rate of 99.

• Shimron Hetmyer has faltered as Rajasthan’s finisher, a major reason for their struggles and placing him second lowest this season.

• Matheesha Pathirana has been expensive for Chennai, conceding over 10 per over and weakening their death-bowling edge.

Who’s Hurt Most by the Schedule Shake-Up?

A late-season reschedule means several overseas stars have left — some for good, others until after the playoffs. Here’s who’s missing, and how much it matters.

Out for the Season

• Josh Hazlewood (RCB): The biggest loss. He leads the Wicket Frequency charts and ranks as RCB’s third-most impactful player.

• Mitchell Starc (DC): Underwhelming figures (10+ economy) but still a proven performer in high-pressure matches.

• Others: Jofra Archer (RR) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (DC) had already been dropped or made minimal contributions.

  
  

Missing the Playoffs

Team	Key Departures	Model Impact
GT	Jos Buttler, Kagiso Rabada	Massive. Buttler ranks No. 2 overall.
RCB	Jacob Bethell, Lungi Ngidi	Manageable, but worsens the Hazlewood loss.
PBKS	Marco Jansen	Significant, as Jansen is a top-10 Run Restrictor.
MI	Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks	Minimal. With SKY, Bumrah, and Boult still active, MI remain strong contenders.
DC	Tristan Stubbs	Stubbs ranks 18th overall and has been crucial for DC — this will sting.

Team Power Ratings (0–100)

Before Absentees: GT 100 · MI 62 · PBKS 61 · RCB 51 · DC 33

After Absentees: GT 100 · MI 83 · PBKS 63 · RCB 42 · DC 29

Takeaway: Gujarat’s lead narrows but holds firm. Mumbai remain largely intact, while RCB’s playoff hopes fade without Hazlewood.