Ravi Shastri Reveals Top IPL 2025 Picks and Predictions – Names Gujarat, Chennai & Mumbai as Ones to Watch

Cricket fans around the world, rejoice! The time has finally come after months and months of waiting for the new iteration of the best competition in the world to commence yet again. The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL18, TATA IPL 2025) is finally here. As the 18th edition of the best cricketing competition, it officially started on March 22 and will last until May 25, which means the next two months will be packed with games, a total of 74 to be more precise. Teams will be vying for a chance at the title and both the favorites and the underdogs will be giving it their all to make it happen. It is being held across 13 cities in India with Kolkata hosting the opening ceremony and the final as their Knight Riders are the defending champions.

In this detailed and in-depth article, we focus on the games that have just finished, and those that are going on live, and bring to the fans all of the match insights. From key stats to expert analysis, there will be a little bit of everything as we explore the Ravi Shastri interview with Stake.com. If you are a fan of cricket, India is the place to be and IPL is the competition to follow. The next two months are the best of the year for the fans of the game as well as those who enjoy an occasional sports bet on online sportsbooks. To do all that, IPL matchday analysis and live score updates are necessary so that is exactly what this article aims to achieve. Read on to learn more from the mind of one of the greatest and make sure to utilize his insight into your wagering decisions. 

Current Standings and Ongoing Matches 

At the moment of writing, each team has played its first game with the Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants playing two. Currently, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the frontrunners in the standings with 1 win, 2 points, and a +2.137 NRR. Behind them in second place are the Super Giants with 1 win and 1 loss, good for a +0.963 NRR. Rounding up the current top three are the Punjab Kings with 1 win, 2 points and +0.550. The Chennai Super Kings are fourth and the Delhi Capitals are fifth, with 1 win each and the respective +0.493 and +0.371 NRR. 

It is then the Sunrisers Hyderabad with 1 win and 1 loss in their first two games, good for 2 points and -0.128. Behind them, from the seventh to the tenth places, it is first the defending champions Knight Riders with 1 win and 1 loss and -0.308 and then three teams who are yet to win, including the Mumbai Indians (-0.493), Gujarat Titans (-0.550), and Rajasthan Royals, the last of which have lost both of their first two games and are dead last at the moment with -1.882. Of course, there are plenty of games left to be played as each team plays 14 times in the span of the season. There is still time to turn things around and get back on top. 

What Was Said in the Interview?

The legendary commentator and one of the leading cricket experts had a lot to say about the ongoing season that has just started. The former cricketer and Indian head coach is known for his deep knowledge of the game and his opinions are hardly without any weight. His guidelines and predictions proved important the previous season of IPL as well as the coveted Australia VS India Test Series of matches. Now, partnering with him one more time, the exciting Stake interview with Ravi Shastri is again full of valuable data and key predictions for the new season.

At first, the two sides talked about the top teams heading into the season and Shastri immediately had some in mind, picking some of the usual candidates for the title. The expert told the fans to “keep an eye on Gujarat, Chennai, and Mumbai this season,” as “these teams have the right balance, experience, and firepower to go all the way.” And that is exactly what many of the fans were thinking about when making their early predictions for the championship so having someone as Shastri confirm it speaks volumes. A very notable thing to point out is that he did not mention the defending champions as one of the better teams this time around, who then went on to split their first two games. 

Who are the Best Batters and Bowlers Heading into 2025?

Ravi Shastri was more than a decent batter during his time playing. This gave the interviewer ample opportunity to talk about the best current batters int he league and who he believes are the best ones in 2025. He revealed, “Shubman Gill has been in sublime form and this could be another massive season for him.” High praise from a legend. He continued, saying that Sanju Samson’s flair and power-hitting make him another threat and a batter who can take on any bowler. 

As for the bowlers, he does have his favorite as a standout for the 2025 iteration of IPL, and that is none other than Harshit Rand. “[He] is a promising talent [with] pace, aggression, and the ability to make an impact in crucial moments.” And that is exactly what every team needs from their top bowler, to deliver exactly when the moment calls for it to turn the game. He knows exactly how big bowling is and how quickly it can make or break the chances of any team, be it the favorite or the underdog. 

Continuing the topic of individuals, Shastri was also asked about the youngsters, mainly the rising stars worth watching in the new season. Stake wanted to know who he had his eyes on in particular and Shastri revealed two names. “Sai Sudharsan has shown tremendous potential and Nitish Kumar Reddy is another exciting prospect.” The expert coach shared that he believes both of these young up-and-coming stars have the right temperament and skills to make a difference at some point in the season. 

Who is His Favorite for the Championship? 

Although he picked three teams to pay attention to the most, Shastri is not without his favorite for the title. He is a cricket fan after all, apart from being an alumni of the sport both as player and head coach of one of the best national teams on the planet. According to him, the Chennai Super Kings are the team that has the best chances to win the tournament. At the moment, this team is the second favorite to win the IPL in 2025, but the star commentator does not share the opinion of the sportsbooks who made that pick. 

In their opening match, they showed promise as they beat the Mumbai Indians by 4 wickets and gloriously started the season. Throughout the storied history of their franchise, the team has won 5 IPL titles, just like the Indians, most recently in 2023 and 2021. Their glory days are far from over and it would be a great return to form with yet another title after two years, making it every other year since 2021 in what would be a dynasty. Key players for the team are still here, including their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad as well as former captains Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dohi. All three should be key figures this season and lead the team to new heights.  

Ravi Shastri Picks Early Picks for Players 

When it comes to very early predictions for the players who could home the honors of top tournament batsman, the bookies think it could be Travis Head, the current favorite. Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, and Ruturaj Gaikwad are all in the running as well. However, as per usual, Shastri’s pick differs from this list. His favorite is the 5th one in the standings, Shubman Gill, who had already had one great season in 2023. In 2024, when he started very well, his form went downhill towards the end as he finished with 426 runs and a 147.70 strike rate. 

Another player whom Ravi Shastri has in mind for the individual award is the Rajasthan Royals batsman Sanju Samson, an integral part of the 2024 World Cup-winning Indian national squad. Last season was his absolute best in his career and he is the 7th favorite to win the top batsman. It would be a true dark horse moment if he were to end up taking this coveted individual award. The coach knows him well and is sure he can do it. 

Who is Ravi Shastri?

For those among you still unsure of his credentials or wondering why his opinion is so important, consider the following. Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri is an Indian cricket commentator and former pro who played for the Indian national team from 1981 to 1992. He participated in test matches and ODIs, winning the 1983 Cricket World Cup and the 1984 and 1990/91 Asia Cup. As for the professional teams, he was a member of Bombay and Glamorgan. As a coach of the national team, he was the runner-up in the 2019-2021 ICC World Test Championship with India.

Shastri was born on May 27, 1962 in Bombay. He is 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) tall. His batting was right-handed while his bowling was slow left-arm orthodox. He had the batting all-rounder role on the teams he played for. In the World Championship of Cricket in Australia in 1985, he was named Champion of Champions and in that same season, he equaled West Indian Garry Sobers’s record of six sixers in an over in first-class cricket. Before being appointed coach of the national team in 2017, he was the director of the Indian cricket team from 2014 until the 2015 World Cup. 

How to Bet on Cricket?

Now that you are armed with the most useful information regarding the ongoing new season of the Indian Premier League, there is nothing left to do but start watching the games and wagering on the outcome. But what is the right way to do so? Worry not as we have some crucial advice that you should follow if you want to remain successful in your betting. 

Betting in the Indian Premier League has been growing into a major part of cricket as a sport and a hobby ever since the tournament’s inception in 2008. The IPL, known for its fast-paced and high-scoring matches, has captured the attention of millions of cricket fans globally as well as sports fans who just want another way to wager. With the newfound popularity of the sport even amongst newbies, betting has become a common practice on the internet. The league features top-tier international and domestic players which makes it the perfect league and the opportunity to bet on.

There are numerous betting options available for IPL matches. Bettors can place wagers on which team will win, but also on more specific outcomes such as the highest run-scorer, top wicket-taker, the number of sixes hit, the total runs in an over, or even individual player performances. For example, betting markets might include options like “Player of the Match” or “First Team to Score 50 Runs.” These diverse niche options allow the more knowledgeable fans to engage in various forms of betting throughout the season and raise their stakes.

In countries like the UK and Australia, betting on IPL matches is very dominant and legally regulated with licensed sportsbooks offering odds for these games. In India, where the IPL is based, betting on cricket is not yet regulated as much as it should be, with exceptions in some states sprouting up all the time. Despite this, its popularity is on the rise due to the appeal and unpredictability of the fast-paced T20 format. Fans are drawn in and are not too shy to place bets on games they watch live to heighten the experience. This alone makes the season one of the most intense times for cricket bettors, as well as sports fans in general.

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