IPL 2025: Team bowling strengths ranked before the playoffs

The prestigious IPL 2025 (Indian Premier League) is set to resume on May 17 after a one-week suspension due to border disputes between India and Pakistan. Though all ten teams will be back in action, there might be some changes in the squads as some key players have decided not to return for the remainder of the tournament. Though the game of T20 cricket is known to be a format dominated by batters, it does not take away the importance of the bowlers. It is time to discuss which team has the best and worst bowling attacks going into the business end of the tournament, and what could be their strengths and weaknesses in this crucial stage of the competition. Out of the key players, there have been some in-form bowlers who will not feature in the global league. It will be interesting to see how the bowling attacks will look despite the absence of certain bowlers who had already played a major role before the suspension of the league. Here are ratings of bowling squads of all IPL teams ahead of resumption of IPL 2025: 10. Chennai Super Kings (6/10) Ravi Ashwin (Source: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images) The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have struggled a lot this season, and one of the areas where they have failed to contribute the most is in the bowling department. Not only will they be without some vital bowling options in Jamie Overton, Nathan Ellis, and Sam Curran, but apart from Noor Ahmad, some of their key bowlers like Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, and Pathirana have shown a lack of consistency. Hence, it is essential for these bowlers to find their bowling rhythm and collectively contribute towards the better cause of the CSK unit. 9. Rajasthan Royals (6/10) Sandeep Sharma (Source: SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images) The reason for the Rajasthan Royals' struggles this season has been their inability to dominate the crucial stages of the game. Their bowling attack has been a mixed bag, with some bowlers failing to live up to expectations. Without the services of Jofra Archer and with their spin attack leaking runs, the bowling department looks slightly weak going into the upcoming games. Hence, RR will need to figure out a way to bowl better in the middle stages of the match. This will eventually help them finish the games strongly. 8. Sunrisers Hyderabad (6.3/10) Sunrisers-Hyderabad. (Photo source: IPL) The Hyderabad franchise came with a lot of promise but failed to deliver this year. Though their bowling attack looks good on paper, none of them have been particularly impressive. While there have been instances where the bowlers have taken wickets, they have also leaked a lot of runs in the process. This is one of the areas where the Pat Cummins-led side would want to improve as they head into the latter part of the season. 7. Lucknow Super Giants (6.5/10) Aiden markram (Source: LSG) The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) bowlers have had their moments in the tournament, but a long list of injuries and the key bowlers failing to maintain consistency in the second half have affected their season significantly. While Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan have delivered some great spells, their rising star Digvesh Rathi has shown promise. However, their inconsistency as a bowling unit has made it easier for the batters to counter-attack. If LSG wants to remain competitive, their bowlers need to step up in crunch moments. 6. Delhi Capitals (6.5/10) PBKS-vs-DC. (Photo source: X/IPL) The suspension and border problems have affected the Delhi Capitals (DC) squad going into their last few matches. Though they possess a strong spin attack, their pace department has been inconsistent this season. Mitchell Starc's absence is a major blow, placing extra pressure on the pace attack, which has either been inconsistent or not featured much in the league so far. DC will need their bowlers to find rhythm quickly if they are to challenge for a playoff spot. 5. Kolkata Knight Riders (7/10) KKR. (Photo source: IPL) The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have had their struggles, they have still delivered decent performances in the bowling department. While their pace attack has been expensive at times, they have managed to take wickets at crucial moments. Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine have controlled the middle overs well on occasion. However, it is the death overs where the bowlers have struggled, often failing to execute their deliveries effectively. KKR will need to address this if they want to move up the table. 4. Punjab Kings (7/10) Yuzvendra-Chahal. (Photo source: X) The Punjab Kings (PBKS) have had a fairly good season, scoring runs with the bat and gradually improving their bowling performances towards the second half. Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh have been particularly impressive this season. The only issues that have slightly affected their ratings are the absence of key bowlers like Lockie Ferguson and Marco Jansen (who are not available for the playoffs). Their presence could have made PBKS even more competitive in the business end of the tournament. 3. Mumbai Indians (8/10) Mumbai Indians Team celebration (Source: IPL/X) The return of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, back in form, has elevated the bowling attack of the Mumbai Indians (MI). Hardik Pandya and Mitchell Santner have also contributed significantly, along with young talents like Ashwani Kumar and Vignesh Puthur. However, the absence of Will Jacks and the inconsistency of Deepak Chahar have slightly lowered their overall rating. MI still look solid, but these gaps need to be sorted before they get to the big moments in the tournament. 2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (8.5/10) RCB. (Photo source: X) The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are finally looking like a well-balanced side that not only has a powerful batting line-up but also a capable bowling attack. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been exceptional in the powerplay, while Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma, and Yash Dayal have delivered crucial spells. The only concern for RCB has been the uncertainty surrounding their best bowler, Josh Hazlewood. His fitness and availability will be key for the IPL franchise to maintain their momentum as the tournament approaches the knockout phase. 1. Gujarat Titans (9/10) Prasidh-Krishna. (Photo source: X) The Gujarat Titans arguably have one of the best bowling attacks in the tournament, with Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna enjoying one of their best seasons. Though there is still the concern of Rashid Khan being out of form, the other bowlers have ensured that they keep the batters under control. If the talismanic Afghan all rounder finds his rhythm, Gujarat will become a side to beat, especially when it matters the most.

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IPL 2025: Team bowling strengths ranked before the playoffs

Analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each team's bowling attack ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs.

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