IPL 2025: Teams with best top order so far

The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen some brilliant displays from the top-orders of certain teams. Most of the teams that have done well so far in the tournament have had in-form batters in their top-orders. The first three batters in any batting lineup are usually considered as the top-order. Their role is important in every format of the game. In the longer formats, even if the top three batters get out cheaply, there is generally enough time to forge a recovery. However, in T20 cricket, losing the wickets of the top-order batters early could spell disaster for the batting side. On the other hand, a solid start could give the batting side a lot of advantage as the middle and lower order batters would have a great platform set up for them. Here is a look at the teams with the best top-order in IPL 2025: 5. Mumbai Indians (MI) Ryan-Rickelton-and-Rohit-Sharma. (Photo source: X/IPL) Mumbai Indians have been opening the batting with Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton. They have used the likes of Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Naman Dhir at No. 3. While Rohit took time to get going in the tournament, he has recently shown why he is considered a legend of the sport. Both of them are averaging over 32 and have strike rates of over 153 in IPL 2025. Suryakumar has also impressed when he has batted at No. 3. MI's top-order (positions 1 to 3) has scored 53.32% of the runs the five-time champions have scored this season. The strike rate of MI's top-order is 152.41. Hardik Pandya and Co. will want the top-order to keep firing to give the team some blistering starts as the season nears its business end. 4. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Aiden-Markram-and-Mitchell-Marsh. (Photo source: X/IPL) Lucknow Super Giants are the only team on this list who have three overseas cricketers in the top three. Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, and Nicholas Pooran form one of the fiercest top-orders not just in this season but in IPL history. While Marsh and Pooran managed to hit the ground running, Markram took a bit of time to unleash his full potential. Recent results haven't gone LSG's way as they are on a three-match losing streak. One of the many reasons behind this has been the inconsistency of the famed troika. LSG's top-order has contributed 58.88% of the runs the Rishabh Pant-led side has scored in IPL 2025. They have a combined strike rate of 164.81 this season. 3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Virat Kohli and Phil Salt (Source: IPL/X) Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, and Devdutt Padikkal have been the top-order batters for RCB, barring the last couple of games, where the England wicketkeeper missed out due to illness and was replaced by compatriot Jacob Bethell. While Salt gave the Bengaluru-based franchise some whirlwind starts when he was playing, Bethell also managed a blistering half-century in the most recent clash against Chennai Super Kings. Kohli is in contention to win the Orange Cap in successive seasons. He has amassed 505 runs from 11 matches at an average of 63.13. Meanwhile, Padikkal couldn't hit the ground running but has thrived in recent matches. The RCB management deserves a lot of credit for persisting with the southpaw despite his initial struggles. RCB's top three have contributed 58.15% of their total runs this season. The runs have come at a strike rate of 151.18. 2. Punjab Kings (PBKS) Prabhsimran-Singh-and-Priyansh-Arya. (Photo source: IPL) Punjab Kings have two uncapped openers - Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, who have impressed the cricket fraternity with some magnificent performances throughout the season. Arya has scored 347 runs at a strike rate of 192.78. Meanwhile, Prabhsimran has amassed 437 runs at a strike rate of 170.04. Shreyas Iyer has mostly batted at No. 3 and has put in some consistent performances. The top-order has scored 60.21% of PBKS' runs this season. They have a combined strike rate of 180.61, best for a top-order in IPL 2025. Their contributions have played a key role in helping PBKS stay in contention for a spot in the playoffs. 1. Gujarat Titans (GT) Sai-Sudharsan-and-Shubman-Gill. (Photo source: IPL) Gujarat Titans have the most stable and consistent top three in IPL 2025. Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler have made batting look easy. They are among the top six batters in the list of leading run-getters this season. GT's top-order has accounted for a whopping 75.89% of the team's total runs this season. Their combined strike rate has been 161.32. With some in-form bowlers in their ranks, Gujarat can dream of winning their second title if the Shubman-Sudharsan-Buttler troika keeps producing the goods with the bat in the business end of the tournament.