IPL 2025 top 4 teams finalized! Virender Sehwag, Adam Gilchrist & other experts share predictions

Cricketing legends have shared their predictions on which four teams will make it to the IPL 2025 playoffs. Among them, Virender Sehwag made a bold claim, stating that two of the most popular franchises, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), will fail to qualify in the upcoming season.

Just hours remain for the start of the IPL 2025 season. The tournament will kick off on March 22 with a thrilling clash between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and fan-favorite Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The high-stakes opener will take place at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.

Virender Sehwag Backs Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2025 Playoffs

Ahead of the season opener, several legendary cricketers from India and around the world have shared their insights on the tournament. Many have also made predictions, naming the four teams they believe will secure a spot in the playoffs.

Virender Sehwag backed Mumbai Indians (MI), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to reach the playoffs. Sehwag predicted that teams like MI, LSG, and PBKS, who didn't qualify for playoffs last season, would finish in the top four.

EXPERTS PREDICT TOP 4 TEAMS IN IPL 2025: [Cricbuzz]

Sehwag - MI, SRH, PBKS, LSG
Gilchrist - PBKS, MI, SRH, GT
Rohan - RCB, SRH, DC, MI
Harsha - SRH, MI, KKR, RCB
Pollock - MI, CSK, SRH, PBKS
Tiwary - SRH, PBKS, GT, KKR
Doull - CSK, KKR, SRH, PBKS
Vaughan - GT, MI, KKR, PBKS… pic.twitter.com/lv05VJuqLX

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 21, 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings Overlooked by Most Experts for IPL 2025 Playoffs

Virender Sehwag is not alone in making bold predictions. Several former cricketers have also shared their playoff picks. Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, and Punjab Kings are in most expert predictions, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings have been overlooked by many.

Virender Sehwag: Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants.

Adam Gilchrist: Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans.

Rohan Gavaskar: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, and Mumbai Indians.

Harsha Bhogle: Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Shaun Pollock: Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings.

Manoj Tiwari: Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, and Kolkata Knight Riders.

Simon Doull: Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings.

Michael Vaughan: Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Punjab Kings.

Mpumelelo Mbangwa: Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Lucknow Super Giants.

IPL 2025 Set to Be Played from March 22 to May 25 Across 13 Venues

The IPL 2025 season will take place from March 22 to May 25 across 13 venues. The tournament will kick off in Kolkata, followed by a double-header in Hyderabad and Chennai. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad are among the 10 traditional home venues.

Rajasthan Royals will play some home matches in Guwahati, while Delhi Capitals will feature in a few games in Visakhapatnam. Punjab Kings have moved their primary home venue from Mohali to Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) but will continue using Dharamsala as their secondary venue.

The playoffs will be played across Hyderabad and Kolkata. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad will host Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator on May 20 and 21, respectively. The final stages will shift to Eden Gardens, which will host Qualifier 2 on May 23 and the grand finale on May 25.

Also read: BCCI scraps slow over-rate bans for IPL captains; Hardik Pandya the last victim