IPL 2025: Underutilised players in every team despite proven potential

Royal Challengers Bengaluru. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

IPL is a tournament where there are instances some of the players would be underutilized by the teams due to different reasons. While some of them could be justified due to the team combinations and the dynamics of the auctions, there have been cases where some players were looked down by their management, which could have potentially hampered their campaign.

In the IPL 2025, some players have not gotten enough chances to play. Almost every team has a player who has played way too many less number of games than they deserved to play. Many of these players had great potential and could have helped their teams. Due to unknown reasons, these players were either underused or underplayed in the 18th edition of the league.

Players who are underutilised in IPL 2025 despite their potential: 1. Gujarat Titans - Gerald Coetzee Gerald Coetzee (Source: Gujrat Titans/X)

If there is any aspect of GT's bowling that has hampered their balance, it is a supportive pacer for Mohammed Siraj at the top. Gerald Coetzee could have filled that void very well, despite being a first-choice. GT tried Ishant Sharma and Arshad Khan, who have not been able to claim wickets for the 2022 champions from their end.

2. Kolkata Knight Riders - Anrich Nortje Anrich Nortje. (Source -Getty Images)

KKR struggled hard to get a good Powerplay bowler alongside Vaibhav Arora, just like GT. They tried options like  Spencer Johnson and Chetan Sakariya, who did not come good. A world-class pacer like Anrich Nortje played a solitary game, claimed 1/23 in his 3 overs, and ended up playing no game after that, which was baffling.

3. Sunrisers Hyderabad - Rahul Chahar Rahul Chahar. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Rahul Chahar could be the most deserving yet the most underutilised layer of the season. Spinners like Zeeshan Ansari and Harsh Dubey have bowled more for SRH than a 2-time IPL winner. In the only match Chahar got to bowl, he was given a solitary over, which was again an injustice to the talent the right-arm leg-spinner possesses.

4. Mumbai Indians - Ashwani Kumar Ashwani Kumar. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)

MI have underutilised Ashwani Kumar so far. The left-arm pacer had a dream debut, where he claimed 4/24 against KKR and won his side the game. Since then, he has had a chance to play in just 3 matches. Even when the 5-time champions had an issue in bowling in the middle overs, Ashwani was not looked at as an option.

5. Delhi Capitals - T Natarajan T Natarajan. (Source -IPL)

T Natarajan had to be a starter for DC for being one of the best death bowlers. However, he could not, due to an injury. But the fact that DC did not play him enough, even after getting recovered, meant there was a huge hole in DC's attack. In the second half of the IPL 2025, DC bowlers performed the worst, which led to their poor outing.

6. Punjab Kings - Vijaykumar Vyshak Vijaykumar Vyashak ( Source : X / Twitter )

Punjab Kings have massively underutilised Vijaykumar Vyshak, who bowled well in their first match of the season against Gujarat Titans in their backyard. The right-arm pacer has gotten a chance to play in just two matches for the 2014 finalists, which has led to a void in their death bowling for a majority of the season.

7. Chennai Super Kings - Shivam Dube Shivam Dube. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Shivam Dube had an interesting tournament in 2025. In the first half of the season, the star player failed to get going and was hence moved down to numbers 6 and 7 at times. In the second half, his role completely changed, which meant he faced a significantly lesser number of deliveries than he otherwise would have.

8. Royal Challengers Bengaluru  Romario Shepherd. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Romario Shepherd has been heavily underutilised by RCB in the IPL 2025. The 3-time finalists trusted Liam Livingstone a lot, which stopped Shepherd from playing a majority of the season. In his only innings with the bat, the star batter smashed an unbeaten 53*(14). He additionally has claimed a wicket with the ball in 3 innings.

9. Lucknow Super Giants - Shahbaz Ahmed Shabaz Ahmed (Source: LSG)

LSG did not use someone like Shahbaz Ahmed well. After having a great season as a finisher with SRH in 2024, Ahmed had to be in LSG's XI as his bowling suits the conditions in Lucknow. With the bat, he could have made a great finishing pair along with Abdul Samad. However, LSG gave him a chance to play in just two matches.

10. Rajasthan Royals - Akash Madhwal Akash Madhwal (Source: Akash Madhwal / Instagram)

Akash Madhwal was underutilised by the Rajasthan Royals. Despite being one of the best death bowlers in recent times, the right-arm pacer got a chance to play in just 4 matches. It cost RR big time, as their death bowling seemed vulnerable. In the absence of Sandeep Sharma, Madhwal got a chance and showed why he was wrongly snubbed.