Shikhar Dhawan ditches Punjab Kings to declare his pick for IPL 2025 title winner, says 'for the finals, my support will be with Mumbai Indians'

Shikhar Dhawan ignored his former team Punjab Kings when asked about who he wants to see winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 title. The IPL 2025 season is drawing to a close, with the champions set to be crowned on June 3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have already sealed their spot in the final, while Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will lock horns in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 on Sunday, June 1. The winner of the second qualifier will then go on to face RCB in the highly anticipated final on June 3 at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad.

If PBKS manages to reach the final, the IPL 2025 season will guarantee a first-time champion. Both PBKS and RCB have been integral parts of the IPL since its inception, yet neither franchise has managed to lift the coveted T20 league trophy.

In light of the ongoing competition, IPL legend Shikhar Dhawan has offered his insights on the league and publicly declared the team he is backing to win the championship.

"This time, the IPL has been very exciting. For the finals, my support will be with Mumbai Indians. The Mumbai Indians team is playing really well — they are very balanced. The way they've gained momentum is outstanding, and they are a very strong and well-balanced team. So, I'm with Mumbai Indians," Dhawan told India Today.

Having played for both teams in the IPL, Shikhar Dhawan was a part of the Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2009 and 2010. He later joined the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2022 mega-auction, enjoying a three-season stint with the franchise. Dhawan also took on leadership responsibilities, captaining PBKS in both the 2023 and 2024 IPL seasons. Unfortunately, under his captaincy, PBKS did not manage to advance to the second round of the tournament. Dhawan announced his retirement from Indian cricket in August 2024.

Dhawan concluded his IPL career with an impressive 6769 runs from 222 matches. His journey in the league began with the Delhi Capitals (then known as the Delhi Daredevils) before his move to MI. Over the years, he also represented the Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and PBKS. His most significant IPL triumph came in 2016, when he secured his first and only IPL trophy with SRH. A prominent figure across all three formats for Team India, Dhawan played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is. His last appearance for the national team was in 2022.