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Best CPL Team & 2025 Favorite: Knight Riders Lead the Way

Deemed the biggest party in cricket, the 13th edition of the Caribbean Premier League isn’t far away. Much like the celebrated Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Indian Premier League (IPL), the CPL has developed a reputation for facilitating thrilling, high-octane T20 action, punctuated by devastating bowling and batting performances

Charles Perrin
Charles Perrin

Last updated: 2025-07-16

Chad Nagel

5 minutes read

 Daren Sammy, head coach of St.Lucia Kings lifts the CPL T20 trophy

Daren Sammy with CPL Trophy/Getty Images

Teams, such as the Trinbago Knight Riders, Jamaica Tallawahs, and the Barbados Royals have thrilled fans worldwide, putting the CPL on the cricket map. They have cultivated incredible legacies and contributed to the enduring success of the tournament. But who are the best CPL team ever? And who are the CPL 2025 favorites? Our in-depth Caribbean Premier League analysis involves a multi-layered approach, and we have rummaged through the stats to support our conclusions

SB Market Index: Evaluating CP’s Most Successful Teams

To provide an authoritative CPL team comparison on the best franchises, our evaluation was detailed. We leveraged statistical analysis of historical CPL success (titles and final appearances) with expert and media perceptions to determine a hierarchy and inform who might be the favorite for the 2025 edition. Dovetailing these aspects created the ‘SB Market Index’. Our custom-built rating system guarantees transparency, ensuring our results aren’t skewed by single-source opinions.

Industry Insights

A curated analysis of the most successful CPL team was taken from the top 10 cricketing and sports media sources. This measures how prominently each CPL franchise is featured in discussions of the league’s most dominant teams.

Source NameTrinbago Knight RidersJamaica TallawahsBarbados RoyalsGuyana Amazon WarriorsSt Kitts & Nevis PatriotsSaint Lucia Kings
Wikipedia – Caribbean Premier League100000
Socios.com – CPL Overview100000
KhelNow – Teams with most CPL titles100000
OneCricket – CPL Winners List (2013-2024)100000
West-Indies Cricket Wiki (Fandom)100000
Sportskeeda – CPL Teams with Most Titles100000
Trinbago Knight Riders – Wikipedia page1
Jamaica Tallawahs – Wikipedia page0
Hindustan Times – Top CPL Team Performances100000
Loop News – Barbados Royals Fan  Talk000000
Total800000
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SB Score

TeamTitle (s)Runner-UpSB Score
Trinbago Knight Riders410.6668
Guyana Amazon Warriors160.5500
Jamaica Tallawahs300.4500
Barbados Royals220.4332
Saint Lucia Kings120.2832
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots110.2168

This score is calculated based on historical CPL achievements: Number of Titles Won (60% weightage) and Runners-up finishes (40% weightage). The raw stats were used to calculate the final ‘SB Score’.

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SB Market Index

RankTeamSB ScoreIndustry InsightsSB Market Index
1Trinbago Knight Riders0.666886.533
2Guyana Amazon Warriors0.550000.110
3Jamaica Tallawahs0.450000.090
4Barbados Royals0.433200.087
5Saint Lucia Kings0.283200.057
6St Kitts and Nevis Patriots0.216800.043
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Trinbago Knight Riders: The Undisputed Kings of the CPL

The undisputed CPL kings, the Trinbago Knight Riders have collected four titles which has been masterminded by T20 great Kieron Pollard, whose dazzling batting displays combined with sharp leadership skills put TKR on a pedestal.
TKR have left their mark on the competition with some ferocious performances, and in terms of the CPL winners ranked, TKR came out on top. This was derived from their leading ‘SB Score’ for most titles along with a perfect ‘Industry Insights’ score.

Analyzing the Contenders: Warriors, Tallawahs, and Royals

Jamaica Tallawahs’ CPL record is astonishing. Although now defunct, the Tallawahs possessed an efficient conversion rate, winning three titles from three final appearances. Rovman Powell, the former captain, electrified the crowds with his explosive batting, but JT were a cohesive unit, and they contributed to the CPL’s legacy.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors are more unique. Yes, the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ finals record is astonishing, and they have been perennial bridesmaids, finishing runners-up on six occasions. Nevertheless, the Warriors pipped the Tallawahs with their ‘SB Score’.
Meanwhile, the Barbados Royals boast a more balanced record, chalking up two wins and two runners-up berths. Arguably more open-minded to nurturing youth talent, the Royals are a polished operation. Their decent ‘SB Market Index’ score should not be besmirched.

Who is the Favorite to Win CPL 2025?

For a Caribbean T20 league preview, TKR’s overwhleming success would suggest they are the historical favorite. However, there are other factors that might sway things. The TKR were largely subdued and far from their best last season, as they were knocked out at the Eliminator stage. As such, they will be eager to prove their critics wrong.
While experience counts for a lot, and let’s not forget, TKR have kept the backbone of their squad, the Warriors and Royals’ player drafts will see them come to the fore. Both franchises significantly strengthened their respective squads to make them more competitive, and they could pose a threat to the status quo. The CPL is won on the field, not on paper, so the traditional script may be torn up.

Conclusion on CPL’s Hierarchy and the 2025 Outlook

In summary, TKR have been the most decorated franchise in the CPL, and this was underpinned by their strong set of results.
The CPL is constantly evolving, and there have been various changes implemented in recent years to usher in fresh, regional talent, giving younger players the opportunity to thrive on a bigger stage.
TKR have been the benchmark, but they aren’t prepared to rest on their laurels. However, the CPL is riddled with unpredictability, and TKR’s success could inspire their rivals to take things up a notch and challenge for the title in 2025.

Charles Perrin
Charles PerrinSports Writer

Charles Perrin is a highly experienced sports betting content writer with over six years of working with some of the leading sportsbooks in the UK, including bet365 and William Hill.