The Indian Premier League (IPL), one of cricket's grandest events, concluded just a few days ago, delivering a refreshing outcome: a new champion in the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). This famous franchise, known for its loyal fan base, secured its first-ever title in 18 years. The year 2025 has been particularly significant for sports enthusiasts, as several franchises have won their respective titles for the first time, often after a long wait. This year's IPL was unique, with young, uncapped players demonstrating exceptional talent alongside established stars who lived up to their reputations. Ten teams competed in 74 matches, offering a full dose of cricket, intense rivalries, and entertainment for two to three months.
The basic format of the tournament involved each of the 10 teams playing 14 matches, two against every other team. After all league matches, the top four teams qualified for the playoffs to contend for the prestigious IPL title. The tournament commenced in March with immense enthusiasm. The runner-up from the previous year, Sunrisers Hyderabad, set a formidable total of 286 runs, the second-highest in the tournament's history. Many big teams, including five-time champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, experienced a difficult start, losing their initial matches. Conversely, unexpected performances from new teams and young players propelled teams like Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Capitals to exceptional starts.
The tournament was in full swing throughout April. A significant highlight was the debut of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 14-year-old playing for the Rajasthan Royals, who became the youngest cricketer in IPL history. He marked his debut with a six off the first ball of his IPL career and also held the record for the second-fastest century, achieved in just 35 balls. Witnessing a 14-year-old dominating with boundaries was a truly memorable experience for cricket fans. Other youngsters who impressed selectors and crowds included Ayush Mhatre, a 17-year-old playing for Chennai Super Kings. He made a remarkable debut, proving to be a valuable asset for his franchise, especially as a replacement for underperforming openers. Another impactful replacement for Chennai was Dewald Brevis, a young South African who made a significant impression.
Following the league matches, the top four teams to qualify were Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gujarat Titans, and the mighty Mumbai Indians. Mumbai Indians made a remarkable comeback after losing their first five matches to secure a spot in the top four. An unexpected turn of events led to a temporary halt in the tournament due to war-like situations between India and Pakistan. Failed drone attack attempts caused disruptions, leading to the suspension of a match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings in Dharamshala due to a blackout and power cut. Players were safely escorted home, and the tournament was suspended for approximately a week. As the situation normalized, matches resumed, with the tournament in its final stages.
Qualifier 1 saw RCB decisively defeat Punjab Kings, securing a direct entry into the finals. The Eliminator match between the Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians resulted in a great victory for the Mumbai Indians. The red-hot form of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav bolstered their batting, while their bowling attack, featuring big names like Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, and Hardik Pandya, performed exceptionally well, leading their team to Qualifier 2 against the Punjab Kings. Qualifier 2, which would determine the second finalist, was a memorable encounter between the Mumbai Indians and the Punjab Kings. Punjab Kings, a surprise package, displayed top-notch performance throughout the tournament. Despite lacking big names, captain Shreyas Iyer, the winning captain of 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders, led this new team with many uncapped players to the finals. This high-voltage match saw Mumbai Indians post a total of 203 runs, which Punjab Kings successfully chased down, thanks to the heroics of Captain Shreyas Iyer and uncapped Nehal Wadhera. Thus, Punjab Kings reached the finals after 11 years.
With RCB and Punjab Kings in the finals, history was set to be made as a new team would lift the trophy for the first time. RCB reached this stage with stellar performances from Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, and Krunal Pandya, supported by the entire team. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, relied on the contributions of uncapped openers and youngsters like Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, and many others. The final was played on June 3rd. RCB batted first, with Virat Kohli's 43 runs and contributions from the middle order helping them post a competitive total of 190 runs in 20 overs. Punjab's bowlers performed well to restrict RCB under 200, with Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson each picking up three wickets. In their chase, Punjab had a slow start, with both uncapped openers succumbing to pressure. The in-form Shreyas Iyer also failed to score significantly in the final. Josh Inglis and Shashank Singh fought valiantly for Punjab, but their efforts were in vain as they fell short by six runs. Shashank Singh's heroics, with only six runs needed and a couple more balls remaining, unfortunately, did not clinch the game. Full credit goes to the RCB bowling attack, with Josh Hazlewood and Krunal Pandya picking crucial wickets to guide their team to a momentous victory. As the game concluded, Virat Kohli's eyes welled up with tears, a testament to his long struggle and consistent performances finally culminating in a title this year. Many fans shared his emotional joy, celebrating one of the finest days of their lives.
The tournament concluded with RCB Skipper Rajat Patidar addressing the crowd with "E Sala Cup Namdu," and the team celebrated their first IPL title with immense joy and enthusiasm. RCB became the only IPL side to win all seven of their away games during the league stage, shattering longstanding venue jinxes.
They also registered landmark wins: their first-ever at Chepauk in 17 years, Eden Gardens after six, and Wankhede after a decade, displaying consistency across India. The tournament yielded several great outcomes: Sai Sudharsan earned the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs, and Prasidh Krishna claimed the Purple Cap for the most wickets. The Most Valuable Player award was taken by Suryakumar Yadav for his exceptional performance throughout the league. Thus, the greatest festival of Indian cricket ended on a high note, with a new winner, countless memories, the emergence of new young talents, and immense happiness for players, fans, and every cricket lover worldwide. Off the field, the tournament was financially robust, reportedly generating $1.21 billion in domestic media rights, and showcased many individual highlights, emerging stars, and underperforming legacy teams.