Virat Kohli
Ahmedabad: The Indian Premier League (IPL) of 2025 culminated today at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru, fueled by Virat Kohli’s unrelenting passion, ended an 18-year quest by defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in a final that throbbed with drama and redemption. As Shashank Singh’s desperate six off Josh Hazlewood’s final ball soared into the stands, it was a fleeting act of defiance—too late to overturn RCB’s triumph. Kohli, RCB’s emotional linchpin, collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face, overwhelmed by a victory that had eluded him in the finals of 2009, 2011, and 2016. His teammates swarmed him in a red-and-gold frenzy, as Bengaluru’s cherished chant, “Ee saala cup namde” (this year the cup is ours), echoed from Ahmedabad to the city’s streets. This was Kohli’s first IPL title, a crowning jewel for a cricketer who has conquered a 2008 U-19 World Cup, a 2011 World Cup, and a 2013 Champions Trophy. The moment was a catharsis for a franchise and its fans, who had endured years of near-misses and relentless trolling, their loyalty now rewarded with a trophy that felt like a collective exhale. Post-match, Kohli’s voice cracked with emotion as he declared, “This was the squad we dreamed of,” a testament to RCB’s meticulously crafted team that finally delivered.
The 2025 season was a vibrant mosaic of cricketing brilliance, heartbreak, glamour, and controversy. RCB’s campaign was a masterclass in balance, topping the league with an unprecedented seven consecutive away wins, a first in IPL history. Kohli, at 36, was the tournament’s batting titan, amassing over 700 runs at an average of 58.33, with eight half-centuries, second only to Phil Salt’s four for RCB. His unbeaten 59 against Kolkata Knight Riders in the opener set the tone, while his 73 off 47 against Punjab Kings and 62 not out against Rajasthan Royals, capped by a towering six for his 100th T20 fifty, showcased his mastery. Yet, RCB’s triumph was a team effort. Phil Salt’s blistering 56 off 27 in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings and 65 off 33 against Rajasthan Royals brought raw aggression, his 14 powerplay sixes tying with Punjab’s Priyansh Arya. Devdutt Padikkal, rediscovering his flair, anchored chases with a 61 off 35 against Lucknow Super Giants and a 40 not out against Rajasthan. The bowling unit was a fortress: Josh Hazlewood’s 21 wickets in 11 matches, including a devastating 3/21 in Qualifier 1, dismantled batting line-ups, while Krunal Pandya’s wily 2/25 in the final and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s early breakthroughs provided control. Romario Shepherd and Liam Livingstone, savvy auction picks, added all-round muscle, with Shepherd’s 53 runs at a 353.33 strike rate, including the second-fastest IPL fifty against Chennai Super Kings.
The final was a nerve-shredding spectacle. Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer, opting to bowl after winning the toss, banked on pace to exploit Ahmedabad’s lively pitch, where the average first-innings score was 219. RCB posted 190/9, a total that seemed modest but proved enough. Kohli’s 43 off 35 was gritty but cautious, his struggles with the pull shot ending in a top-edge off Kyle Jamieson’s slower legcutter. Phil Salt (21 off 12), Rajat Patidar (26 off 18), and Liam Livingstone (16 off 11) sparked briefly but fell to Jamieson (3/40) and Arshdeep Singh (3/40), whose pace variations stifled RCB’s middle order. Jitesh Sharma’s explosive 24 off 10, with back-to-back fours off Arshdeep and two audacious sixes off Jamieson, alongside Shepherd’s 17 off 9, injected late momentum. Punjab’s chase faltered early, slumping to 31/4 as Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/38) removed Prabhsimran Singh (26 off 22) and Krunal Pandya (2/25) dismissed Iyer (12 off 14). Shashank Singh’s valiant 61 off 30, with three sixes and two fours in the death overs, and Josh Inglis’ 39 off 25 kept Punjab alive, but Hazlewood’s steely 1/54, including a masterful final over, sealed RCB’s triumph. Punjab finished at 184/7, their uncapped stars falling just short. Despite Krunal Pandya’s pivotal 2/25, choking Punjab’s middle order, no definitive record confirms him as Player of the Match in the final, with Kohli’s emotional leadership and season-long brilliance making him a likely recipient.
Youngsters lit up the tournament, none more dazzling than Rajasthan Royals’ 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who became the youngest ever to score an IPL century, smashing a 35-ball ton against Gujarat Titans at a strike rate over 260, second only to the fastest IPL century ever. His finesse and audacity captivated legends, marking him as a future star. Punjab’s Priyansh Arya, another uncapped gem, hammered a maiden IPL ton against Chennai Super Kings, while Prabhsimran Singh’s consistent starts, including 517 runs, showcased his promise. Chennai’s Ayush Mhatre offered glimpses of potential, giving CSK hope despite their dismal campaign. These youngsters, blending fearlessness with skill, emerged as the season’s brightest prospects, heralding a new era for Indian cricket.
Sai Sudharsan and Suryakumar Yadav were batting lynchpins. Sudharsan, Gujarat Titans’ lynchpin, reclaimed the Orange Cap with a 39 against Rajasthan Royals, finishing with 759 runs, outpacing Kohli (614) and Suryakumar (673). His 80 in the Eliminator against Mumbai was a masterclass, though Gujarat fell 20 runs short. Suryakumar, Mumbai Indians’ middle-order dynamo, surged to No. 2 in the run-getters’ list, his 44 off 26 in Qualifier 2 against Punjab and a season tally of 673 runs at a 168 strike rate underscoring his consistency. His 500th IPL four against Lucknow Super Giants was a milestone, though he couldn’t secure the Orange Cap from Sudharsan. Both players’ ability to anchor and accelerate defined their teams’ campaigns, with Sudharsan’s elegance and Suryakumar’s innovation setting benchmarks.
Heartbreak was the season’s undercurrent. Punjab Kings, revitalised under Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting, reached their first final since 2014, only to falter. Iyer’s 87 not out in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai, part of his 516-run haul at a 172 strike rate, was a captain’s knock, but his early exit in the final stung. Mumbai Indians, five-time champions, crumbled in Qualifier 2 despite Rohit Sharma’s 81, their middle order faltering. Gujarat Titans exited in the Eliminator, Sudharsan’s 80 not enough. Lucknow Super Giants, buoyed by Rishabh Pant’s century, couldn’t overhaul RCB’s 228 in a league thriller, Jitesh Sharma’s late assault sealing their fate. Kolkata Knight Riders, the defending champions, faded mid-season, a 10-run loss to RCB despite Nitish Rana’s 85 and Andre Russell’s 65 snuffing out their playoff hopes.
Some stars flickered. Pant’s inconsistent form, despite a dazzling ton against Lucknow, drew scrutiny, his highs and lows stark. Chennai Super Kings, led by a 43-year-old MS Dhoni, faded early, his cameos no match for the younger firepower, finishing second-last. Rajasthan Royals, despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 70 not out against Gujarat (426 runs total), slumped to seventh, undone by sloppy fielding and erratic bowling. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Ishan Kishan blasted an unbeaten 94 off 48, but their 232 couldn’t stop RCB’s chase, a 42-run defeat marking RCB’s sole away loss.
The IPL’s financial juggernaut roared. The 65-day, 74-match season saw franchises splurge at the mega auction, with RCB retaining Kohli for ₹21 crore and Lucknow acquiring Pant for a record ₹27 crore. The league’s economic clout, with soaring sponsorships and broadcast rights, dwarfed Yuvraj Singh’s ₹14 crore price tag in 2014 (worth ₹22 crore in 2023 terms).
Bollywood’s glamour amplified the spectacle: Anushka Sharma’s animated cheers for Kohli became a cultural moment, her presence a rallying cry for RCB fans. Sonakshi Sinha’s appearance at the final, tied to a film launch, added star power, while a bride in Sabyasachi couture at a match, blending cricket with Indian wedding opulence, captivated onlookers. The closing ceremony, headlined by Shankar Mahadevan’s stirring anthems, underscored the IPL’s cultural resonance.
Controversies kept the season electric. Whispers of match-fixing swirled, with allegations of biased umpiring favouring RCB, citing questionable no-balls and inside-edge calls. Though unproven, these claims stirred debate, especially after Kohli’s unpunished gesture toward Iyer in a league match, while Lucknow’s Digvesh Rathi was fined for a milder celebration. Aakash Chopra criticised the BCCI’s inconsistent standards, fueling fan outrage. A pitch dispute flared when KKR’s Ajinkya Rahane questioned Eden Gardens’ spin-friendly surface, only for curator Sujan Mukherjee to retort that RCB’s spinners, like Krunal Pandya, exploited it better. A violent fan clash in Guwahati during a KKR-Rajasthan match exposed the IPL’s tribal fervour. The season’s biggest shock was a suspension triggered by India-Pakistan tensions, halting play with 16 matches left. Fans, fearing cancellation, shared AI-generated images of Kohli lifting the trophy, a vision realised when the tournament resumed, reflecting India’s resilience amid geopolitical strife tied to Operation Sindoor.
Veterans left lasting imprints. Kohli, with over 8,606 IPL runs, was RCB’s emotional core, his badge-thumping evoking his Test captaincy fire. Shane Watson predicted a Kohli masterclass, while AB de Villiers, an RCB icon, praised the squad’s balance, sharing a heartfelt moment with Kohli post-final: “This win is as much yours.” Dhoni’s subdued presence still drew adoration, fans yearning for one last spark from the 43-year-old legend. David Warner’s foresight of a Hazlewood-led triumph proved prophetic, his final-over heroics echoing his seven major final wins.
The 2025 IPL was a saga of dreams and drama. RCB’s victory, after losses in 2009, 2011, and 2016, was a fairy tale scripted by Kohli’s grit, Hazlewood’s ice, and a team that refused to falter. For a franchise once derided as perennial bridesmaids, this was the year the stars aligned, weaving cricket’s magic with Bollywood’s allure and the fervour of a billion fans.
– global bihari bureau
