IPL 2025: Drama, Disruption, and a New Champion
The 2025 Indian Premier League will be remembered as the season that shook up cricket’s pecking order. Even before a ball was bowled, everyone had eyes on defending champs Kolkata Knight Riders and the usually dominant Chennai Super Kings. But as wickets tumbled and boundaries piled up, it was the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)—who had spent 17 seasons chasing the elusive crown—writing a fairy-tale finish.
Early excitement soon gave way to uncertainty. After a hectic start with matches scattered across 13 cities, the tournament was abruptly paused on May 9 due to geopolitical tensions. Players from around the world were suddenly grounded. Fans wondered if the season would finish at all. Fast-forward to May 17: play resumed, now whittled down to just six stadiums. Despite the chaos, teams regrouped and the race for the playoffs heated up.
In a packed final on June 3, RCB edged past Punjab Kings (PBKS) by just 6 runs—the sort of result that keeps your heart in your mouth to the very last ball. After years of near-misses and heartbreak, RCB fans finally got their moment to celebrate as the team held their nerve when it mattered most.
Points Table, Net Run Rate, and Key Games
Pundits expected Punjab Kings to go all the way this year. They finished atop the table with 19 points, narrowly leading RCB by virtue of a slightly higher net run rate. Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI) kept things tight, filling out the top-four and clinching playoff berths. Meanwhile, fan favorites like Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings failed to spark, ending in the bottom three—a huge surprise for followers of the league.
The points system stayed true to the IPL’s format: 2 points for a win, 1 for a tie or no result, and nothing for a loss. What really shaped the standings, though, was the net run rate (NRR). PBKS finished the group stage with an NRR of 0.372—a razor-thin gap over RCB (0.301). For teams stuck in the middle, like Delhi Capitals (DC) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), every decimal on the NRR mattered, often deciding playoff hopes on the last day.
To get a grip on the season, here’s a glance at how the points stacked up:
- Punjab Kings: 19 points, 9 wins, 4 losses, NRR 0.372
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 19 points, 9 wins, 4 losses, NRR 0.301
- Gujarat Titans: 18 points, 9 wins, 5 losses, NRR 0.254
- Mumbai Indians: 16 points, 8 wins, 6 losses, NRR 1.142
The bottom half saw Kolkata slide out, tied with Lucknow Super Giants on points but behind on NRR. Rajasthan Royals and CSK had tough runs, struggling throughout and never finding momentum.
Some matches really swung the group standings. When RCB chased down KKR’s total in the opener, it set the tone for their campaign. Delhi and Mumbai had fierce battles, but MI’s thumping of DC by 59 runs late in the league highlighted their depth. Elsewhere, Rajasthan ended CSK’s faint playoff hopes with a convincing win, while Sunrisers kept things interesting by toppling Lucknow in a high-scoring thriller.
On the individuals front, Sai Sudharsan from Gujarat Titans surged ahead in the runs tally, chalking up an impressive 759 runs. Prasidh Krishna, also from GT, led the wickets chart with 25 to his name. But it was Suryakumar Yadav from Mumbai Indians who ended up as Most Valuable Player, turning games around single-handedly and keeping Mumbai in the playoff hunt.
This IPL season had everything: heartbreak, high drama, and finally a new team lifting the trophy. The league’s unpredictability is back—and fans are already counting down to next year’s extravaganza. For now, though, the story belongs to RCB and their long-awaited title.
