by Rex Clementine
The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League was, as ever, a heady cocktail of glitz, glamour and gasp-inducing cricket. With last-ball thrillers keeping hearts racing and new heroes stepping into the spotlight, the tournament once again proved why it is the crown jewel of franchise cricket. But the 2025 edition also broke new ground – quite literally.
The auction, in a twist straight out of a movie script, was held in Saudi Arabia – an uncharted frontier for cricket and its commerce. There, Rishabh Pant shattered records, becoming the most expensive player in IPL history, fetching a staggering US$3.2 million. The IPL is no longer just cricket – it’s a juggernaut of entertainment and economy. Broadcasters now reportedly shell out US$60,000 for every single ball bowled. Yes, each delivery is worth more than a luxury car.
For years, three franchises – Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders – have hogged the silverware. But 2025 flipped the script. Royal Challengers Bangalore – eternally the bridesmaids – finally tied the knot with destiny. After 18 seasons of near misses, heartbreaks and false dawns, they got their hands on the elusive trophy.
It wasn’t a galaxy of stars that delivered the goods – it was a collective effort anchored by their ever-loyal statesman, Virat Kohli. He batted like a man possessed, choosing timing over power, finding gaps rather than clearing fences. Eight half-centuries in 15 innings – he turned accumulation into art and gave RCB the consistency they’d so often lacked.
The tournament wasn’t without its blemishes. Political tensions between India and Pakistan led to scheduling delays and the withdrawal of several overseas players, robbing the league of some marquee clashes. Yet, as the business end approached, the IPL found its usual mojo – nail-biters, towering sixes and pulsating finishes.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, one of the best-balanced sides on paper, turned out to be hot-and-cold customers. They smashed the three highest team totals of the season but couldn’t find consistency, ultimately finishing sixth. When the pitch suited them, they were bulldozers. But when asked to adapt, they crumbled like a cookie in hot tea.
Then came the fairytale story of the season – Vaibhav Suryavanshi. At just 13, the boy-wonder bagged a USD 125,000 contract with Rajasthan Royals. At 14, he made his IPL debut, launching the first ball he faced into the stands. A few innings later, he notched up a hundred off just 35 balls – the second-fastest in IPL history. It’s not every day that a schoolboy walks into a grown man’s league and starts rewriting the record books. But Suryavanshi is no ordinary lad – he’s the new poster boy of prodigy.
While Suryavanshi was lighting up the tournament, a legend was dimming. M.S. Dhoni, the ice-cool finisher, looked a pale shadow of his vintage self. His once Midas touch deserted him and CSK, the masters of fine-tuning and tactical nous, had a forgettable campaign – losing 10 out of 14 games and finishing dead last. For a franchise known to sweat the small stuff, this was a shocker of a season.
