The 18th Indian Premier League, nicknamed TATA IPL 2025, packed ten franchise teams and 74 pulse-pounding matches into a two-and-a-half-month window—from 22 March to 3 June 2025. Midway through, it hit a speed breaker. Security tensions between India and Pakistan forced BCCI to suspend the league in early May. Fans across screens, cricket forums, and even those riding the 4rabet app download wave for live betting were left holding their breath.
But the show must go on. A ceasefire paved the way for IPL to restart on 17 May, rescheduled across six Indian venues, culminating in a nail-biting final on 3 June in Ahmedabad.
The Final: RCB’s 18-Year Wait Ends
The finale was classic T20 theatre—Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Punjab Kings (PBKS). Opting to field, PBKS watched RCB post a challenging 190/9 in 20 overs. In reply, Punjab fell just short at 184/7—RCB clinched the title by six runs, finally shaking off their long wait.
Krunal Pandya grabbed Player of the Match, becoming the first to bag that in a final twice—his previous in 2017. The iconic Virat Kohli, drained but overjoyed, said it felt like a century after 18 years of grit and hope.
Stars & Stats: Who Reigned Supreme
IPL 2025 had its share of standout performers:
- Orange Cap: Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans) with 759 runs, also clinching the Emerging Player award.
- Purple Cap: Prasidh Krishna (Gujarat Titans) with 25 wickets.
- MVP: Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai Indians) topped the MVP points table.
- Most Fours: Sai Sudharsan.
- Most Sixes: Nicholas Pooran.
- Highest Strike Rate: Vaibhav Suryavanshi—plus a car for his efforts.
Betting Buzz: Markets Lit the Fire
Betting buzz moved faster than a Kohli cover drive:
- Pre-season odds favoured Mumbai Indians, followed by Chennai, RCB, and KKR.
- Outright odds ranged from MI at +400 to Rajasthan Royals at +800.
- In-play action saw spikes in over/under bets, batsman runs, death-over wagers, and dismissal method punts.
One headline that went viral: Drake allegedly wagered ₹6.4 CRORE on RCB to win. Whether myth or fact, it captured attention and stoked betting fervour.
Off-Field Drama: Auction Headlines & Trade Whispers
The mega auction in Jeddah scripted its own drama:
- Rishabh Pant became the most expensive buy in IPL history.
- A 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player ever picked.
Trade buzz is already flaring: veteran Sanju Samson linked to CSK as a potential Dhoni successor—maybe R. Ashwin moves out in the shuffle. And AB de Villiers voiced displeasure over Dewald Brevis being ignored in the auction.
Broadcast Blitz: Viewership & Sponsorship Boom
IPL 2025 didn’t just hit sixes—it smashed viewership records.
- Opening weekend saw a 39% rise in TV ratings; 1.37 billion views logged on JioHotstar.
- The final drew an epic 169 million viewers across platforms.
Sponsorship-wise, Tata retained title rights (2024–28), with 20 major brands in the partner roster—from Dream11 to Tata Motors and RuPay.
Why IPL 2025 Hit Different
- High-stakes drama with blockbuster playoff action.
- RCB’s emotional victory after nearly two decades.
- Betting buzz that kept markets hot from toss to trophy.
- Storylines across teams—rising stars, veteran grit, and records falling left and right.
Final Word
IPL 2025 was more than a tournament—it was a national heartbeat. Security scares paused play, but the comeback was cinematic. Players rose, markets lit up, and fans lived every nuance—from auction shockers to final fireworks. RCB’s long-awaited triumph was just the cherry on top of a T20 whirlwind that left everyone—punters, pundits, even Drake (maybe)—wanting extra overs.