South Africa win WTC, RCB win IPL, PSG get UCL: 2025's year of long-awaited firsts
For years, sport has thrived on dynasties, dominance, and familiar names lifting the same silverware. But every once in a while, the universe tilts in favour of the patient, the persistent, and the painfully unlucky. The year 2025 became one such anomaly - a rare, almost cinematic season where teams and individuals finally shrugged off the burden of their past and touched glory for the very first time.advertisementFrom the cricketing cathedrals of Lord's and Ahmedabad to the footballing theaters of Paris, London and Munich - and even in Australia's Big Bash arenas - 2025 saw long-suffering fanbases erupt in joy. Droughts of decades were broken. Labels like "chokers" and "nearly men" were discarded. And what emerged was a year that rewarded those who had waited the longest—and endured the most.Proteas end 27-year ICC title droughtSouth Africa, the team most often synonymous with heartbreak on the world stage, finally tasted redemption. At Lord's on June 14, they pulled off a historic five-wicket victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final, ending a 27-year-long wait for an ICC trophy. Chasing 282 - the second-highest fourth innings chase in WTC final history - the Proteas delivered a performance laced with grit, composure, and a long-overdue sense of justice.advertisement
SA vs AUS, WTC Final: HighlightsAiden Markram's match-winning century became an instant classic, but the backbone of the chase was formed by Temba Bavuma's stoic leadership and resilience. For a nation that has often watched its golden generations crumble under pressure, this was a moment of healing. Test cricket in South Africa has often battled neglect - but this win gave its loyalists a reason to believe again.RCB finally win IPL after 18-year waitRoyal Challengers Bengaluru's long and often agonising wait finally ended in 2025. After 18 years of close calls, collapses, and curses, RCB lifted their maiden IPL title under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar. The final, played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, saw RCB overcome Rajasthan Royals - a fitting end for one of the league's most beloved yet unlucky teams.Patidar, who started his IPL career as an injury replacement, rose to become the leader RCB didn't know it needed. Captaining a team that included the likes of Virat Kohli, he steered them to glory in his very first season as skipper. For Kohli himself, the win was deeply emotional - 18 years of heartbreak gave way to tears of joy as he lifted the trophy that had eluded him his entire career.PSG lift Champions League without MbappeadvertisementParis Saint-Germain had spent years assembling superstar squads, chasing European validation with their chequebook. But in 2025, in their first season after Kylian Mbappe's departure, they achieved the unthinkable - lifting the UEFA Champions League with a 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the final. What made it special was not just the margin, but the manner.Under Luis Enrique, PSG evolved from a collection of individuals into a cohesive, dynamic unit. Gone were the egos, the meltdowns, and the over-dependence on talismanic brilliance. In their place was a team that knew how to win together. The ghosts of Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona were exorcised in one glorious night in Europe.Spurs win first trophy since 2008After years of being the punchline, Tottenham Hotspur finally got their punch back. Their Europa League victory over Manchester United ended a 17-year drought for major silverware - the club's first since winning the League Cup in 2008. For Spurs supporters, long used to seeing hope fade in finals, this was a moment of overdue vindication.It wasn't a fluke either. Tottenham played with steel and strategy, showing the world that they weren't just a team that "almost" did things anymore. The narrative around them changed overnight - from perennial underachievers to champions who earned it against one of England's biggest clubs on a European night.advertisementKane clinched his first league titleAs Tottenham celebrated, so did their former captain. Harry Kane, who made the painful decision to leave Spurs for Bayern Munich in 2023, finally lifted his first-ever league title - the Bundesliga trophy - in 2025. For one of the modern greats of world football, it marked the end of a long and often frustrating personal wait.Despite a tough debut season in Germany and questions over his move, Kane's perseverance paid off. The boy who grew up dreaming of trophies finally got one that mattered. In a year of sporting redemption, his story sat perfectly among the season's most emotional arcs.Palace stunned City to win FA CupCrystal Palace's FA Cup triumph will be remembered as one of the most astonishing achievements in recent English football history. They stunned Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the final to lift their first-ever major trophy. For a side traditionally seen as mid-table stabilisers, it was a win that redefined their identity.advertisementPalace didn't just hang on - they played brave football, taking the game to City with courage and confidence. The result ignited wild celebrations in South London and gave Palace fans a dream they never truly expected to live. This wasn't just an upset - it was a rewrite of their club's destiny.Newcastle ended 70-year trophy droughtThe wait at St. James' Park was even longer. Newcastle United ended a 70-year domestic title drought by defeating Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. Their last such triumph came in the 1955 FA Cup - and after decades of promise and frustration, 2025 finally delivered redemption.Eddie Howe's men showed tactical maturity and a refusal to be intimidated by the reigning English champions. It wasn't just a win - it was a throwback to the days when Newcastle were among English football's powerhouses. And now, they might just be returning for good.Hobart sealed historic first BBL titleIn the Big Bash League, 2025 finally delivered Hobart Hurricanes the title they had craved since the league's inception. After 12 seasons without success, they defeated the Sydney Thunder in a commanding final, thanks to Mitchell Owen's extraordinary 104 off 42 balls - one of the greatest individual performances in BBL history.advertisementFor years, the Hurricanes had been the bridesmaids of the competition. But this season, they combined fearless hitting, sharp bowling, and cool-headed leadership to dominate the playoffs. With only the Melbourne Stars now titleless, Hobart's triumph was not just deserved - it was overdue.Dubai Capitals break through in ILT20In franchise cricket, no team from the Capitals brand - which includes Delhi Capitals (IPL) and Pretoria Capitals (SA20) - had ever lifted a trophy. That changed in 2025 when Dubai Capitals clinched the ILT20 title, becoming the first of the trio to win a league.Led by a balanced squad and astute leadership, Dubai's campaign was built on momentum and collective effort. Their win was not only a breakthrough for the franchise but a message to the broader Capitals network - success is within reach, and sometimes, it starts where least expected.2025: A year that rewrote fateAcross sports, 2025 became a season that rewarded belief. The belief of players like Kane and Kohli, who waited years for validation. The belief of teams like RCB, Palace, and South Africa, who carried the scars of past failures but kept chasing the dream. The belief of fans who never gave up.More than just a collection of finals and trophies, this year told stories - of struggle, of redemption, and of ultimate joyTrending Reel
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