IPL final fight: $12 billion Indian Premier League glitz set to end season after creating history
Eighteenth IPL is ending, and the baby has come to age.
With a new winner on the rise, the chants are louder than ever. Is it finally 'ee saala cup namde', or will 'sarpanch sahab' script Punjab's long-awaited glory? Either way, the teams' 18-year-old wait to be crowned champions ends in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Cricket fans across the globe were glued to their screens, some even flying to cities to catch their favourite teams in the stadium for the last two-and-a-half months. Every evening brought new drama, nail-biting finishes, and unforgettable moments.
by Taboola
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Valued at $12 billion, IPL's craze in India is no secret: The first eight matches drew 288 million viewers while the number jumped to 450 million by the 26th match, courtesy new captains, fresh team combinations, evolving rules, and rivalries.
And now, it's time to crown Champion No. 8
Yes, for the first time in three years, the IPL is set to welcome a new name to its winners' circle.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
and
Punjab Kings
, two of the league's oldest franchises, have endured heartbreak and near-misses but never held the trophy aloft. That changes today.
Live Events
Also Read
:
Bengaluru and Punjab eye numero uno IPL trophy as they meet in Final today. Will Kohli's 18-year wait end?
Punjab's dreams have spanned seasons, and RCB—after three finals (2009, 2011, 2016)—are still chasing that elusive title.
Virat Kohli
, the tournament's heartbeat for years, is in prime touch again: 614 runs, eight fifties in 14 innings, and the fire to go one step further. His performance in the knockout against Punjab earlier, despite a modest personal score,set up an eight-wicket win.
Indian cricket has transformed, especially after the 2007 World Cup when 'Thala' MS Dhoni did something India was waiting for years to happen. And then the IPL has crowned seven champions. Basically, the point is that the IPL has grown, and so have its stories.
But one fact has stayed true: RCB and Punjab Kings have never lifted the trophy. That ends now. And Ahmedabad will witness history in the making.
Hits and misses
Back to 2008- MSD became the highest paid wicketkeeper batsman for Rs 6 crore.
Cut to now- Rishabh Pant sold for a whopping Rs 27 crore.
IPL, India's very own billion-dollar baby, splurged money like no other in the mega auction: 639 crore. Was it worth it? Every penny.
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The tournament gave India its T20 future in the form of Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sai Sudharsan. But above all, it put the spotlight on the underrated captain, Shreyas Iyer, and also reminded us that GOAT Virat Kohli is who he is for a reason, having scored 614 runs in this season.
Hits were too many, especially in pairs: Sai and Shubman Gill's opening partnerships, like vintage David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan; Prabhsimran and Priyansh Arya giving dream starts to Punjab's batting and Trent Boult, Bumrah's bowling prowess, like true nightmare for any batsman facing them.
Meanwhile, the debutants left themselves a place for the next season. From Digvesh Rathi to Vignesh Puthur and Ashwani Kumar, all getting crucial breakthroughs for their teams.
Misses can't be missed and top of the charts it was Rishabh Pant, who shone only towards the end with a blistering century, leaving the fans waiting for his batting might. Another big miss was the 2024 fan favourite opening duo of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, who were not able to consistently give good starts to Sunrisers Hyderabad throughout the tournament.
All-rounders like Glenn Maxwell, Liam Livingstone and Venkatesh Iyer, too, failed to leave a mark in IPL 2025.
Business burst with adult money
The season was not just great because of the cricket stars or fan armies, IPL sure makes a lot of 'adult money'.
The tournament has evolved into a billion-dollar phenomenon, with franchise valuations soaring to record highs. The original eight teams now command valuations of up to $2 billion, with top franchises like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru leading the pack.
Meanwhile, IPL 2025 is expected to break advertising records, with JioStar targeting RS 4,500 crore in ad revenue through 32 major sponsorship deals and a push for 100 million paid streaming subscribers. With media rights valued at RS 48,390 crore and franchises generating strong cash flows, IPL has built a reputation for itself as one of the world's most valuable sporting leagues.
'Temporarily suspended'
This season will also be remembered for an unprecedented pause. Midway through the tournament, the IPL was temporarily suspended following a sharp military escalation between India and Pakistan.
With national attention diverted and security concerns mounting, the BCCI took the difficult but necessary decision to halt proceedings for over a week.
IPL fans held their breath, unsure of how or when the league would resume. But in typical IPL fashion, the show went on. Matches were rescheduled, logistics were swiftly realigned, and the season regained momentum.
Well, all that we have to do now is witness history for both GOAT and Sarpanch Sahab.
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