The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League wrapped up on June 3, 2025. And now that it’s finally over it’s time to celebrate what an incredible season it’s been. So let’s take a look at some of the surprises and underachievers of this season.

The Royal Challengers finally took the victory after an 18-year wait with a six-run victory over the Punjab Kings in IPL 2025. While their victory stole headlines, the IPL 2025 was full of storylines. From record-breaking performances to unexpected collapses.

The champion and the odds

RCB’s road to the final wasn’t straightforward. Their pre-season odds leaned heavily towards traditional powerhouses and the defending champions. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI). Many sports analytics and sportsbooks considered the Royal Challengers as an outside bet favouring the MI and the GT instead.

Against the odds RCB took the victory. Virat Kohli played an important role in this victory scoring a crucial 43-run knock and closing the season as RCB’s leading run-getter with 657 runs in 15 matches. This was an incredible victory for the team especially Kohli who has stayed loyal to the Challengers throughout his career. Another standout player was Josh Hazlewood. The Aussie player took 1 wicket in the final. This resulted in 22 wickets over 12 matches.

Many IPL fans got involved with all the excitement of the final and placed wagers. This included Superstar Drake, who placed a $750,000 bet on RCB and came out with a staggering $1.3 million. Many betting sites had a wide range of betting markets and promotions for bettors to take advantage of, with fair terms and conditions and requirements. The betting market surrounding the IPL continues to grow each year. Some fans will be considering future bets for the next season.

Surprises of the season

Just like every year, the 2025 season was anything but unpredictable. This is what makes the IPL so special. While many franchises lived up to expectations, there were others that exceeded them. From breakout stars to unexpected performances that were thrilling for fans, completely changing the narratives that surround the IPL. These surprises weren’t just statistical flukes, they were defining moments that made the IPL 2025 one of the best years yet. Some of these moments included:

• Gujarat Titans’ batting onslaught

Even though GT didn’t reach the finals, they showcased the most dominant batting display of the IPL 2025. They racked over 10 runs per over, led by Sai Sudharsan (759 runs) and Shubman Gill (650).

• Punjab King’s resurgence

PBKs reached the final for the first time in 11 years. This was a surprise for many fans as the team has a history of inconsistent performance, especially during the playoffs. Regardless of this, after a strong performance throughout the season and a strong team with Shreyas Iyer’s leadership and debutant opener Priyansh Arya.

• Youthful firepower

Teenage players were turning heads throughout the IPL 2025. This included Rajasthan Royals prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who scored second- fastest century in IPL history. Priyansh Arya was also a shining star this season, suggesting that both players have a bright future in Indian Cricket.

• Mumbai Indians’ mid-season revival

As always, the Mumbai Indians struggled early and peaked late. With Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult returning. The MI stormed the playoffs, but were unsuccessful in making it to the final.

Underachievers and disappointments

While there were many teams that soared in the 2025 IPL, there were others that struggled to find their rhythm. With big names, hefty price tags and legacy franchises all facing setbacks. This is very common in the IPL, proving that reputation doesn’t guarantee results in the IPL. This underachievement left fans and analysts confused, changing their expectations for next season.

• Chennai Super Kings’ historic low

For the first time, five-time IPL champions CSK finished bottom of the table. Even the highly anticipated return of MS Dhoni couldn’t revive them.

• Lucknow Super Giants fade

Rishabh Pant failed to justify his hefty price tag. The player managed just 269 runs in 14 games and LSG missed the playoffs again.

• Kolkata Knight Riders’ crash

They may have been champions in 2024, but this year they slid down to 8th place with a mid-season departure.

• Expensive disappointments

There were a number of high-priced imports in the IPL that ended up being very underwhelming. This included Glenn Maxwell, Mohammad Shami, and Venkatesh Iyer.

Key stats and awards

Orange cap: Sai Sundharsan (GT) – 759 runs

Purple cap: Pradish Kirshna (GT) – 25 wickets

MVP: Suryakumar Yadav (MI) – 320.50 points

Emerging player: Sai Sundharsan

The IPL 2025 season was full of youth dominance, shocking reversals and incredible performances. RCB’s win broke a long-standing curse and GT asserted batting supremacy. Meanwhile, giants like CSK and KKR disappointed.

Looking ahead, the IPL 2025 season leaves many fans speculating. Is this just the beginning for RCB or could this be a one-off? Will teams like PBKs and GT finally break through next season?