Ahmedabad, India (AP) - Virat Kohli shed tears. joy. finally.
Cricket’s biggest star, whose 300 million followers on social media were called “King Koli”, had to wait 18 seasons to win the championship with Royal Challenger Bengaluru during his infancy in the 2008 Indian Premier League.
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After a dramatic, ruined season for the world’s richest franchise cricket league after a six-goal victory over the Punjab Kings on Tuesday night, Coley fell to his knees and cried. He retired from Test cricket this season and followed the Twenty20 format on IPL.
"I've given everything to this franchise over the past 18 years," the 36-year-old star batsman said. "I never thought this moment would come."
Young stars appear
The 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became his century and set a variety of records. With some of India’s biggest stars coming to retire, he is touted as the next big thing.
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The last scene
The Narendra Modi Stadium is decorated with ethnic colors of India, while players from Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings held pre-match ceremonies. Both teams entered the decision makers aim to win their first IPL title.
Fighters roared in the evening sky, leaving behind three-colored steam lingering. Later, the closing ceremony was a celebration of the Indian armed forces.
This final (on a working day) was scheduled to be held on May 25 and should have played in Kolkata. But the alliance was suspended for a week due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.
In the past, IPL has moved to South Africa and the United Arab Emirates due to national elections or national elections or restrictions imposed during the 19th pandemic. The suspension caused by border conflicts is unprecedented.
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Border conflict
The Punjab Kings Building match in the Punjab Kings Caps Competition on May 8 was abandoned, and the squad and broadcasters took a train from Dharamsala to Delhi. For safety, foreign players and their families flew out immediately. IPL is the largest currency spinner in cricket, one of the largest assets in sports in the world – the key stakeholders are determined to continue.
Once cross-border tensions ease, the recovery of IPL has never been involved. A new timetable was set up - six venues were placed on the short list, and the final was transferred from Kolkata to Ahmedabad.
Perhaps the biggest gain is the rapid return of foreign players on most contracts, especially for teams that are still in the knockout stage. In some cases, the Indian Cricket Control Board allows the team to hire players for a short period of time when seeking a replacement.
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Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis, for example, stood out from his PSL contract with the Quetta Gladiators and signed with the Gujarat Titans for the rest of the season.
Knock on the door
While the league suspension has dropped historically, this season will be memorable for some breathtaking cricket – the total of more than 200 in 74 games this season has reached 52. The previous best score was 41 in IPL 2024.
In addition, more than 200 were hunted for nine times. 2024 runner-up Sunrisers Hyderabad finished sixth this season, with his highest score of 286-6 against Rajasthan Royals. It also released the highest successful run, scoring 247-2 in response to Punjab's 245-6.
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Bengaluru is arguably the most enthusiastic supporter in the IPL, winning the IPL title of its virgin, which could be a sign of a reappearance this season after being forced to suspend.
What's next for India?
During the break, Indian cricket also moved towards the future. Stalwarts Kohli and Rohit Sharma left Test cricket within six days, even as Indian selectors visited the trip to England that began this month.
Shubman Gill is the new test captain who will lead India into a whole new era. Sai Sudharsan is the highest match in IPL 2025, running 759 times in 15 matches and was also selected in India's England Test Squad.
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