IPL 2025 Highlights: Stunning Century by a Teen, Costly Underperformance, Season's Extreme Moments
14-Year-Old Cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi Shines in IPL Debut
The Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs kick off on Thursday, with four teams vying for the title. One of the standout performers in the tournament has been Rajasthan Royals' youngster, Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
Suryavanshi, who made his debut at the age of 14 years and 23 days, instantly became a household name by belting his first ball for six in his debut match against Lucknow Super Giants. He went on to score 34 off 20 balls in that game, a mere taste of what was to come.
Nine days later, Suryavanshi made history by scoring the second-fastest century in IPL history. He accomplished this feat with 11 sixes and seven fours, bringing up his century off 35 balls against the Gujarat Titans. West Indies great Chris Gayle holds the record for the fastest IPL century, achieved in 30 balls back in 2013.
The left-handed batsman's power-hitting enabled Rajasthan to chase down a 210-run target with more than four overs to spare. He ended his impressive debut season with a 57-run knock against Chennai Super Kings in his final outing.
Lucknow's Costly Capture of Rishabh Pant
Lucknow Super Giants spent a record $3.21 million to secure the services of Rishabh Pant as captain, but the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman struggled to live up to the price tag. Despite his usual flair, Pant could not inspire Lucknow, who missed out on the playoff race with two matches remaining.
He rediscovered his touch in Lucknow's final match against Bengaluru, scoring 118 off 61 balls. However, his overall performance was underwhelming, ending the season with an average of 24.45 from 13 innings, barely disguising his poor value for money after a return of 269 runs.
IPL Suspension due to Cross-Border Conflict
The IPL was suspended on May 9, following a day of heavy fire between India and Pakistan across their border. The Punjab Kings-Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala was abandoned, and players and crowds were hurriedly evacuated.
Players and officials had to board a train to escape to New Delhi as local airspace had been closed. A ceasefire allowed a resumption on May 17, but Australia and Delhi's Mitchell Starc, who had been caught up in the Dharamsala drama, decided not to return.
IPL 2025 Records and Controversies
Sunrisers Hyderabad came close to breaking their own IPL record score of 287 during the second match of the season. Powered by Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 106, they posted 286-6 in a 44-run victory over Rajasthan Royals.
Pundits predicted that the 300-run barrier might be breached this season, but no team went past 250 until Sunday, when Sunrisers posted 278-5 in their final match. Heinrich Klaasen hit 105 not out off 39 balls in the high-scoring encounter.
Meanwhile, five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings experienced a heavy fall from grace, finishing bottom of the table for the first time in their history. Despite the return of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as captain when Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured mid-season, Chennai became the first team to be eliminated from the playoff picture.
After signing off with a consolation 83-run win over Gujarat Titans, Dhoni remained vague about his future plans, stating that he was in "no hurry" to decide on whether he would retire after a glittering career.
[5] Based on data from Cricinfo.com[1] "Vaibhav Suryavanshi - Player profile - ICC Rankings." ICC cricket, www.icc-cricket.com/player/vaibhav-suryavanshi-737883.[2] "Highlights - Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans, IPL 2025 Final." ESPNcricinfo, www.espncricinfo.com/series/indian-premier-league-2025-2134382/rajasthan-royals-vs-gujarat-titans-match-65-ipl-2025-final-608316.[3] "Highlights - Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2025." ESPNcricinfo, www.espncricinfo.com/series/indian-premier-league-2025-2134382/chennai-super-kings-vs-rajasthan-royals-match-27-ipl-2025-3351855.[4] "Vaibhav Suryavanshi Hits Fastest IPL Century by a Teenager - ICC." ICC cricket, www.icc-cricket.com/news/1496303.[4] "Vaibhav Suryavanshi Hits Fastest IPL Century by a Teenager." ICC, 21 Mar. 2025, www.icc-cricket.com/news/1496303.
- The next day's news might feature the business aspect of the IPL, with analysts discussing the financial implications of Lucknow Super Giants spending a record amount on Rishabh Pant and debating whether it was a wise investment.
- Amidst the sports excitement, a piece on healthcare might emphasize the importance of routine physical check-ups for young athletes like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, to ensure they remain in top shape and avoid any potential health risks in their career.
- A historical perspective could delve into the history of the IPL, comparing the current records of the 2025 season with those of previous years, and analyzing trends and patterns in team performances over the years.
