The conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on June 03 (Tuesday) witnessed the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 6 runs in a thrilling final to claim their maiden title after 18 years of waiting. A two-sided contest at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad saw Rajat Patidar and his men emerge as the new champions in the league’s history.
Especially, this 18th season of the tournament saw some nail-biting contests where teams pulled off tremendous chases and defenses filled with unexpected twists and turns.
While the majority of teams managed to achieve a victory by chasing targets, a few of them successfully defended their total in a 20-over tournament where batters heavily dominated against the bowlers.
As the 18th edition of the tournament draws curtains, let’s dive deeper to find the top five matches of the IPL 2025 season.
5. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Match 52
The 52nd match of the IPL 2025 witnessed one of the most thrilling contests between RCB and CSK. Batting first, the season 18 champions posted 213/5 riding on Romario Shepherd’s unbeaten and explosive knock of 14-ball-53 runs (4s: 4, 6s: 6, strike rate: 378.57).
Chasing a 214-run target, CSK was set off to a rapid start by forming a 51-run opening partnership with Ayush Mhatre and Shaik Rasheed. Furthermore, Mhatre built a 114-partnership for the 3rd wicket with Ravindra Jadeja.
Although Ayush was six runs short of his maiden IPL century, he scored a blistering 94-run knock from just 48 balls (4s: 9, 6s: 5, strike rate: 195.83). Also, Jadeja’s unbeaten 77 runs from 45 balls (4s: 8, 6s: 2, strike rate: 171.11) got the visitors closer to the winning target.
The CSK captain, MS Dhoni, tried his level best to wrap up the chase but was dismissed in the last over. This caused RCB to secure a thrilling 2-run victory at their homeground, M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.
4. Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Rajasthan Royals (RR), Match 47
The match between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals saw a young talent smashing against some of the world’s best bowlers.
Shubman Gill’s 84 runs from 50 balls (4s: 5, 6s: 4, strike rate: 168.00) along with Jos Buttler’s 26-ball-fifty (4s: 3, 6s: 4, strike rate: 192.31) steered the visitors to set a 210 target against RR.
However, Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s maiden IPL ton overshadowed the fine 50+ scores from Gill and Buttler. The 14-year-old’s 38-ball 101-run knock (4s: 7, 6s: 11, strike rate: 265.79) supported by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 70 runs from 40 balls (4s: 9, 6s: 2, strike rate: 175.00) helped the hosts chase the target by an 8-wicket victory and 25 balls to spare.
3. Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Match 31
The IPL 2025 runner-up, Punjab Kings, defended the lowest ever total in the tournament’s history against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Moreover, Shreyas Iyer triumphing over his former led franchise was a visual treat for viewers.
As the PBKS batting line-up was bundled out to 111 in 15.3 overs, every cricket fan and expert would have predicted that the match turned one-sided for KKR.
In contrast to the predictions, the top bowling figures of Yuzvendra Chahal (4/28 in 4 overs) and Marco Jansen (3/17 in 3.1 overs) ripped apart the visitors’ batting line-up. As a result, the Knight Riders suffered a disastrous collapse and their innings was concluded at 95 in 15.1 overs.
2. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) vs Delhi Capitals (DC), Match 4
One of the most memorable matches of IPL 2025 is when Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced off against the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 4th match of the tournament in Visakhapatnam. After posting a 209 total for a loss of 8 wickets, LSG seemed to have a great start to the season.
Mitchell Marsh’s 72 runs from 36 balls (4s: 6, 6s: 6, strike rate: 200.00) and Nicholas Pooran’s 75 runs from 30 balls (4s: 6, 6s: 7, strike rate: 250.00) helped Lucknow cross the 200-run mark. Also, David Miller’s finishing knock of 27 runs from 19 balls (4s: 1, 6s: 2, strike rate: 142.11) deserves a special mention.
Despite DC’s terrible start to the chase by losing three quick wickets, Ashutosh Sharma’s match-winning knock of 31-ball-66-runs (4s: 5, 6s: 5, strike rate: 212.90) steered his team to a thrilling 1-wicket victory. Also, Vipraj Nigam’s quickfire performance of 15-ball-39-runs (4s: 5, 6s: 2, strike rate: 260.00) helped to maintain a 55-run partnership with Ashutosh.
The LSG skipper Rishabh Pant missed a stump out dismissal against Mohit Sharma, who took a single run off the second delivery to ensure Ashutosh was on strike. Ultimately, the 26-year-old smashed a six off the third ball in the last over to take his team to accomplish the required target with three balls to spare.
1. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Match 70
In a must-win game for RCB to finish in the top two spots, chasing a target of 228 runs seemed to be a formidable task against Lucknow Super Giants.
Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 61-ball 118 runs (4s: 11, 6s: 8, strike rate: 193.44), added with Mitchell Marsh’s 67 runs from 37 balls (4s: 4, 6s: 5, strike rate: 181.08), helped LSG breach the 200-run mark.
The run chase became much trickier for RCB following Virat Kohli’s dismissal, who scored a fine 30-ball 54-run knock (4s: 10, 6s: 0, strike rate: 180.00).
Bengaluru, having a long list of unsuccessful 200+ run chases, seemed to add another one. However, the stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma’s maiden IPL fifty helped to stitch a partnership of 107 runs with Mayank Agarwal. As a result, the Royal Challengers pulled off a tremendous victory by 6 wickets and more than an over to spare.
Jitesh’s 33-ball-85 runs (4s: 5, 6s: 6, strike rate: 257.58) along with Mayank’s 23-ball-41 runs (4s: 5, 6s: 0, strike rate: 178.26) steered RCB to achieve their 3rd successful 200+ run chase in league’s history. In other words, it was indeed Bengaluru’s highest-ever successful run chase against any team since the inaugural season in 2008.
Also Read: Krunal Pandya Revives Hardik’s Famous Pose After The IPL Trophy Win!
