Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifts the IPL trophy alongside teammates following the team's victory in the 2025 IPL Final match (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lifted their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a high-octane final at Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday. From Virat Kohli’s batting brilliance to Josh Hazlewood’s wicket-taking prowess, Sai Sudharsan’s stellar run-scoring to Suryakumar Yadav’s unmatched consistency, RG explores the numbers defining the 18th edition of the IPL.
1 – First IPL Title for RCB and Virat Kohli
RCB claimed their first IPL trophy after three previous unsuccessful attempts in finals (2009, 2011, and 2016). It was also the first IPL title for Virat Kohli, the only player in IPL history to represent just one franchise.
Kohli finished third among run-scorers, amassing 657 runs at a strike rate of 144.7, anchoring RCB’s batting throughout the season. Josh Hazlewood was another pivotal figure, picking up 22 wickets from 12 matches, including 10 crucial wickets in powerplays at an economy of 7.27.
However, Krunal Pandya proved most decisive for RCB, winning the Player of the Match in the final with an outstanding all-round effort (2 wickets for 17 runs in 4 overs). Pandya concluded the season with 17 wickets and notably scored a pressure-filled 73 against Delhi Capitals.
8.61 – RCB’s Stellar Powerplay Economy Rate
While RCB excelled in batting, their disciplined bowling in the powerplay truly set them apart, conceding just 8.61 runs per over—the best among all teams.
700 Club – Sudharsan and SKY Dominate the Batting Charts
Sai Sudharsan of Gujarat Titans topped the run-scoring charts with 759 runs at a strike rate of 156.17, including one century and six half-centuries, and the highest number of fours (88).
Yet, Suryakumar Yadav (SKY) had the greatest overall impact. His 717 runs at a staggering strike rate of 167.9 consistently came in crucial, pressure-filled situations, solidifying his status as the season’s most valuable batter.
24.66 & 16.8 – Mumbai Indians’ Remarkable Bowling Comeback
Mumbai Indians dramatically reversed their early-season slump, storming into the Eliminator. While Suryakumar Yadav provided batting heroics, the reunited bowling partnership of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult spearheaded their revival. Mumbai led the tournament in wickets (109), bowling average (24.66), strike rate (16.8), and economy (8.8).
Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans posted the highest team batting average (35.46) and strike rate (158.3).
9.62 – Record-Breaking Run-Rate in IPL 2025
The 2025 IPL set new standards, surpassing the record-breaking run-rate from 2024 (9.56) with an astonishing average of 9.62 runs per over. A record 52 totals exceeded 200 runs, eclipsing 2024’s count of 41.
Six-hitting soared to new heights as well, with 1,294 maximums struck this season, surpassing the previous year’s total of 1,260.
Nikhil Narain is a die-hard cricket romantic, published author, and has worked for some of the leading digital websites and broadcasters in India and overseas. An alumnus of the London School of Economics, Nikhil's forte is using data and numbers creatively to weave interesting stories and revolutionize the way cricket statistics are generated and analyzed.
