After an intense build up, the 2025 IPL season is underway with three matches between some of the league’s leading franchises taking place over the weekend.
In what was a special weekend of top cricketing action, here is what we learnt.
RCB look ready to win that elusive first title
Heading into this year’s IPL, all eyes are on RCB as they try to finally win that first IPL title. Having lost in three finals, the IPL trophy is one of the only trophies that has eluded Virat Kohli and he will be desperate to correct that this time around.
Having the honour of playing in this season’s opening match against the defending champions, the Kolkata Knight Riders, RCB showed that they could be one of the IPL’s most dominant teams this season.
Kolkata showed why they powered their way to IPL glory last year, smashing the first ten overs for 107, but a brilliant spell of bowling from Krunal Pandya wrestled control back to RCB and with star seamer Josh Hazelwood finishing off the innings in style, RCB would have been delighted to limit KKR to just 174.
In what was seen as a manageable chase, recent acquisition Phil Salt put his Champions Trophy woes behind him with a fine 56 from 31 balls. Ably supported by Virat Kohli who will once again be eyeing up another Orange Cap for the competition's leading run scorer, the duo put on a century stand for the opening partnership and set the platform for others to follow.
Always ahead of the run rate, Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingston closed out the victory with three overs to play.
It was exactly the start that Kohli and company would have wanted as things don’t get any easier from here.
Next up is a real clash of the titans when RCB face off against the Chennai Super Kings, before they then face off against 2023 champions the Gujarat Titans. RCB have already laid down a significant marker with their victory over the Knight Riders they have a chance to announce themselves as serious contenders over their next two matches.
Sunrisers get off to the perfect start as they look to avenge 2024 final defeat
No other team started the 2025 IPL campaign with as much to prove as the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Having fallen in last year’s final to the Knight Riders where they failed to show up, everyone connected to the team will hope that this is the year where they can get over the line and capture a second IPL crown.
Heading into their opening match against the Rajasthan Royals there were concerns that Captain and star bowler Pat Cummins may not be fit for the contest, but Cummins was able to prove his fitness and take his place in the field.
With the Sunrisers being put into bat, they showed what a destructive force they can be as they powered their way to an imposing title of 286 from their twenty overs.
The one man who took the full force of the Sunrisers was Jofra Archer. Once regarded as one of the premier T20 bowlers in the world, injuries have taken their toll on the seamer and he was bludgeoned for 76 runs off his four overs.
The 76 runs conceded set a new IPL record for the most expensive bowling spell in IPL history and crucially swung the match in the Sunrisers favour.
Benefiting from Archer’s generous bowling was the duo of Travis Head who powered his way to 67 runs off just 31 balls and Ishan Kishan who recorded the first century of the IPL season.
Heinrich Klaasen showed what an asset he is down the order as his 34 runs from 14 deliveries ensured that the Sunrisers would post the second highest total in IPL history.
Set the formidable task of trying to chase down the biggest total in IPL history, the Royals gave themselves a chance but their progress was checked by the fall of regular wickets.
Starring with the ball was Harshal Patel who picked up two wickets for the loss of just 34 runs. The Sunrisers look to have one of the most impressive squads in this year’s IPL and look capable of mounting yet another deep run in this year’s competition.
Off to the perfect start, they next face the Lucknow Super Giants and the Delhi Capitals. Both teams missed out on the playoffs last year and the Sunrisers will start both encounters as the heavy favourite.
Viewed as one of the favourites for victory before a ball had been bowled this season, the Sunrisers look the real deal once again and are now the team to beat. Whether they can hold their nerve this season remains to be seen.
Chennai Super Kings start with victory over rivals, the Mumbai Indians
The headline encounter from the opening weekend of IPL action was the contest between the two most successful franchises in IPL history, the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
Both teams have won five IPL titles apiece and will be desperate to stand alone at the top of the all time standings with a sixth victory.
In what was always going to be a cagey contest but Chennai got off to the perfect start when Khaleel Ahmed removed star Mumbai batsman, Rohit Sharma for a duck in the opening over.
With Chennai able to make regular inroads to the Mumbai batting lineup thanks to a star performance from Noor Ahmad who took four wickets for the loss of just eighteen runs, Chennai were able to limit the Indians to just 155 runs.
Positioned as the favourites to get one over their longtime rivals, Chennai captain Ruturaj Gaikwad got the team off to a flyer with 53 runs from 26 balls, but it was New Zealand star Rachin Ravindra who held the team together.
With wickets falling all around him, Ravindra remained calm and composed and was able to keep the scoreboard ticking over with a match winning 65 from 45 balls.
Ensuring that the Super Kings were always ahead of the run rate, the match was won in style in the final over when Ravindra hit a six off his international teammate Mitchell Santner with five balls of the match remaining.
It wasn’t Chennai’s best victory, but it was crucial to get the win on the board and they will hope to build on that effort in their next two games against RCB and the Rajasthan Royals.
For Mumbai, this defeat will hurt. They have plenty to prove after last year where they finished bottom of the table and failed to make the playoffs. Mumbai expects a winning team and the team needs to restore themselves back to winning ways if they are to get back on track.
Their next two matches against the Gujarat Titans and the Kolkata Knight Riders. Failure to win either of those two matches could see Mumbai up against it once again.
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Tom Gibson
Tom Gibson, 33, possesses a keen interest in cricket combined with expertise in betting. Based in Newcastle, he is well-acquainted with the dynamics of the game and the betting world. With numerous years analyzing cricket matches and odds, Tom offers a unique perspective on the intersection of the sport and betting strategies