From near-certain wins to last-ball heartbreaks, IPL 2025 delivered edge-of-the-seat drama—where a single delivery was enough to turn titans into dust and underdogs into legends
It was a season no one could predict. The kind where momentum didn't just swing—it snapped. One overturned game, one ball sparked collapses, and one wicket silenced packed stadiums. IPL 2025 reminded everyone why cricket is called a game of glorious uncertainties. From last-over drama to partnerships pulled from the brink, each moment felt like a ripple turning into a storm. Fans witnessed games shift in the blink of an eye, with heroes emerging not just with the bat or ball—but with nerve. Let's rewind through the most jaw-dropping turning points that defined this year's tournament.
It's rare to see fate intervene so visibly. Yash Thakur had Abhishek Sharma caught. PBKS roared. But then, the umpire lifted his hand—no ball. It changed everything. Abhishek went on a rampage. He ended with an astonishing 141 off 55 balls—the best by an Indian in IPL history. SRH chased down 246. And PBKS were left ruing that one overstepped line.
Avesh Khan's death overs masterclass
Rajasthan needed 25 off 18. They had Parag. They had Jaiswal. But they didn't account for Avesh Khan. His 18th over—two wickets, five runs. His 20th—one wicket, six runs. Shimron Hetmyer fell, too. Just like that, a sure RR win was reduced to a 2-run heartbreak. Avesh didn't just bowl well—he turned pressure into poetry.
It was just 18 runs. Rajasthan Royals needed that much in two overs. Dhruv Jurel was in beast mode. But at the Chinnaswamy, Josh Hazlewood stood tall. He didn't just bowl an over—he stitched a match-winning spell in six deliveries. Just a single run was scored. Jurel was castled. Archer followed. And with that, RCB found their first home win. A calm head, a clutch moment, and a turning point no one saw coming.
Delhi were done. Or so everyone thought. At 113/6 chasing 210, the LSG bowlers had already begun celebrating. But then came Vipraj Nigam and Ashutosh Sharma, who were rewriting the script. They weren't just batting—they were blazing. In just 22 balls, they stitched a 55-run partnership. Ashutosh smashed 66* in 31 balls, and Nigam's 39 off 15 added the fuel. The result? DC pulled off one of the greatest heists of IPL 2025, turning an inevitable defeat into a fairytale start.
Eden was buzzing. KKR were 162/2 in 12.5 overs, chasing 239. Rahane was anchoring beautifully with 61 off 35. Then he fell. And with that, KKR fell apart. Four wickets tumbled in the successive 19 balls. Momentum was gone. LSG sneaked a 4-run win. It was a classic example of how one wicket at the wrong time can detonate a match.
DC were flying high at 135/2, chasing 206. Karun Nair had raced to 89 from 40. Then came Mitchell Santner with a dream ball. Clean bowled. From there, chaos unfolded. Jasprit Bumrah's over witnessed three run-outs, all self-inflicted. Panic spread. Delhi lost their last 8 wickets for just 58. MI didn't just win—they stole the match from Delhi's grasp in under 30 balls.
RR needed just 9 in 6. Starc stood between them and victory. His death-over bowling was a masterclass. He gave away only 8. The game went to a Super Over. Starc returned. Gave away just 11. That was enough. DC won. Player of the Match? Of course, Starc. His ice-cold execution made the pressure look like a playground.
In a game where bowlers went for plenty, Vijaykumar Vyshak stood out by doing less. He didn't take a wicket. But his tight spell choked GT's chase. Buttler and Rutherford were in full swing before Vyshak arrived. He conceded just enough to keep PBKS ahead. Sometimes, the most important impact doesn't come with stats. It comes with calm execution under fire.
