Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Harshal Patel penned an emotional note for his elder sister, Archita Patel, who passed away last Saturday. After learning about the tragic incident, he left the RCB team bubble for a couple of days and went home to spend time with his family members.

Also Read: IPL 2022 Stats: Most 6s in the 20th Over of an IPL match

Harshal Patel missed the subsequent clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 12. However, later he returned to the playing XI when Bangalore defeated Delhi Capitals on April 16.

An emotional Harshal Patel recently took to his official Instagram handle to pen a heartfelt note to his late sister. The 31-year-old pacer reminisced about the moments the duo shared before the IPL began.

Expressing his heartache at losing her, Harshal Patel wrote:

"Didi, you were one of the kindest and most joyful person in our lives. You faced incredible difficulties in life with a big smile on your face till your last breath. When I was with you in the hospital before I came back to India you told me to focus on my game and don't worry about you. Those words was the only reason I could come back and take the field last night."

Harshal Patel wrote on his instagram post

"That's all I could do now to remember and honor you. I will continue to do everything that made you proud of me. I will miss you every moment of my life, in good times and bad. I love you so much. Rest in peace Jadi." The pacer continued.

Read Also: IPL 2022 News: "As simple as that." Rohit Sharma reveals the reason for their six consecutive losses

RCB are currently in 3rd position in the points table

RCB has got off to a decent start this season under the new leadership of Faf du Plessis. After six games, they have secured eight points by winning four of those encounters and are occupying the third position.

They will look to continue in the same vein and march upwards in the points table with another win in their next match. That opportunity will come when they face the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 19. The DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai will host the contest.

Every now and then, a year comes along that changes sports history. Imagine waiting years, even decades, for your favourite team to win. For fans across the globe, 2025 has turned that dream into reality.

This year has been special, marked by some of the longest trophy droughts in sports finally coming to an end. Teams like South Africa in cricket and Bologna in football have broken long-standing curses, proving that anything is possible. 

Is 2025 the miraculous year in sports history? Join us as we explore why 2025 is a year sports fans won't soon forget, and is also termed as "Year of the underdogs."

1. South Africa won an ICC Trophy after 27 years/ 9,862 days

For nearly three decades, the "chokers" tag clung to the Proteas like an unwanted shadow. Time and again, they reached close to the glory, only to falter at crucial moments. But 2025 changed everything, as they lifted ICC WTC Trophy defeating a strong Australian side in the Final.

South Africa showcased a cricketing masterclass with extraordinary team efforts in a high-stakes final match. From Aiden Markram's century to Temba Bavuma's batting class, they gave it all to earn the standing ovation from the crowd as they walked with pride after the win.

This victory, as Mark Boucher previously said, indeed is the turnaround they needed to inspire future generations and earn global respect as champions that they truly deserve.

They made the world chant "It's time for Africa" with their performance.

Read Also: Most ICC Trophies by any men's team

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2. RCB won their first ever IPL trophy after 18 years/ 6,570 days

For 18 painfully long years, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their passionate fans endured a rollercoaster of hope and heartbreak in IPL. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB delivered exceptional, balanced performance this season, finally breaking free of their curse.

The image of Virat Kohli lifting the IPL trophy, the last major piece missing from his glittering cabinet, was one of the most iconic sporting moments of this year. It not only signified the team's victory, but also the ultimate reward for loyalty and career-long excellence.

The overall team contribution and management are the key factors that led them to secure their place as champions, shutting all the haters down.

Read Also: IPL 2025: RCB batters create this unique history before the playoffs

AAAAARRRRR CEEEEEEE BEEEEEE ❤🏆#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/lp3AwgCVQl

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025

3. Go Ahead Eagles won the KNVB Cup after 93 years/ 33,968 days

Go Ahead Eagles soared to their first major trophy in 93 years, winning the KNVB Cup in 2025. For generations of fans in Deventer, this was a moment they might have only dreamed of. The emotions outpouring after the victory were sensational.

Their journey in the tournament was an underdog saga, defeating AZ Alkmaar, where they equalised the final match in the 99th minute to take it to penalties, and ultimately winning it from there!

4. Bologna won the Italian Cup after 51 years/ 18,619 days

Bologna's victory in the Italian Cup after 51 years was a testament to patience and a perfectly executed season. Their triumph in 2025, defeating AC Milan 1-0 in the final, was a moment they manifested for years.

Key contributions from players like Don Ndoye, who scored the decisive goal despite returning from injury, and the tactical decisions of the coach, Vincenzo Italiano, brought joy to a city that waited for so long.

5.  Crystal Palace won the first ever major trophy (FA Cup) after 119 years/ 43,714 days

Perhaps the most astonishing drought-breaker of 2025 belonged to Crystal Palace. After 119 years, the Eagles finally lifted their first-ever major trophy, the FA Cup. 

The single decisive goal from Eberechi Eze and crucial saves from goalkeeper Dean Henderson shaped their 1-0 victory over Manchester City FC. This victory proved that even after more than a century, a club's biggest dream can still become reality!

Read Also: Football teams with most international trophies

6. Newcastle United won the League Cup after a long wait of 55 years/ 20,367 days

For the passionate supporters of Newcastle United, 2025 brought an end to a 55-year wait for a major domestic trophy as they won the English Football League Cup.

The sight of the Magpies defeating the 10-time champions Liverpool (1-2) was a powerful moment that reinforced belief in their new era. Goals from local hero Dan Burn and Alexander Isak brought the victory home for them.

7. Harry Kane won his first-ever major trophy (Bundesliga) after 32 years/ 11,676 days

For years, England's most prolific striker, Harry Kane, was burdened by an unfortunate tag: "trophy virgin." Despite his goal-scoring records and individual brilliance, a major team trophy has always slipped away from him.

But 2025 finally saw the narrative shattered as Kane immediately made his mark after joining Bayern Munich, leading them to their 33rd Bundesliga title. He was also the top scorer of the 2024-25 season, having scored 26 goals and 8 assists.

This victory felt like a personal one, putting a line to complete the picture in his football career.

Read Also: 11 players who have won the most trophies in football history

This one’s coming home with me! 🏆

Buzzing to be Bundesliga top goalscorer for the second year in a row and this one’s even more special as it goes alongside the Bundesliga title! Couldn’t have achieved this without the support of my teammates! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WnvIvCf28S

— Harry Kane (@HKane) May 17, 2025

8. Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League after 17 years/ 6,296 days

2025 finally broke Tottenham Hotspur's 17-year trophy drought, as they won the UEFA Europa League. This was a monumental win, bringing the title back to North London.

The tense final against Manchester United saw a crucial goal from Brennan Johnson secure the 1-0 victory. However, the most iconic image was Son Heung-min, the club's long-serving captain, finally lifting a major trophy.

After a decade of dedication and numerous near misses, Son's emotional moment, draped in the Korean flag, was the highlight of his commitment and love for football.

A moment Tottenham fans will never forget 🏆#UELfinal | @SpursOfficial pic.twitter.com/ROFK5pRtDD

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 22, 2025

The celebration of Royal Challengers Bangaluru's (RCB) first title win in the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) has now become a cause of crisis. 11 people died and about 50 people were injured in a Bengaluru stampede during the celebration held outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Also Read: Official statement from RCB after the tragic loss of 11 people during RCB's celebration

In connection with this tragic incident, Bangaluru Police has arrested four people including a senior RCB official, while some top officials of Karnataka Cricket Association (KSCA) are still absconding.

Police arrested RCB employee

Among those arrested by the police, the prominent name is that of Nikhil Sosale, who is the marketing head of RCB. Nikhil is considered close to Virat Kohli and was seen actively in every match of the team.

He led the team's branding and marketing strategy and has been associated with the franchise for many years. This year, a picture of a woman sitting next to Anushka Sharma in the stadium during every RCB match went viral on social media. Later it was revealed that this woman was none other than Nikhil Sosale's wife Malvika Nayak.

Arrest comes after Senior IPS officer took charge

The police, on Thursday, had booked RCB, event management company DNA and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) administration over the Bengaluru stampede with CM Siddaramaiah asking the police to arrest the representatives. The KSCA officials have been absconding since Thursday night, the police said.

The arrest comes moments after Senior IPS officer Seemant Kumar Singh took charge as the new Commissioner of Bengaluru City Police, replacing B Dayananda, who was among senior officers suspended over the stampede.

After taking charge, Singh had vowed to uphold the work of his predecessors and act swiftly on the stampede. “I will immediately meet with my officers and take necessary steps regarding the incident,” he said.

Bengaluru Stampede case: What happened actually?

What was meant to be a day of celebration for cricket fans in Karnataka turned chaotic on Wednesday, as a hastily cancelled victory parade for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team gave way to confusion, swelling crowds, and a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The morning began with an announcement from team management: a victory parade would be held on an open bus, traveling the short distance from the iconic Vidhana Soudha to the stadium. Free passes for a post-parade celebration at the stadium were to be made available online. But by 11:56 am, the Bengaluru Traffic Police said that the parade was off.

However, by the time the RCB team arrived at HAL airport around 1:30 pm and travelled to their hotel before heading to Vidhana Soudha, thousands had already assembled along the intended parade route. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was slated to felicitate the players at a brief public ceremony.

Also Read: From emerging star to captain fantastic: Shreyas Iyer's IPL journey

Some spectators perched on treetops and building ledges, including the roof of the nearby Karnataka High Court. Meanwhile, large crowds also began to cluster outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Namma Metro announced that it would bypass Cubbon Park and Dr B.R. Ambedkar metro stations due to overcrowding.

By 3 pm, police estimated that over 50,000 people were gathered within a one-kilometre radius of the stadium. Tragedy struck around 4 pm, when Gate 3 of the stadium partially opened. The mix of ticket-holders and those without passes surged toward the entrance, triggering the stampede.

IPL 2025 concluded with a highly competitive final and gave us a new champion franchise. RCB lifted the trophy after waiting for 18-long years and finally etched their name in the prestigious IPL history. This win is expected to further enhance their brand value significantly.

When IPL started back in 2008 the combined cost of eight frachises was rupees 3000 crore. It marks a huge difference as compared to the recent years, as IPL is the second-richest sports league in the world by per-match value.

The value of the IPL franchises is different from team to team. And this is a detailed list of the value of the IPL Franchises from 2008 to the present.

Chennai Super Kings | ₹1012.6 crore

Consistently at the top, Chennai Super Kings maintains its position as the most valuable IPL franchise, with a value ₹1012.6 crore (USD: $122M.

Apart from being the five-time IPL champions, their value is heavily influenced by performances, loyalty, huge fan base, and one of the pivotal members behind their success, none other than MS Dhoni.

Mumbai Indians | ₹987.7 crore

It seems like Mumbai Indians have a knack for being at the top of everything. The five-time IPL champions have not only won IPL the most number of times but also have the second-highest brand value among all the teams, which is ₹987.7 crore (USD: $119M).

Backed by a strong corporate ownership of Mukesh Ambani, MI remain one of the most recognised and valuable brands, along with a massive fan following.

Read also: IPL Winners list of last 12 years

Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹971.1 crore

Since the beginning of IPL, Royal Challengers Bangalore always had a star-studded lineup. With a brand value of ₹971.1 crore (USD: $117M), RCB has the third-highest team value in IPL. 

Despite a history of not winning the IPL trophy until 2025, RCB has been one of the most popular teams due to its association with global icons like Virat Kohli, and its passionate fanbase.

Their recent IPL victory is expected to further solidify and exceed the 1000-cr mark in their already impressive brand value.

Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹904.7 crore

The franchise with the fourth-highest brand value is the 3-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders. Owned by bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, KKR is a brand with glamour and strategic play.

Their value is approximately ₹904.7 crore (USD: $109M), and the 2024 victory has further strengthened their strong market position and fan engagement.

Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹705.5 crore

Sunrisers Hyderabad has shown impressive growth in brand value over the years, strongly because of their splendid performances and consistent playoffs presence. They have a value of ₹705.5 crore (USD: $81M).

SRH has also earned the love and support of their dedicated 'Orange Army' fanbase in their region that contribute to their valuation.

Rea Also: Most P.O.T.M Awards in IPL

Rajasthan Royals | ₹672.3 crore

The inaugural IPL champions, Rajasthan Royals, started their IPL journey with a bang but slowly things turned around and they lacked consistent good performance.

At the moment, their brand value amounts to ₹672.3 crore (USD: $81M), boosted by their strong digital presence, innovative team building and other strategies.

Delhi Capitals | ₹664 crore

Despite never having an IPL title to their name, Delhi Capitals have a steady brand value of ₹644 crore (USD: $80M).

They put up a good fight in the 2025 season and narrowly left behind a playoffs berth, which creates a space for a hopeful comeback next year and rise in value.

Gujarat Titans | ₹572.7 crore

A new addition in IPL 2022, Gujarat Titans, is owned by CVC Capital (a private equity fund), and has made an immediate impact as a relatively new team.

They emerged as the IPL champions in their first season (IPL 2022), which plays a major role in their value of ₹572.7 crore (USD: $69M) at the moment.

Read Also: Teams to finish last in IPL Points Table

Punjab Kings | ₹564.4 crore

Punjab Kings is one of the original IPL franchises, with a value of ₹564.4 crore (USD: $68M). They had an incredible season in IPL 2025 under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer. They fell short of 6 runs to secure their maiden IPL title this season, and ended up at the runners-up side.

PBKS were also the table toppers in IPL 2025, and their performance helped gain a lot of new fan following, which will reflect in the coming years and value.

Lucknow Super Giants | ₹498 crore

Another new franchise formed in 2022, Lucknow Super Giants quickly established itself by making it to the playoffs twice in a row.

Backed by the Sanjiv Goenka-led RPSG group, LSG's brand value is currently ₹498 crore (USD: $60M) and is steadily increasing.

Value of defunct IPL franchises

Some now-defunct teams like Deccan Chargers and Pune Warriors India had a memorable IPL journey. Here we bring you their values:

Deccan Chargers | ₹428 crore

Deccan Chargers, based in the city of Hyderabad, is one of the 8 teams from the inaugural edition. They lifted their maiden IPL trophy in IPL 2009.

Unfortunately, the team washed out of existence in 2012. The brand value of the team was ₹428 crore.

Read also: Every IPL team owners list

Kochi Tuskers Kerala | ₹1533 crore

With a brand value of ₹1533 crore, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, started its journey of IPL in 2011. It was one of the 2 teams that joined IPL in 2011, and they just lasted a year in the tournament.

Pune Warriors India 

The second franchise to join the Indian Premier League in 2011 is Pune Warriors India. The team was acquired by Sahada Adventure Sports Ltd for ₹17.02 billion. They withdrew from participating the next year due to future uncertainties.

"We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light through media reports regarding public gatherings all over Bengaluru in anticipation of the team’s arrival this afternoon. The safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance to us.

RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extend our heartfelt condolences to the affected families.

Immediately upon being made aware of the situation, we promptly amended our program, and followed, the guidance and advice of the local administration.

We urge all our supporters to please stay safe."

"JUST DON'T GO. IT'S DANGEROUS."

RCB fans outside Chinnaswamy reveal stampede like situation 👀 pic.twitter.com/uM2EFD0wb6

— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) June 4, 2025

This picture will haunt every cricket fans forever 💔💔💔#Stampede #Chinnaswamystadium pic.twitter.com/Z1NJaDC9LX

— Voice of Hindus (@Warlock_Shubh) June 4, 2025

The Most Valuable Player in IPL is the cricketer who earns the most points on the MVP Chart of a particular season. Before the 2013 season, the best player of an IPL season received the 'IPL Man of the Series' title. However, the organizers changed it to the IPL Most Valuable Player in 2013.

How do players get the IPL Most Valuable Player award?

There is a special rating system, under which the cricketers earn points for fours, sixes, wickets, catches, dot balls, and stumpings. For every four, the player gets 2.5 points, while a maximum earns him 3.5 points.

A catch or a stumping is equal to 2.5 points, and a wicket gets the player 3.5 points. The bowler earns one point for every dot ball bowled. The leader of this standing takes the IPL Most Valuable Player trophy home.

Also Read: IPL 2022 Full schedule and fixture in PDF

Here SportzPOint presents you the Most Valuable Player in each season of IPL since the award's inception in 2013.

Shane Watson | 2013

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson won the Most Valuable Player award in its inaugural edition in 2013. Watson had undone the damage to his IPL prospects that year with all-round performance for the Rajasthan Royals. With 22 sixes, 59 boundaries, 6 catches, and 13 wickets, Watson edged past the big Chris Gayle by 37 points to clinch the Most Valuable Player once again.

A packed Chennai crowd also witnessed Shane Watson's first IPL 100. Incidentally, Watson's 61-ball 101 was also the first century of the 2013 edition of the IPL

Glenn Maxwell | 2014

After failing to find a spot on the Australian side in 2014, Glenn Maxwell staged a fantastic show in the 7th edition of the IPL. The all-rounder Maxwell scored as many as 552 runs in the tournament, during which he also smashed 36 sixes and 48 fours, all at a strike rate of 187.75.

The Aussie fell agonizingly short of a maiden IPL century – he blasted CSK's bowlers to get to a 38-ball 95. Although Kings XI Punjab lost in a thrilling final against the Knight Riders, Glenn Maxwell would have cherished the 2014 season of the IPL for his stellar run.

Read Also: The highest run-getter in every season of IPL till now

Andre Russell | 2015

Kolkata's Caribbean Knight Andre Russell was power personified as far as the 2015 IPL was concerned. The broad-shouldered all-rounder set the IPL on fire with stellar performances lower down the order. Russell was the bright spot of KKR's deep batting order, as the Caribbean genius scored 326 runs through the course of the season.

Russell could brag about his 21-ball 51 against Kings XI Punjab which helped KKR steeple a target of 183. A strike rate of 192.29 stood out in Andre Russell's scintillating season. Don't forget his 14 wickets and 6 catches.

Virat Kohli | 2016

The 9th edition of the IPL pulled every available spotlight on just one man, Virat Kohli. Former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper was in mint form, as he seemed to have no difficulty in racking up immense runs. Virat Kohli came tantalizingly close to 1,000 runs in a single IPL season, finishing with 973.

En route to yet another blotched IPL final, Kohli hammered 4 centuries – which was the most by a batsman in a single IPL season – and comfortably snapped the Orange Cap. Despite a disappointing end to the season, Virat Kohli had taken the IPL by storm by his insatiable hunger for T20 runs.

Also Read: The highest wicket getter in every season of IPL till now

Ben Stokes | 2017

The tag of 'Most Valuable Player' was attached to Ben Stokes long before he took the field in the 2017 edition of the IPL. Stokes fetched Rs. 14.5 crore and was set to ply his skills for the Rising Pune Supergiant. He didn't disappoint his selectors who invested big money in him. Stokes proved his worth and added the title of Most Valuable Player alongside his already existing tag of Most Expensive Overseas Player.

Although he was dearly missed in the final, Stokes had amassed 316 runs at 31.60 before he left on national duty. The Big Ben lit up the IPL with a stellar century against the Gujarat Lions and was also instrumental in the Pune's impenetrable death-bowling. Stokes bagged a total of 12 wickets while maintaining a miserly economy rate of 7.18.

Suni Narine | 2018

Sunil Narine became the second cricketer after Shane Watson to become the most valuable player of IPL twice. After IPL 2012 he won the prestigious award once again in 2018. By this time he not only proved himself as an excellent bowler but also as a great hard-hitting opener.

He completely justified the roles given to him by giving an extreme start to KKR in the powerplay in most of the matches and also helped the team to reach the playoffs. In 16 matches he scored 357 runs with a strike rate of 189.89 and took 17 wickets with an economy rate of 7.65. One of his most magnificent knocks from IPL 2018 is his half-century in only 17 balls against RCB.

Read Also: Oldest player to score IPL century

Andre Russell | 2019

Once again a player from KKR became the most valuable player of IPL 2019 following Sunil Narine in 2018. Andre Russell also became the third cricketer to be in the MVP award twice in IPL history after Shane Watson and Sunil Narine. By this time, he proved himself as a batter who could win matches in dire situations.

In 2019 IPL Russell completely thrashed boundaries all around and literally played with the opponent bowlers. He aggregated 510 runs in only 14 matches with an out-of-the-ordinary strike rate of 204.81. He not only restricted himself with batting but also picked up 11 wickets for KKR while bowling in the death overs mostly.

Jofra Archer | 2020

Rajasthan Royals' all-rounder Jofra Archer claimed the IPL Most Valuable Player award in 2020. The English player topped the MVP standings with 305 points to his name.

Archer picked up 20 wickets, bowled 175 dot deliveries, smashed five fours and ten sixes as well as took five catches to beat the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rashid Khan to become the Most Valuable Player in IPL 2020. No other player could score 300 MVP points last year.

Also Read: IPL 2022: Players to play each season of IPL

Harshal Patel | 2021

The Most Valuable Player of IPL 2021 is Harshal Patel from Royal Challengers Bangalore. With 264.5 points, the cricketer had an amazing season this year. Starting from taking crucial wickets to winning the Purple Cap, Game-changer of the season, picking the highest number of wickets in IPL, he did it all. He had a dreamy season after making a comeback to RCB from DC. Also, he took a 4 wicket haul and a 5 wicket haul this season as well.

Suryakumar Yadav | 2025

Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav has been named the Most Valuable Player for IPL 2025. The MI middle-order star finished the season with 717 runs to his name from 16 matches, registering his best season so far averaging, 65.18. He struck five half-centuries in the course of the tournament, emerging as MI’s highest run-scorer in IPL 2025. SKY is the second MI batter to win the Most Valuable Player of the season award after Sachin Tendulkar in 2010.

N.B: Last updated on 04/06/2025.