Sunil Gavaskar names RCB's best performance in IPL 2025

India Today

Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar picked his best performance of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) after they finally ended their 18-year-long trophy drought. RCB beat PBKS by six runs in the final.

Transcript

00:00We are joined by our cricket analyst in Sunny Gavaskar.

00:04Saiwai, you're there in Ahmedabad.

00:06We can see the frenzy, the fans celebrating.

00:09Let's start with your prediction.

00:11For the longest time during this tournament,

00:13you had this feeling that this was going to be RCB's year

00:17and it has eventually turned out to be that.

00:19What was it that was telling you this year,

00:22the team in red is going to be lifting that trophy?

00:25I think it was the combination that they had.

00:27They had some terrific batters to get the team up to a good start

00:31in South in particular.

00:33And then there was goalie to stabilize the innings.

00:36And then they had Rajat Patidar also.

00:38The bowling as well, they had Josh Hazelwood,

00:40Bhuvaneshwar, Kumar, two top quality bowlers.

00:43Then they had Kumar Pandya, a very, very intelligent cricketer.

00:47So they had a very good team, very well-balanced team.

00:51And that's why, you know, it looked...

00:53And when they started well,

00:54when they started the tournament with wins over CSK in Chennai,

00:59wins over Mumbai in Mumbai,

01:01that showed that this time around RCB were going to be the favorites.

01:06And they've proven that this evening.

01:10Sahiba, we're getting pictures from all across the country

01:12and from Bengaluru too.

01:14The fans celebrating.

01:15They'll be celebrating well through the night.

01:18And just looking at that fan base,

01:20one of the most loyal fan bases that I've seen in the IPL.

01:23They've not won a title yet.

01:24The fans kept backing them.

01:27You know, deserve it, champions, in that sense?

01:29A gift that these fans deserve?

01:32Yes.

01:33Yes, absolutely.

01:33And, you know, if I might add that this was the one year

01:36that that slogan that they had about that this year,

01:40the cup is going to be ours,

01:41was pretty muted.

01:42Not that it wasn't there.

01:44And it was almost like, you know,

01:46that particular slogan was really lagaring nazar on them.

01:49And because that was muted,

01:51the cup is actually this time theirs.

01:54So congratulations for them

01:55because they've made some top-class cricket

01:56right throughout the IPL.

01:58But the last two or three performances in particular

02:00have been outstanding.

02:02Chasing down 230-plus,

02:03which they hadn't done in the IPL against LSG

02:06in their last league game.

02:07Then decimating Punjab Kings in the qualifier one.

02:11Winning in 25 overs, you know, 15 overs of Punjab

02:14and 10 overs of their own batting.

02:16And then again, now here,

02:18the way they have, you know, won,

02:20kept their nerve despite the fact that, you know,

02:22a lot of people thought that they were maybe 15 to 20 runs.

02:25I thought of what would have been

02:26an ideal score to defend.

02:28So yes, very well deserved victory.

02:31And congratulations to them and all the fans

02:33for having shown the faith and the patience

02:35in their team.

02:37Sir, whatever be the result in terms of man of the match,

02:41whoever the commentators pick,

02:43but if I was to ask you,

02:44not too many high scores in there batting,

02:46some good bowling performances,

02:48one that stands out is that of Kunal Pandya.

02:50But for you, man of the match?

02:52Yes, Kunal Pandya.

02:53Kunal Pandya, because he got wickets

02:55at, you know, he got to make it across the list

02:57who was batting so well.

02:58So, you know, I mean,

02:59if that ball had gone for a six,

03:01it might have been a different story again.

03:03But, you know, Anthony Levickson taking that catch.

03:05But the way Kunal Pandya hold,

03:07just imagine bowling four overs

03:08for, I think, 17 runs

03:10and taking two wickets.

03:12That's an economy of just over four runs and over,

03:15plus two wickets.

03:16So, he has to be the player of the match.

03:20I don't know what the other fellow commentators will be deciding,

03:23but for me, he would be the player of the match.

03:26Sahiba, a word on Virat Kohli.

03:28I mean, he had a very good season

03:30with the half centuries that you got,

03:32but I just don't want to talk about this season.

03:34He's been a true blue RCBN in that sense

03:38from the first year onwards.

03:40He's had some very outstanding seasons,

03:43maybe some average seasons as well.

03:44But what about that journey?

03:45For a man who's given his all to this franchise,

03:49what would it mean, finally,

03:51for him to tick this box in his career?

03:54It'll be huge.

03:55You know, there's a saying that

03:56the rewards of patience are very sweet.

03:59The fruits of patience are sweet.

04:01And I think this is going to be really, really sweet,

04:03this win.

04:05Because, you know, for waiting for 17 years

04:07and the 18th year,

04:09they're winning 18th, of course.

04:1118 is his short number as well.

04:14So, maybe very apt

04:15that in the 18th season,

04:17the RCB have won a title

04:19for somebody who's been with them

04:21through thick and thin.

04:23Virat Kohli, number 18.

04:25Okay.

04:26Sahiba, let's talk about this final.

04:28190 at the halfway stage.

04:30Looked like just about a par

04:31or some would even say a below par total

04:33because in Ahmedabad,

04:34we do get high-scoring pitches.

04:36What really happened to that Punjab team?

04:38The same team

04:39that chased 200-plus total

04:42against Mumbai Indians.

04:43High-pressure game,

04:44that too.

04:45On this occasion,

04:46what happened?

04:46Did they freeze?

04:47Did the occasion get to them?

04:50Yes.

04:51You could say that.

04:52But also,

04:52I think you must remember

04:53that they were up against

04:54a top-quality new ball attack.

04:56Josh Hazelwood,

04:57Bhuvaneshwar Kumar,

04:58never easy to score off.

05:00Yes, they also

05:01have come on so well

05:02as a new ball bowler.

05:04It wasn't going to be easy

05:05to get off to a good start.

05:07Also, I think temperament

05:08sometimes plays a big role.

05:10Having scored so many runs,

05:12I think they scored about 14 runs

05:13for that Hazelwood over.

05:15That is where your temperament is.

05:17Okay, one ball left.

05:18I will not try and hit a six now.

05:20I will just try and work him around

05:22for a boundary.

05:23I will not play a high-risk shot.

05:24That catch of Phil Salt was superb.

05:26But I think this is where

05:27experience comes in.

05:29Sometimes, you know,

05:29in the heat of the moment,

05:30in the excitement,

05:31youngsters can get carried away.

05:32And that's what might have happened

05:33to Priyancharya.

05:35Then the way Prabhupada

05:35was just not able to get going

05:37and then playing across the line

05:38against a spin

05:39to Brunal Pandya.

05:42Again, over here,

05:44there is a little bit of,

05:44you know,

05:45understanding that

05:46playing across the line

05:48would not work.

05:49A couple of dot calls.

05:51And it is very predictable

05:52that you're going to go

05:52for the big shot.

05:53And that's what happened.

05:54So those two wickets

05:56and then, of course,

05:56the wicket of Sears,

05:57the captain,

05:59who had been batting so well.

06:01And he got out to,

06:02you know,

06:02an unlikely bowler.

06:04Unlikely wicket-taker.

06:05I'm sorry,

06:05not an unlikely bowler.

06:06Unlikely wicket-taker,

06:07Romero Shepard.

06:08So that is where

06:10Punjab lost again.

06:11Saibet,

06:12I mean,

06:12this was just about the final.

06:14But if I was to sum up

06:15RCB's entire season,

06:17let's say five years,

06:18six years down the line,

06:19if I was to ask you

06:20to recall

06:21this particular season,

06:22season 2025 for RCB,

06:24what will be

06:25your biding memories

06:26of this season

06:27in terms of how

06:27RCB have performed?

06:29Any game,

06:29any individual performances?

06:31What will stay with you

06:32for a very long time?

06:34Well,

06:34firstly,

06:35I didn't watch

06:36every single game

06:36because I was not

06:37doing commentary

06:38every single day.

06:39So I didn't watch

06:40every single game

06:41that they played.

06:41But for me,

06:42that win in the first

06:43qualifier against Punjab,

06:45where they demolished

06:47Punjab in what,

06:4814.1 overs

06:49for just 100

06:50and then rattled up

06:52the runs in 10 overs,

06:54that for me

06:55is the standard performance

06:57for the RCB.

07:01Your MVP

07:02for the season,

07:03most valuable player

07:04from this entire season

07:05of IPL,

07:06who would that be?

07:07There are a few contenders

07:08who've done well

07:09from the team

07:10that's won,

07:11from the team

07:11that's played the final,

07:12some that missed out

07:13on the playoff.

07:14So there will be

07:14a few contenders,

07:15I know.

07:16But who,

07:17if you had to pick one,

07:18MVP,

07:19who would that be?

07:21That's a tough question.

07:23Once again,

07:23because I didn't see

07:24every match,

07:25I cannot tell you

07:26if you had given me

07:27maybe four or five choices,

07:29maybe...

07:29I'll give you,

07:29I'll give you some choices anyway.

07:31I'll give you.

07:32There is Josh Hazelwood,

07:33who's been outstanding,

07:34who's played less games,

07:35but is right up there

07:36in terms of economy

07:38as well as vickets.

07:39There is Sai Sudarshan,

07:41who had an outstanding season

07:42with the bat.

07:43There is Sura Kumar Yadav,

07:44who was very consistent

07:45with the bat

07:46at a very good strike rate.

07:48We spoke about

07:49Virat Kohli

07:50getting, I think,

07:51eight or nine half centuries

07:52throughout this season.

07:53Prasit Krishna,

07:54who would be leading

07:55the purple cap,

07:56you know,

07:57ranking this season.

07:59So,

07:59these are just

08:00four or five names

08:01that really come to your mind.

08:02Who would be your MVP?

08:04I think Sai Sudarshan,

08:05for the way he played,

08:06you know,

08:07to get 759 runs

08:09is never easy

08:10in this format of the game.

08:13And so,

08:14I think,

08:14for the way he batted,

08:15maybe I think

08:16he would be the MVP.

08:17I know generally

08:18what happens

08:18with man of the match

08:19or MVP

08:19is you sort of

08:22choose

08:23from the winning team.

08:25But here,

08:26I think

08:26both Sai Sudarshan

08:28and Prasit Krishna

08:29top with the orange

08:30and the purple cap.

08:31But that also tells you

08:32that individual performances

08:34don't always win you

08:35win you games.

08:36You've got to have

08:37a team performance.

08:38And if you have a look

08:38at RCB's performance

08:40throughout the season,

08:41they've had nine

08:42player of the match

08:43medal winners.

08:44And I don't know

08:45who the medal winner today

08:46may be,

08:46Fitzpranald Pandya,

08:48but he'll be still nine.

08:49But that tells you

08:50that if you have

08:50so many medal winners,

08:52that's a team

08:53where everybody

08:54has contributed.

08:56That's really interesting.

08:57Sai,

08:57your heart also goes out

08:59to someone like

09:00Shreya Sahir.

09:00He also had

09:02a phenomenal season,

09:04may not be

09:04the ideal final,

09:05but the way he led

09:06Punjab Kings

09:07throughout.

09:08What did you make

09:09of the entire

09:09Punjab Kings campaign

09:11as well as Shreya

09:11as the leader?

09:13Very, very good.

09:14He actually held it,

09:16held the Punjab team

09:17on his shoulders.

09:18You've got to say,

09:19yes, there was

09:20the opening pair

09:20of Priyansh

09:21and Prop Simran.

09:23But like I keep saying,

09:25where it matters,

09:26you've got to deliver.

09:27In the league

09:28where you've got

09:28another match

09:29to come tomorrow

09:29or day after

09:30two, three matches,

09:31batting the way

09:32that they do

09:32is easy.

09:34But in a knockout game

09:35where you have

09:36to score runs,

09:37where you must

09:38deliver for your team,

09:39when you don't do that,

09:41then that is not

09:41good enough.

09:42And that is what happened.

09:44Shreya Sahir did get

09:45the runs against

09:45Mumbai Indians,

09:46but look at the others.

09:48These two openers

09:49didn't do anything

09:50in both the games

09:52against Mumbai Indians

09:53as well as against

09:54RCB in the final.

09:57Then you had

09:57Nehal Vadera

09:59not really scoring

09:59too many runs.

10:00So, the guys,

10:01the uncapped players

10:02on whom so much

10:04of faith

10:04was reposed

10:05by the franchise,

10:08they didn't quite

10:09live up

10:10when it mattered.

10:12Okay,

10:13Samimha,

10:13finally,

10:14before we let you go,

10:15IPL is also

10:16about young talent

10:17and we were

10:17blessed to see

10:18some outstanding

10:19young talent

10:20this entire season.

10:21I'm going to ask

10:22you to pick

10:22the one debutant

10:24from this season

10:25you think will serve

10:26Indian cricket

10:27for a very long time.

10:28Again,

10:28I'll give you

10:29a few options.

10:30There is Priyansh Arya

10:30who played that final.

10:32There's Digvesh Rati

10:33who did very well

10:34for Lucknow.

10:35You, of course,

10:36have Veybhav Suryavanshi

10:37who was outstanding

10:38in this entire season.

10:40Vipraj Nigam.

10:41Many debutants

10:42really come to your mind.

10:44There was Ayush Matre

10:45who played for Chennai.

10:46One or two names

10:47that you think

10:48have a bright future ahead?

10:51I want to see them

10:52in the second season.

10:53It's a second season

10:55syndrome that is also important.

10:56First season

10:57when you're unknown,

10:58nobody knows about you.

11:00The computer guys

11:01don't have enough info on you.

11:03So it's the second season

11:04when they have info on you

11:05about your batting strength,

11:06about your batting weaknesses,

11:08about your bowling ability.

11:09The second season

11:10is important.

11:11So this is not the time

11:12to make predictions

11:13as to who's going to be

11:14the future India picket up.

11:16Let's wait for another season.

11:18Let's see how these guys

11:19do in that season

11:20and not just in the IPL,

11:22in the rest of the

11:22domestic season as well.

11:24Then we can talk about

11:25who is going to be

11:26serving Indian cricket

11:28for a long time.

11:29All right.

11:29Same way,

11:30thank you so much

11:30for taking our time

11:31speaking to us

11:32on the day

11:33that we've seen RCB

11:34finally lift

11:36that IPL trophy.

11:38As Mr. Gavaskar there

11:39was also saying

11:40it was a long time coming.

11:41In fact,

11:42he had been a regular

11:43in our programming

11:44here on India Today

11:46and kept saying

11:46this to me

11:47seems like

11:48the year

11:49of Royal Challengers

11:51Bengaluru.

11:51and that's exactly

11:53how it's turned out

11:54to be.

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