YEAR OF FIRSTS

2025 will be one to remember for teams that finally broke decade-long hoodoos. A look at a few...

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“Ee Sala Cup Namde” (in Kannada: this year the cup will be ours) finally became “Ee Sala Cup Namadu,” (this year, the cup is ours) as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally got their hands on an IPL trophy 17 years after its inception.

For Virat Kohli — who went to his knees and broke down in tears — the elusive title has been captured in what has been a decorated career.

After waiting for years and despite boosting of some of the finest cricketers in the recent years, the South African team failed to lay their hands on an ICC trophy. They had come close but it still remained a dream. South Africa made history at Lord's in England when they rallied to defeat Australia in the World Test Championship final in June this year. At the core of it was skipper Temba Bavuma, whose position as captain since 2022 was constantly debated. Not a bad way to silence critics by securing South Africa their first ICC title.