DPL 2025 final | Back where it all started! Former India openers receive special felicitation by DDCA

Team India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and former India star Virender Sehwag were honoured at the Delhi Premier League 2025 final, held at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. The DDCA felicitated both for their unforgettable contributions to Indian cricket, with president Rohan Jaitley presenting the awards. On the field, West Delhi Lions claimed the title with a six-wicket victory over Central Delhi Kings. Captain Nitish Rana starred with an unbeaten 79 to guide his team in successfully chasing a target of 174 runs.

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Early wickets by Central Delhi Kings’ Simarjeet Singh and Arun Pundir reduced the Lions to 48/3 in the fifth over, but Rana stabilised the innings alongside Mayank Gusain with a 42-run partnership before Gusain fell for 15.

Hrithik Shokeen then joined Rana, and their unbroken partnership sealed the win. Shokeen contributed 42* off 27 balls, complementing Rana’s dominant display. Central Delhi Kings had earlier recovered from 78/6 to post 173/7, thanks to a vital seventh-wicket stand between Yugal Saini (65 off 48 balls) and Pranshu Vijayran (50* off 24 deliveries). West Delhi Lions’ bowlers were key in keeping the target achievable.

Manan Bhardwaj led the attack with figures of 2/11 in 3 overs, while Shivank Vashisht took 2/12 in 2 overs. Rana also chipped in with 1/16 in his four overs. Rana’s consistent performance in the playoffs was remarkable, scoring 134* in the Eliminator, 45* in Qualifier 2, and 79* in the Final. His leadership, combined with Shokeen’s support, proved decisive in securing the Lions’ title. The felicitation of Gambhir and Sehwag added a celebratory tone to the final, recognising their lasting impact on Indian cricket. The event was a blend of on-field brilliance and off-field honour, making the DPL 2025 final a memorable occasion for fans and players alike.