2025 – The year underdogs conquered sports history

2025 became the ultimate “Year of Breakthroughs” in sports as underdogs triumphed and long droughts ended. From RCB’s IPL glory to India Women’s first World Cup win, Hobart Hurricanes’ BBL title, and Kane’s long-awaited trophy, history was rewritten across arenas.

Hemanth
Hemanth

3 mins read
2025 – The year underdogs conquered sports history
i(x.com/bcci)

Be a winner today!

Get the latest cricket updates, Join our community

iconiconicon

2025 will forever be remembered as the “Year of Breakthroughs”, a time when underdogs rose, curses were broken, and long-suffering fans finally got their fairytale endings. From cricket pitches to football fields, teams that had lived in the shadows found their moment in the sun.

It all began in January when the Hobart Hurricanes stunned Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League final, chasing down a massive total with Mitchell Owen’s breathtaking 108 off 42 balls. From there, the floodgates of redemption opened, culminating in India Women’s historic World Cup triumph in November, their first-ever world title.

The Drought-Enders: A Table of Triumphs

Team/Player Trophy Won Opponent in Final Scoreline Drought Ended Star Performer Venue & Date
Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash League (BBL) Sydney Thunder 7-wicket win 14 years (1st ever) Mitchell Owen (108 off 42) Bellerive Oval, Jan 27
Newcastle United Carabao Cup Liverpool 2-1 70 years Dan Burn, Alexander Isak Wembley, Mar 16
Harry Kane (Bayern) Bundesliga Title clinched Personal (1st major) Kane: 26 goals May 4
Crystal Palace FA Cup Manchester City 1-0 119 years (1st major) Eberechi Eze Wembley, May 17
Paris Saint-Germain UEFA Champions League Inter Milan 5-0 1st ever Vitinha & young squad Allianz Arena, May 31
Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL Punjab Kings 6-run win 18 years Virat Kohli, Krunal Pandya Ahmedabad, Jun 3
South Africa World Test Championship Australia 5-wicket win 27 years (ICC) Aiden Markram (100) Lord’s, Jun 14
India Women ICC Women’s World Cup South Africa 52-run win 1st ever Shafali Verma (87), Deepti Sharma (5-39) DY Patil, Nov 2

ALSO SEE: 5 legends without whom India Women's could have not win World Cup 2025

Why 2025 Was Magical

Underdog Revolution: Hobart, Palace, and RCB, once symbols of heartbreak, finally became champions. Even PSG, long mocked for failing in Europe, delivered a flawless 5-0 rout in the Champions League final.

Personal Redemption: Harry Kane ended the “trophyless” jibes with a Bundesliga crown. Virat Kohli’s emotional “Ee Sala Cup Namdu” moment united Bengaluru like never before.

Records & Legacy: Deepti Sharma’s all-round heroics redefined the Women’s World Cup, while Aiden Markram’s hundred buried South Africa’s “chokers” tag.

From Geordie roars to Indian tears of joy, 2025 healed sporting hearts worldwide, proof that perseverance always pays off.

Tags:

Follow us on

A passionate cricket writer who lives and breathes the game, I aim to capture the drama, skill, and spirit that make cricket truly timeless. From analysing tactical battles in Test matches to celebrating game-changing moments in T20 internationals, my work blends storytelling with sharp insight. Whether it is profiling rising stars or revisiting classic performances, I strive to bring fans closer to the action, one article at a time.
WATCH NOW
MS Dhoni with Sarfaraz Khan's son

22 mins ago

Watch: MS Dhoni’s adorable moment with Sarfaraz Khan’s son ahead of IPL 2026 melts the internet

Hardik Pandya takes Jatin Sapru for ride in his new Ferrari ahead of Indian Premier League 2026

2 hrs ago

Watch: Hardik Pandya takes Jatin Sapru for ride in his new Ferrari ahead of Indian Premier League 2026

Salil Arora set the internet on fire with his explosive hitting during a Sunrisers Hyderabad practice session

12 hrs ago

Watch: Sunrisers Hyderabad star smashes 5 sixes in 5 balls in practice ahead of IPL 2026

CRICKET STORIES

It is not my job to announce the winner

Rohit Sharma on being asked if England were rightly awarded the World Cup title in 2019