Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir was there in the stadium during the final of the Delhi Premier League (DPL 2025). From the official accounts, DPL shared a video of Gautam Gambhir, capturing a moment of fun conversations. During the interaction, Gambhir mentioned names for the 'Clutch,' 'Desi Boy,' 'Speed Golden Arm,' and many more segments. Some of his replies can shock the viewers.

During the interview, the team India head coach mentioned Sachin Tendulkar as the 'Clutch,' Virat Kohli as the 'Desi Boy,' Jasprit Bumrah for the 'speed' category, and 'Golden Arm' for Nitish Rana, while he named India's Test skipper and T20I skipper Shubman Gill as the 'Most Stylish.' The title for 'Mr. Consistent' went to the former head coach Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman received the title of the 'Run Machine,' Rishabh Pant as 'Most Funny,' and Zaheer Khan as the 'Death Over Specialist.' 

As of now, Gautam Gambhir may have some free time to spend, but after a few days, he will have engaged with the Men in Blue for the Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled to start on September 9. The final of the DPL 2025 was held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium; it was the same ground where Gambhir got his highest individual Test runs. In 2008, against Australia, the former India opener played a 206-run knock in the Whites. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gambhir's Test career for India

"Obviously, my highest test score is against Australia; I got 200 on this ground. So, scoring a double hundred at home in front of your family members, it can't get better than that," he recalled the memory by saying this. 

Gautam Gambhir was an instrumental figure for Team India between 2004 and 2016, scoring 4,154 runs at an average of 41.95. He notched up 9 centuries and 22 half-centuries, with his highest score being 206 against Australia in 2008 at Delhi. Between 2008 and 2010, he was at his peak, ranking among the top batters in the world in Tests. Gambhir's pair with Virendra Sehwag became unmatchable and helped India to win multiple contests. 

The 2025 Delhi Premier League (DPL) final at Arun Jaitley Stadium not only provided a tense cricketing contest, but the overall spectacle was elevated by one significant moment. While fans enjoyed West Delhi Lions dominating Central Delhi Kings to win the trophy, perhaps the best moment on that day was former India opener Virender Sehwag enjoying a jovial bonding moment with his son Aryavir.

The social media platforms were inundated with various videos and pictures of Sehwag and Aryavir from early in the final. Sehwag, an absolute legend of the game, at times was shown chatting and laughing with Aryavir, bringing a human element to an otherwise intense atmosphere, and reminding fans, albeit briefly, of the emotional authenticity cricket can provide. Sehwag, who also happens to be the brand ambassador for DPL, looked visibly proud side-by-side with Aryavir.

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Cricket, legacy, and emotions shine in the DPL 2025 final

Interestingly, Aryavir had played earlier in the tournament for Central Delhi Kings against East Delhi Riders, which was likely part of Sehwag's excitement that he experienced firsthand. Much like Sehwag, Aryavir batted with power, scoring 22 runs off 16 balls and featuring four nice boundaries while doing so. Although the Kings won that match easily by 62 runs, to the surprise of everyone, Aryavir was missing from the final XI in the match against West Delhi Lions.

Watch the video:

A reel full of love & legacy! ❤️🏏

Virender Sehwag | Delhi Premier League 2025 | DPL 2025 | #AdaniDPL2025 #DPL2025 #DPL #Cricket #Delhi pic.twitter.com/wrHBtY5ntq

— Delhi Premier League T20 (@DelhiPLT20) August 31, 2025

The final itself was a nail-biting contest. Central Delhi Kings, led by Yugal Saini's 65 and Pranshu Vijayran's unbeaten 50, set a decent target of 173 in 20 overs, but it was not enough against a determined West Delhi Lions team. Captain Nitish Rana, playing a captain's knock, scored 79 runs off only 49 balls, with Ritik Shaukeen's contribution of 42 off 27 balls meant that the Lions completed their chase in the 19th over. The Lions won by six wickets, with Rana winning the honours for Player of the Match with his brilliant innings.

In addition to the cricket meaning of the night, legendary Indian cricketers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were recognised by DDCA President Rohan Jaitley for their services to Indian cricket. This was met with huge applause from the crowd as two of the southbast's best cricketing sons were recognised together.

In the end, the DPL 2025 final was about much more than cricket. It was a night of legacy, it was poignant, and it was the passing of the baton from one generation to the next. While the West Delhi Lions took home the silverware, the moment of Sehwag sharing a bond with Aryavir, a childhood hero for Aryavir, will be held equally dear by cricketing fans as the result.

The West Delhi Lions produced a marvelous all-round performance against the Central Delhi Kings in the DPL 2025 Final at Arun Jaitley Stadium. West Delhi Lions chased down a target of 174 after Captain Nitish Rana came out with the bat and smashed a sensational 79 (49)** to lead the way, before being supported by a blitz of 42 off 27 balls from Hrithik Shokeen. While Pranshu Vijayran's fireworks late in the innings kept CDK competitive, the final score of 173/7 was not enough. The bowling unit for Lions applied the pressure after each of the quick blows allowed them to settle in; however, they bowled well in terms of miserly economy (notably Shivank Vashisht with his 2/12). After 18 overs, the Lions chased it down, by a margin of 6 wickets, to win the DPL 2025 Final Trophy.

DPL 2025 Points Table

Key Stats – DPL 2025

Match details

• Match: Central Delhi Kings v West Delhi Lions, Final, Delhi Premier League 2025
• Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
• Date: Sunday, August 2025
• Toss: West Delhi Lions won the toss and chose to bowl
• Result: West Delhi Lions won by 6 wickets

Match summary

West Delhi Lions defended their Delhi Premier League 2025 title by defeating Central Delhi Kings by 6 wickets in the championship at Arun Jaitley Stadium. 

Batting first, Central Delhi Kings scored 173/7 in 20 overs, with Yugal Saini’s 65 off 48 and Pranshu Vijayran’s explosive 50* off 24 ending the innings on a high note after falling to 78/6 earlier. The lower order kept the momentum and negotiated against good bowling from Nitish Rana (1/16) and Manan Bhardwaj (1/11), who both achieved tight spells. 

In reply, West Delhi Lions comfortably achieved their target with 175/4 in 18 overs, led by captain Nitish Rana’s match-winning 79 off 49* alongside Hrithik Shokeen’s blistering 42 off 27*. After losing early wickets, the Lions regained control of the run chase and happily took the Championship title with 12 balls remaining.

Central Delhi Kings Innings – 173/7 (20 Overs)

After losing two early wickets, Kings' innings eventually recovered with a brilliant half-century from Yugal Saini and an explosive unbeaten innings from Pranshu Vijayran, posting a competitive total.

Batting highlights:

• Yugal Saini - 65 (48)
• Pranshu Vijayran - 50* (24)
• Siddharth Joon - 10 (7)
• Aryan Rana - 21 (12)

Bowling highlights (WDL):

• Nitish Rana - 1/16 (4 overs)
• Manan Bhardwaj - 1/11 (3 overs)
• Shivank Vashisht - 2/12 (2 overs)
• Shubham Dubey - 1/42 (4 overs)

West Delhi Lions Innings – 175/4 (18 Overs)

A precarious start for the Lions, losing 3 wickets for just 5 runs in the first 5 overs. They recovered well through their skipper Rana, who played aggressively by hitting boundaries and running hard for singles.

Batting highlights:

• Nitish Rana - 79* (49)
• Hrithik Shokeen - 42* (27)
• Krish Yadav - 13 (9)
• Mayank Gusain - 15 (11)

Bowling highlights (CDK):

• Simarjeet Singh - 2/35 (4 overs)
• Arun Pundir - 1/39 (4 overs)
• Tejas Baroka - 1/21 (4 overs)

Match Summary Table

Top Performers

The title dreams of Central Delhi Kings ended with a loss by six wickets against West Delhi Lions in the DPL 2025 Final at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. CDK batted first and posted 173/7 in their 20 overs due to Yugal Saini's 65 off 48 and a half-century by Pranshu Vijayran (50 not out off 24). CDK lost key wickets up front and didn't get the finishing push they required. The West Delhi Lions strolled past the modest total in 18 overs due to a stellar innings by Nitish Rana (79 off 49), finishing their innings with 2 overs to spare. The Lions were clearly superior with bat and ball and deserving winners. Below are the main reasons for the Central Delhi Kings' defeat:

1. Nitish Rana’s match-winning contribution

Nitish Rana led the chase with a solid 79 off 49 balls. He mixed power-hitting with intelligent strike manipulation to dictate the innings. His innings ensured WDL was in control of the game throughout.

2. CDK’s early collapse under spin pressure

Central Delhi Kings lost quick wickets despite good knocks later on. Shivank Vasisht (2/12) and Manan Bhardwaj (2/11) kept them in check during the middle overs. This pressure meant CDK couldn’t fully capitalize on Saini and Vijayran’s efforts.

See Also: Who is Manan Bhardwaj who clinched the Player of the Match award in Qualifier 2 of DPL 2025

3. West Delhi’s incisive bowling and field strategy

Simarjeet Singh (2/35) gave the Lions early breakthroughs with the new ball. Their bowlers were able to strike at intervals to stop CDK's momentum. Their efforts in keeping CDK to 173/7 saw them put up a chaseable score.

Manan Bhardwaj emerged as one of the promising spinners in the Delhi Premier League (DPL 2025). The underrated spinner became an instrumental figure behind the effective performances of West Delhi Lions throughout the tournament.

In the Qualifier 2 match of the tournament, Bhardwaj got the man of the match award. During the match against East Delhi Riders, Manan Bhardwaj claimed 3 wickets in his 4-over quota, against only 22 runs, at an economy rate of 5.50. He almost single-handedly shattered the middle order of the opposition team. Because of his economical and wicket-taking abilities, East Delhi could not register more than 139 on the board, batting first. West Delhi Lions comfortably won the match and moved into the final stage. In the final match of the tournament, Bhardwaj again showed his magic by taking a brace in a 3-over spell, offering only 11 runs to Central Delhi Kings.

The spinner can bowl using both of his hands. Cricket fans often compare him with Sri Lankan spinner Kamindu Mendis. In the past, he had to taste 6 sixes in an oven. It was Priyansh Arya, who later moved to Punjab Kings to play IPL 2025, who thrashed Manan for 6 sixes in an over. Since then, he has developed his bowling a lot, especially picking the right line and length against batters. 

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Recent matches of Manan Bhardwaj in DPL 2025:

East Delhi Riders vs. West Delhi Lions: 3/22(4), 30-Aug-2025

West Delhi Lions vs. South Delhi Superstarz: 0/33(4), 29-Aug-2025

South Delhi Superstarz vs. West Delhi Lions: 0*(0), 25-Aug-2025

Central Delhi Kings vs. West Delhi Lions: 0/17(4), 21-Aug-2025

West Delhi Lions vs New Delhi Tigers: 3/12(3)

Purani Delhi 6 vs. West Delhi Lions: 0/21(3), 07-Aug-2025

West Delhi Lions vs. South Delhi Superstarz: 2/23(4), 05-Aug-2025

East Delhi Riders vs. West Delhi Lions: 0/7(1)

The Eliminator of the Delhi Premier League 2025 had all the ingredients of a high-stakes clash for fans, including big runs, high-pressure scenarios, and an on-field spat. After tempers boiled over during their tussle at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, West Delhi Lions captain Nitish Rana and South Delhi Superstarz spinner Digvesh Rathi found themselves in the spotlight.

The trouble began in the third over of the chase, when Rathi appeared to play some mind games by taking too long to deliver the ball. Rana, who plays hard, was unhappy with this. When Rana hit a six off Rathi's reverse sweep, he proceeded to give the spinner a taste of his own by mimicking his celebration, and this appeared to take things too far. The exchange of gestures evolved into a spat, which umpires needed to put a stop to.

After the match, Rana shared his side of the story

"I don't initiate these things; he tried to irritate me. If someone tries to poke me, I will always poke back; that's my game," he said. "Respect for the game is important, though people need to realize that every time you poke me, the best of my batting will come out."

Rana’s comment mattered, especially given the subsequent events in the middle. While chasing a difficult target of 202, the left-hander delivered a tremendous experience. He smashed a majestic 134 not out off 55 balls, including eight boundaries and a whopping 15 sixes. His explosive innings turned the game on its head, as he guided the Lions to a convincing seven-wicket victory with almost three overs to spare.

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Match referees later found Rathi and Rana guilty of their actions on the field, imposing penalties that involved losing 80% of Rathi's match fee and 50% of Rana's match fee, a clear sign that both players went too far. Despite the punishment, the way Rana dominated the ball ensured he walked away with the victory and the Player of the Match award.

When asked about his character and playing style, Rana insisted that his upbringing influenced his no-nonsense attitude.
"My parents always told me that if I am right, I should never back down. I'm not going to start a fight, but if you make me. I'll give it back. That is me on the field and off the field," he said.

The Lions’ victory has set up a blockbuster final against the Central Delhi Kings, and with Rana in this sort of form, they will certainly go into the title clash loaded with confidence.

The Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 Final will feature the Central Delhi Kings (CDK) squaring off against the West Delhi Lions (WDL) on Sunday, August 31, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. Both teams are in search of their first DPL title as they meet in this exciting final. CDK are in the final on the back of their win over East Delhi Riders in Qualifier 1 and WDL defeated South Delhi Superstarz and EDR in knockout games to get there. The combination of CDK's consistency and WDL's momentum makes for an interesting final.

CDK vs WDL: Match Details

• Match: Central Delhi Kings vs West Delhi Lions
• Date: August 31, 2025, Delhi
• Time: 7:00 PM IST
• Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
• Tournament: Delhi Premier League 2025—Final

CDK vs WDL: Live Streaming Details

See Also: DPL 2025 Final: CDK vs WDL head-to-head, pitch report & predicted playing XIs

CDK vs WDL: Predicted Playing XIs

Central Delhi Kings (CDK): Aaryavir Sehwag, Kaushal Suman (wk), Yugal Saini, Jonty Sidhu (c), Jasvir Sehrawat, Aditya Bhandari, Simarjeet Singh, Tejas Baroka, Money Grewal, Gavinsh Khurana, Arun Pundir

West Delhi Lions (WDL): Ankit Kumar, Krish Yadav (wk), Ayush Doseja, Nitish Rana (c), Mayank Gusain, Hrithik Shokeen, Manan Bhardwaj, Anirudh Chowdhary, Ravneet Tanwar, Bhangwan Singh, Shubham Dubey

The Final of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 is upon us, on Sunday, August 31, Central Delhi Kings vs. West Delhi Lions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, at 7:00 PM IST. Both teams are looking for their first DPL title so this is a so-called blockbuster finale to conclude a thrilling season.

Central Delhi Kings earned their spot in the grand finale after outclassing East Delhi Riders in a rain-affected Qualifier 1. With a few days of rest and preparation, Jonty Sidhu’s side will aim to replicate their composed performances and clinch the championship. West Delhi Lions, however, have taken the tougher path, completing a tough Eliminator victory against South Delhi Superstarz before overcoming the fearsome competitor East Delhi Riders in Qualifier 2. Having that game behind them, full of belief and form, WDL will be hoping they can still get this fairy tale story and lift the trophy!

CDK vs WDL: Head-to-head record

• Matches played: 03
• CDK wins: 02
  
• WDL wins: 01
  
• Tied/No Result: 00
  

While CDK has the advantage in their previous meetings, WDL has shown in the past that they can rise to the occasion at crucial moments in knockout games.

CDK vs WDL: Pitch Report

The Arun Jaitley Stadium has certainly had plenty of runs during the knockout matches this year, and chasing sides have been victorious in all three matches so far. The surface allows a bit of balance, with help for bowlers, but batters have mostly dictated the temper. The team that wins the toss will probably want to bowl first, but the pressure of the final could potentially influence the decision, based on conditions of the surface at the time of starting.

See Also: DPL 2025 Final: Central Delhi Kings vs West Delhi Lions live streaming & where to watch

CDK vs WDL: Predicted Playing XIs

Central Delhi Kings (CDK): Aaryavir Sehwag, Kaushal Suman (wk), Yugal Saini, Jonty Sidhu (c), Jasvir Sehrawat, Aditya Bhandari, Simarjeet Singh, Tejas Baroka, Money Grewal, Gavinsh Khurana, Arun Pundir

West Delhi Lions (WDL): Ankit Kumar, Krish Yadav (wk), Ayush Doseja, Nitish Rana (c), Mayank Gusain, Hrithik Shokeen, Manan Bhardwaj, Anirudh Chowdhary, Ravneet Tanwar, Bhangwan Singh, Shubham Dubey

Match details

• Match: East Delhi Riders v West Delhi Lions, Qualifier 2, Delhi Premier League 2025
• Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
• Date: Saturday, 30 August 2025
• Toss: West Delhi Lions won the toss and opted to bowl
• Result: West Delhi Lions won by 8 wickets

West Delhi Lions easily reached the DPL 2025 Final with an 8-wicket triumph against East Delhi Riders at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, bowling first and restricting Riders to a score of 139/8 with Manan Bhardwaj (3/22) and Tishant Dabla (2/18) picking up wickets through the course of dismantling the Riders batting line-up, except for Arpit Rana, who fought valiantly with his 50-ball half-century. Chasing 140, WDL got off to a scorching start with Krish Yadav's (37) fireworks before captain Nitish Rana's five-ball blitz (45 off 26)* and Ayush Doseja's half-century (54 off 49)* saw the Lions get over the line easily. The Lions chased down the target in 17.3 overs, cementing their place in the final with a clinical overall performance.

DPL 2025 Points Table