West Delhi Lions have emerged as the champions of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025, defeating Central Delhi Kings in a thrilling final at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on August 31, 2025. The Lions secured a six-wicket victory, chasing down a target of 174 with two overs to spare.
The hero of the hour was undoubtedly West Delhi Lions' captain, Nitish Rana, who played a magnificent, unbeaten innings of 79 runs off 49 balls. His knock was studded with seven sixes and four boundaries, demonstrating his aggressive intent and ability to perform under pressure. Rana's performance in the final was a continuation of his stellar form throughout the tournament, where he amassed 393 runs in 11 matches.
The West Delhi Lions' chase did not begin smoothly. The Central Delhi Kings' bowlers, Simarjeet Singh and Arun Pundir, struck early, reducing the Lions to 48/3 in the fifth over. However, Rana, who had been in excellent form throughout the DPL 2025, anchored the innings and built a crucial partnership with Hrithik Shokeen. Shokeen contributed a valuable 42 off 27 balls, providing the perfect support to Rana's explosive batting. Together, they forged an unbeaten partnership of 85 runs that guided their team to victory.
Earlier in the day, Central Delhi Kings, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, posted a total of 173/7 in their 20 overs. The Kings' innings was characterized by a resilient recovery after a poor start. At 78/6, they were in danger of being bowled out for a low score. However, Yugal Saini (65 off 48 balls) and Pranshu Vijayran (50* off 24 balls) forged a vital seventh-wicket partnership of 78 runs to propel their team to a competitive total. Vijayran’s late-innings fireworks, though impressive, ultimately proved insufficient against the brilliance of Rana and the Lions.
The West Delhi Lions' bowling attack also played a crucial role in their victory. Manan Bhardwaj led the charge with an impressive spell of 2/11 in 3 overs, while Shivank Vashisht provided excellent support with 2/12 in his 2 overs. Even Captain Rana chipped in with a valuable wicket, finishing with figures of 1/16.
Nitish Rana's consistency throughout the playoffs was a significant factor in West Delhi Lions' success. He scored an unbeaten 134 in the Eliminator against South Delhi Superstarz and 45 not out in Qualifier 2 against East Delhi Riders. His leadership, both on and off the field, was instrumental in guiding the team to the DPL 2025 title.
The Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 took place from August 2 to August 31, with all matches being held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The tournament followed a round-robin and playoff format, featuring eight teams, including two new additions: Outer Delhi Warriors and New Delhi Tigers. The DPL 2025 auction was held on July 6, 2025, and included both marquee players and emerging talent. The league featured a total of 40 matches, with most days featuring double-headers. The inaugural edition of the Delhi Premier League was held in 2024, and the Adani Group was the title sponsor for the 2024 competition.
