Mangalore Dragons clinched the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 title for the year 2025 in the final match. The encounter between Hubli Tigers and Mangalore Dragons was interrupted by rain, leading to the determination of the winner through the VJD method.
Sports News: The prestigious Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2025 of Karnataka concluded in a thrilling fashion. Mangalore Dragons, captained by Shreyas Gopal, secured the title by defeating Devdutt Padikkal's Hubli Tigers by 14 runs in a rain-affected final. The match offered ample entertainment to the spectators, witnessing brilliant batting from B.R. Sharath on one hand, while the Hubli Tigers team struggled under pressure.
Padikkal's Team Suffers Defeat in the Final
Hubli Tigers opted to bat first after winning the toss. However, captain Devdutt Padikkal's bat remained quiet as he was dismissed after scoring just 10 runs. Trying to recover from the initial setbacks, Mohammed Taha (27 runs) and Krishan Srijith (52 runs off 45 balls) built some partnerships. Srijith played a patient innings, but fell while attempting to accelerate the scoring.
Following them, Karthikeya KP (8 runs), Ritesh Bhatkal (13 runs), and Abhinav Manohar (17 runs) made small but valuable contributions. The team could only manage to reach 154 runs within the stipulated 20 overs.
Brilliant Bowling by Mangalore Dragons' Bowlers
The foundation for Mangalore Dragons' victory was laid by their bowlers. Sachin Shinde emerged as the most successful bowler, claiming 3 crucial wickets for 28 runs in his 4 overs. Shrivatsa Acharya and Macneil Noronha also displayed excellent performances, picking up 2 wickets each. Their efforts prevented the opposition batsmen from playing freely.
B.R. Sharath's Explosive Innings
Chasing the target, Mangalore Dragons got off to a stellar start. B.R. Sharath and Lochan Gowda batted aggressively. Sharath scored 49 runs off 35 balls, including 4 fours and 3 sixes. Lochan Gowda contributed 18 runs (1 four, 1 six). By the 10.4 overs, the team had already amassed 85 runs with only two wickets down. The match was then interrupted by rain, and Mangalore Dragons were declared winners by 14 runs under the VJD method.
B.R. Sharath was awarded the "Player of the Match" for his outstanding batting performance in the final. Devdutt Padikkal received the "Player of the Series" award for his consistent brilliant display throughout the tournament. Under Shreyas Gopal's captaincy, the Dragons team appeared well-balanced throughout the tournament, and their strategy proved effective in the final as well. Taking wickets at the right moments with their bowling and getting off to an aggressive start with their batting were the keys to their victory.
