The final of the GMR Andhra Premier League (APL) 2025, played at the ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, August 23, concluded with Tungabhadra Warriors becoming the champions courtesy their convincing five-wicket win against Capital Amaravathi Royals. Warriors’ opener Gutta Rohit became the player of the match (POTM) for accumulating 63 off only 28. His innings played an instrumental role in Tungabhadra’s title success.
Earlier, the toss fell in favour of Tungabhadra captain K Maheep Kumar and he invited Amaravathi to bat first. Royals got a perfect start from their captain Hanuma Vihari and Manyala Pranith, who added 70 runs together for the opening wicket in just 36 balls. Left-arm pacer Cheepurapalli Stephen got the better of Manyala as he cleaned up the opener, who went back to the pavilion after hammering a quick 47 off just 22, an innings which included five fours and three sixes.
SV Rahul got dismissed after scoring 17 off 12 as KV Sasikanth got him caught via M Deepak. Following that, SDNV Prasad also failed to be impactful in the big game as he failed to counter off-spinner Chennu Siddhardha and lost his wicket after chipping-in with only six runs from nine balls. Captain Vihari, who was standing at the crease for a long time, also lost his patience soon after and became the victim of Sasikanth.
Vihari played a 51-run knock after facing 37 balls. His innings was studded with five boundaries (four fours and a maximum). In the final few overs of the innings, Yara Sandeep, P Panduranga, and Bandaru Ayyappa accumulated runs at a great pace and helped Royals put up a total of 194/7 on the board in their 20 overs. Sasikanth was the most successful bowler for Tungabhadra as he registered 3/37 figures in his four-over spell. Stephen also got two wickets.
Pursuing the tough 195-run target in the GMR APL 2025 final, Tungabhadra lost their skipper Maheep Kumar in the second over. Following the early loss, CR Gnaneshwar and Gutta Rohit stepped up and took Amaravathi’s bowling attack to the cleaners. Both stitched a 95-run stand for the second wicket off just 45 balls.
Vihari got rid of Rohit, who notched up 63 off only 28. DB Prashanth departed after scoring 12 off nine but Gnaneshwar added some more runs from his bat to take Warriors close to the target. Ayyappa concluded Gnaneshwar’s innings on 66 runs off 45 deliveries. The top-order batter’s knock included 10 boundaries (eight fours and two sixes).
MK Datta Reddy also thrashed the bowlers and hoarded 25 off 12. Eventually, Kancherla Anand Josiah and Sasikanth took Tungabhadra home with two overs left to bowl in the match, to secure them the coveted trophy. Josiah scored an unbeaten 14 off seven while Sasikanth racked up a quick seven off just two balls.
Capital Amaravathi Royals were the table-toppers in the round-robin stage and they also won their previous two encounters against Tungabhadra Warriors, but in the final, the latter held their nerve and emerged triumphant to lift the GMR APL trophy. Warriors outmanoeuvred Royals in all departments of the game to clinch a dominating victory in the final.