As the IPL 2025 final approaches at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the encouragement that generally surrounds such a huge occasion appears to be missing. Fans arriving outside the venue were surprised to see giant posters of Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar instead of familiar faces like Virat Kohli. One puzzled fan even asked, “Who is he?” upon seeing Patidar’s cutout, unaware that he is now the captain of his favorite team. A nearby jersey vendor, clearly frustrated, responded, “He’s leading the team whose jersey you’re about to buy.”

Street vendors like Krupal and Mohammed Aslam, who rely on the buzz around such events, say this final hasn’t sparked much energy. “There’s just no vibe this time. We couldn’t sell Rohit’s jerseys before the qualifier, and now even Kohli’s aren’t selling,” Krupal said.

Aslam recalled how different things were during the 2023 IPL final. “Even with rain, CSK fans had brought so much energy. This time it feels… quiet,” he added.

Only about 50,000 fans attended the last qualifier between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians, and many of the hospitality boxes were left empty. Truly, the playoffs were to be held in Hyderabad and Kolkata, but were moved to Ahmedabad due to weather concerns though rains have continued to follow the tournament.

Despite preparations, the city feels disconnected from the big game. While RCB held a two-hour training session, the tired PBKS squad skipped training.

Both team captains kept their strategies private during the press conference. Shreyas Iyer mentioned sleepless nights, while Rajat Patidar calmly thanked fans and promised to handle the pressure.

As clouds loom again, the question remains will the final be able to light up Ahmedabad the way past matches have?