T20 League 2025: Line-up, Franchises, Prediction Guide and Expert Review

T20 League 2025: Line-up, Franchises, Prediction Guide and Expert Review

T20 League 2025: Line-up, Franchises, Prediction Guide and Expert Review

The Premier Cricket Tournament 2025 is more than just a contest event — it’s a festival of games in Subcontinent. As an National cricket specialist who has tracked the IPL since its foundation, I can claim the 2025 season (the 18th IPL season) was one of the most fascinating installments. This article delivers a thorough analysis of IPL 2025, including the full schedule and structure, line-up changes, competition notables, and a unique emphasis on IPL prediction analysis ipl news 2025. Whether you’re wondering about the IPL 2025 opening, the clubs and recent rules, or checking for betting insights on IPL contests, this veteran review has you ready.

IPL Season 2025 Schedule and Grounds

The fixtures of Cricket Series 2025 was filled with continuous events and double-headers on holidays. The competition was originally planned to continue until end of May, but due to an unexpected middle halt, the final was postponed to June 3, 2025. Despite the short obstacle, planners ensured the full event was executed smoothly.

Important dates in the IPL 2025 line-up:

  • Inaugural Contest: March 22, 2025 – KKR vs Royal Franchise at Historic Arena, Kolkata. (Defending winners Kolkata opened at stadium, but RCB upset the opener with a triumph in the opening contest.)
  • Elimination Stage: The finals were hosted at fair arenas for fairness. Initial Decider and the Exit Play took place in Mohali’s new stadium, and Qualifier 2 was in Ahmedabad.
  • Grand Finale: June 3, 2025 – Bangalore Team vs PBKS at Indian Mega Stadium, Ahmedabad.

Throughout the year, contests were organized across 13 arenas in India, representing the event’s domestic popularity. Each line-up performed home games at their original home city arena, and some teams opted for alternative home grounds to attract more followers. For example, Jaipur Team arranged a couple of encounters in Assam Ground, and PBKS held fixtures at the latest ground in New Chandigarh. DC even played some domestic matches in Vizag. The tournament truly spanned the entirety of the nation – from the iconic domestic venue in city, and southern venue in Bengaluru to ancient Eden Gardens in West Bengal and Chennai ground in Madras, plus stunning stadiums like northern arena in the Himalayas.

Competition Framework: The ten franchises were organized into two theoretical divisions for scheduling, but all squads ultimately participated 14 games each (facing every other squad at least once, and a few line-ups repeatedly). The top four line-ups in the leaderboard qualified to the knockouts. The knockouts system persisted the same:

  • First Qualifier: between the top two squads (winner goes straight to grand finale).
  • Cut-off Match: between the 3rd and 4th placed line-ups (defeated is out, successful side advances).
  • Semi-final: between the unsuccessful club and Eliminator winner (selects the other finalist).
  • Grand Finale: between the victors of initial knockout and playoff 2.

This format favors regularity (top two line-ups get two shots to advance to the last match) and creates anticipation for followers and wagerers alike, as the decider events are dramatic crucial encounters.

Teams and Key Player Alterations in 2025

One of the most thrilling highlights of Cricket League 2025 was the grand bidding and the considerable athlete switches before the season. Line-ups experienced some major modifications, with teams pouring on celebrity players to upgrade their squads. Here’s a individual team overview of the T20 League 2025 teams and notable shifts, including appointed heads and big signings:

  • Chennai Squad: Four-time champions Super Kings welcomed back experienced bowler Ravichandran Ashwin (brought to squad for ₹9.75 crore) and England all-rounder Sam Curran (₹2.4 crore) to enhance their franchise. With the famous MS Dhoni quitting after 2024, Ravindra Jadeja took over as commander of CSK. The franchise relied on maturity and slow bowling depth, maintaining essential members like Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad (a dependable opener), and Deepak Chahar (who resumed from setback to head the pace). the squad’s approach was to blend seasoned Indian players with a few decisive outside cricketers, staying aligned to their method of success.
  • Delhi Capitals: the team made a splash by buying KL Rahul for ₹14 crore. Rahul’s purchase was aimed to address the space of Rishabh Pant (their previous head and stumper). With Pant released into the draft, the team secured Rahul as a leading batsman and possible leader. They also grabbed Proteas veteran Faf du Plessis at base price (₹2 crore) to offer leadership at the front and advise developing players. angle quick T. Natarajan (₹10.75 crore) was another key buy to improve Delhi’s closing bowling. These moves marked a rejig: the team built their top order around Rahul, Prithvi Shaw (if in form, though Shaw was oddly unbought at bidding), and all-rounder Axar Patel, who was kept. Skipper role for DC in 2025 shifted to KL Rahul, bringing his guidance skills from previous franchises.
  • PBKS: Punjab experienced a command overhaul, purchasing Shreyas Iyer for a whopping ₹26.75 crore to be their fresh leader. Iyer had brilliantly led the team to the title in 2024, and PBKS looked he could transfer that successful spirit. the team also invested ₹18 crore in celebrity wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal to bolster their bowling. versatile player Marcus Stoinis (₹11 crore) and attacking batter Glenn Maxwell (₹4.2 crore) were signed to strengthen the batting core. Punjab maintained opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan (one of IPL’s most steady batsmen) and rising speedster Arshdeep Singh (matched via RTM for ₹18 crore) to maintain some balance. With these adjustments, the team built a impressive team and marked they were determined about ending their championship gap.
  • LSG: the team performed the highest acquisition of the marketplace – headline wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore, making him the most prized player in IPL Season history. Pant entered the squad as the recent head, standing in for KL Rahul. His dynamic hitting and impactful fielding were considered as fit for the squad’s strategy. the squad also recruited veteran South African batsman David Miller (₹7.5 crore) and international multi-skilled athlete Mitchell Marsh (₹3.4 crore) to inject impact (though Marsh’s health was a question ahead of the season). They secured important global cricketers like Nicholas Pooran and Mark Wood (although Wood’s presence was scarce in earlier years) and kept on homegrown talent like leggie Ravi Bishnoi. With Pant, Pooran, and Miller in the team, the franchise had a deadly top order on paper.
  • MI: Five-time winners the side continued with their main group of Rohit Sharma (head), Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav. They did, however, perform some key acquisitions to update the team. the side brought back ace quick Trent Boult (₹12.5 crore) to team up with Bumrah, reforming a effective pair from 2020. They also bought New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner (₹2 crore) to bolster their turning attack, offering balance alongside Piyush Chawla (if maintained or as a supporter role). Mumbai’s formula has always been to blend their star base with savvy purchases; in 2025 they focused on speedsters. Jasprit Bumrah, recovering from setback, was carefully returned into the edition (he did not play the first couple of weeks but rejoined the side in April). The presence of Boult, Bumrah, and Jofra Archer (although the team swapped Archer to Rajasthan for 2025) meant Mumbai’s fast bowlers remained powerful. On the scoring side, with Ishan Kishan transferring to another club, the franchise trusted emerging cricketer Tilak Varma at the opening, alongside Rohit and SKY.
  • KKR: The champion champions the team underwent notable updates. They surprisingly did not preserve international starter Jos Buttler, and he was taken by franchise. the team also let go their victorious captain Shreyas Iyer to the team in the draft. To make up, the team allocated majorly to keep Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore), showing they regard him as a foundation for the seasons. Venkatesh, a energetic utility man, persisted with the team and assumed greater responsibility. the franchise also acquired dual-role player Quinton de Kock (₹3.6 crore) to cover the opening slot left by Buttler and added speedster Anrich Nortje (₹6.5 crore) to strengthen their bowling attack. With Shreyas departed, Nitish Rana (retained by Kolkata) or even Venkatesh Iyer might have been seen for skipper job. Kolkata still had veteran stars like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Lockie Ferguson (if continued) to supply impactful capability. The big issue was how KKR would adjust without Shreyas’s command and Buttler’s firepower, but the franchise announced assurance in their reshaped line-up.
  • Challengers: the franchise, a line-up with a huge audience, finally had their ideal year in 2025. They finalized savvy signings in the auction, adding aggressive player Liam Livingstone (₹8.75 crore) to inject impact to the center order and upcoming stumper-striker Jitesh Sharma (₹11 crore) as a final hitter. They also signed emerging speedster Rasikh Salam Dar – an inexperienced national pacer bought for ₹6 crore (the top for an uncapped player). These moves complemented the icons Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell. (Maxwell was actually released and signed by Punjab, so the team gave up him but filled the space with Livingstone’s complete hitting.) the squad’s line-up was strengthened by reuniting with foreign speedster Josh Hazlewood (₹12.5 crore) and bringing in senior domestic seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (₹10.75 crore) to mentor the line-up. Notably, Faf du Plessis, who led the team in 2022-24, was released and signed by Delhi, so the squad’s skipper role likely shifted to Virat Kohli. The 2025 league proved legendary for the squad – under Kohli’s command, they removed the “chokers” reputation and won their initial trophy after 18 years of trying.
  • Rajasthan Team: The franchise let go with some major stars, electing not to preserve Jos Buttler (who shifted to GT) and turner Yuzvendra Chahal (to PBKS). They instead focused in fast bowling and multi-skilled athletes. the franchise acquired quick fast bowler Jofra Archer for ₹12.5 crore, relying on his velocity despite prior availability doubts (interestingly, Archer transferred from MI to RR, coming back to the side where he began in 2018). They also signed overseas leggie Wanindu Hasaranga (₹5.25 crore) to pair with R Ashwin (if Ashwin was still with RR; actually Ashwin went to CSK, so Hasaranga occupied the slow bowling gap). Sanju Samson kept the commander and the scoring core, with help from developing batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal. the squad presented themselves to create a balanced squad with Samson’s command, anticipating the recruits would gel quickly. They carried on to conduct some home games in Jaipur and shifted a couple to Assam to connect with spectators in the eastern India.
  • SRH Franchise: SRH experienced a revamping cycle in 2025. After a underwhelming 2024, they let go commander Aiden Markram and many others. At the marketplace, the squad’s significant buys included dual-role player Ishan Kishan (₹11.25 crore) to energize their opening line-up and seasoned quick Mohammed Shami (₹10 crore) to lead the bowling. They also reacquired Harshal Patel (₹8 crore) to bolster the end overs and added bowler Rahul Chahar (₹3.2 crore) for bowling choices. Without Markram, the franchise needed a fresh skipper; possibilities considered Bhuvneshwar Kumar (if preserved, although Bhuvi actually transferred to RCB in the marketplace) or perhaps a emerging athlete like Abhishek Sharma. (In reality, the squad might have decided on someone like Mayank Agarwal or another Indian as captain, but Mayank was unbought, so SRH’s captaincy was a bit of a issue). Regardless, the squad’s franchise had a variety of emerging players and experience, but on paper seemed like one of the lower clubs – granting them the dark horse status.
  • Each team’s reorganized team made T20 League 2025 highly uncertain. For supporters and wagerers, the team changes were key information – fresh heads and major acquisitions can greatly impact a franchise’s play and gambling rates. For instance, LSG’s chances increased after securing Pant, whereas the team’s championship chances might have weakened slightly after giving up Shreyas Iyer and Buttler. We’ll cover more on betting rates and likely winners in the betting chapter, but first, let’s examine how the tournament took place.

    Competition Top Stories and Outstanding Achievements

    IPL Season 2025 Trophy: The RCB stood as the champions of Indian Premier League 2025, finally winning the championship for the maiden occasion in line-up history. In a dramatic last match, the squad overcame Punjab Team by 6 runs at Ahmedabad. It was a fairy-tale campaign for RCB and their millions of supporters, as the club broke an 18-year cup absence. Veteran Virat Kohli was visibly tearful as he celebrated with the cup at long last, having been part of RCB since the launch. PBKS, guided by Shreyas Iyer, showed a valiant contest to reach their maiden championship since 2014, but lost just close in the cup match.

    Knockout thrill: The last rounds were full of excitement. the franchise had finished in the highest spots of the points table and secured Qualifier 1 clearly against Punjab to secure a spot in the decider. Punjab then had to battle Qualifier 2 against the successful side of the cut-off (MI). PBKS overcame MI in penultimate match, thanks to a outstanding captain’s knock by Shreyas Iyer, to advance to the cup decider. the squad and Ahmedabad Team were the other two knockout franchises; MI achieved the exit game against GT but couldn’t overcome Punjab. Notably, title-holding champs Kolkata did not get into for eliminations, revealing how intense the league was – no club is secured success in the IPL, making odds all the more hard!

    Notable athletes: IPL 2025 delivered some superb stand-alone achievements:

    • Leading Run-Scorer (Orange Cap): upcoming Ahmedabad Team cricketer Sai Sudharsan headed the charts with 759 knocks in the edition. Sudharsan’s dependability and major innings were a highlight, outscoring many more celebrity names. He confirmed to be a core of GT’s batting, even though GT could not reproduce their win from 2022.
    • Bowling star (wicket title): Titans also presented the number one pacer – pacer Prasidh Krishna secured 25 scalps. Prasidh, returning from an health issue in 2024, produced a powerful comeback and was potent with the delivery, especially in the end overs.
    • Season Star: MI player from Mumbai Team achieved the MVP award for T20 League 2025. SKY was in scintillating rhythm, executing a set of aggressive innings and also aiding in the arena. His talent to swing games by himself made him the dominant performer of the season.
    • Other Notables: Virat Kohli had a remarkable tournament for RCB, including a century that aided the team achieve a qualification. Rinku Singh (KKR) continued his 2024 magic with a few more end-innings huge blows moments. On the attack, Jasprit Bumrah’s revival was significant for MI (even though MI fell short in finals, Bumrah contributed some victorious deliveries). slow bowlers like Rashid Khan (retained by GT) and Rahul Chahar (SRH) had their moments, but overall 2025 was a strong year for pacers on speedier tracks.

    Updated Guidelines and Incidents: The implementation of the global code meant more severe punishments for athlete indiscipline or late over rates. We experienced a few examples of leaders being punished for time violations early in the tournament as squads adapted to the latest rules. Another continuing regulation was the “bench player” rule (initiated in 2023) which clubs used wisely – for example, some franchises consistently replaced an reserve quick while guarding or a batsman while targeting to enhance their franchise. These strategic substitutions introduced an extra level of intrigue to matches (and also to on-the-go odds moves, as an Impact Player could influence a contest after the deliberate adjustments introduced an extra layer of complexity to games (and also to on-the-go odds choices, as an extra player could swing a contest after the start).

    Overall, IPL 2025 will be remembered for the squad’s historic trophy, some outstanding young players appearing through, and the edge-of-seat contests that left us on the tip of our benches. Now, let’s switch our view to the part of IPL 2025 gambling – a theme of major curiosity for many followers looking to involve with the games on a alternative dimension.

    IPL Cricket 2025 Odds: Rates, Markets and Insights

    the sport predictions is huge around the nations, and IPL is the top event for game bettors. In the nation, while in-person wagering is mostly prohibited, tournament online odds has a giant following through various websites (plus the expansion of fantasy sports channels where users form dream squads for payouts). As a professional, I observed that the excitement for IPL 2025 was not just on the arena but also in the odds tables. Here we’ll review the opening predictions, major wagering sectors in the season 2025, and some expert guides on gambling this season.

    Pre-Season Rates and Top Picks

    Before the tournament 2025 kicked off, oddsmakers released final lines for each squad to claim the final. These chances demonstrate side potential, historic results, and general opinion. Here’s an estimated view at how the teams looked with rates at the beginning of the tournament (reduced lines = higher possibility as top picks):

    Team

    Opening lines (estimate)

    Mumbai Indians (MI)

    5.0 (5-to-1) – front-runners

    Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

    5.5 (defending champions)

    Gujarat Titans (GT)

    6.0

    Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

    6.5

    Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

    7.0

    Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

    8.0

    Rajasthan Royals (RR)

    9.0

    Punjab Kings (PBKS)

    10.0

    Delhi Capitals (DC)

    10.0

    Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

    12.0 – lower picks

    These lines are indicative and varied slightly across distinct wagering houses.

    Main takeaways from the predictions: established franchises like MI and CSK were among the likely winners, as usual, given their powerful backbones and winning history. Kolkata, being reigning cup holders, also had short odds. Titans, latest victors, were viewed potent rivals especially after picking Jos Buttler. RCB were given moderate rates (around 8:1) – many fans always believe RCB will succeed, but wagering firms were hesitant due to RCB’s failure of past cups. Interestingly, the franchise’ odds were around 10:1 at beginning, but as their new team with Shreyas Iyer and others blended and they played well, stakeholders who favored PBKS from the start got great returns (they indeed achieved the grand finale). Hyderabad Team were labeled unlikely picks given their overhaul; few predicted them to succeed.

    For those making title bets, an pro suggestion was to apply a balancing method: for example, if you backed RCB at 8.0 and they got to the last game, you could balance by backing on their challenger to ensure earnings. In 2025, anyone who supported on RCB at the start got profited big time as RCB achieved the championship against the early chances!

    Major IPL 2025 Wagering Choices

    Predictions on IPL matches isn’t just about choosing the eventual victor. There are many of fields offered for each event and for the tournament overall. Some of the most popular betting markets that bettors participated in during the competition 2025 were:

    • Game Outcome (winning team) – The simplest gambling option on who will succeed a specific event. Each season contest often had predictions that shifted delivery by delivery, especially if you played in-play.
    • Leading Run-Scorer / Bowling Leader – predictions on who will get the most knocks or pick the most victims in a contest (or even throughout the season). For example, betting on someone like Virat Kohli to be game changer or highest hitter in a match was frequent.
    • Overall Runs in Game / Totals Betting – playing on the sum scores scored in the event (by both teams altogether) being higher or under a certain benchmark. competition fixtures are offensive, so bookmakers might set a line like 330.5 scores and you play exceeding or under.
    • Athlete Market – special stakes like a hitter to get 50+ tallies, or a bowler to take 3+ scalps, etc. For instance, stakeholders often predicted on players like Jos Buttler or Suryakumar Yadav to smash a fifty given their shape.
    • Big Hits – IPL is popular for maximizing boundaries. choices such as “six count in the contest” or “what franchise will smash more sixes” were popular. With max-hitters in every team, these plays are fun. In 2025, with cricketers like Livingstone, Pant, and Maxwell participating, many games had a rush of boundaries.
    • In-Play Wagering (while ongoing) – Once the game kicks off, the chances and options refresh ball-by-ball. punters were active in real-time prediction on things like “wicket style” (caught, bowled, etc.), “over outcome”, or simply trusting a team during a pursuit. the tournament’s swinging fluctuations make live betting both exciting and dicey.

    Long-Term Bets: Beyond separate contests, followers also bet on bigger markets like “Who will enter the last stage”, “Which two clubs will make the final”, “Most maximums by a player”, etc. In 2025, for example, a prediction on Sai Sudharsan to be the highest scorer would have been a risky shot, but it happened! These kinds of unlikely predictions attract daring gamblers.

    Specialist Betting Suggestions for the season 2025

    Wagering effectively on the tournament demands a fusion of match awareness and understanding of chances. Here are some expert guidelines and notes from the 2025 tournament:

    • Do Your Research: Before placing plays, smart players researched line-ups and venues. For example, knowing track was crucial – a high-scoring ground in the city stadium might lead to a run-heavy contest (so staking on lots of points/sixes makes sense), whereas a low wicket in Chennai might favor spinners (making a lower total or betting on spinners for outs a smart bet). In 2025, some locations like the city delivered very high totals in opening events, changing odds.
    • Track Momentum and Shifts: The tournament flow can shift, but streak is key. During 2025, once Bangalore went on a success chain, many stakeholders followed them in subsequent fixtures. Also, keeping check of participation was vital. For instance, if Jasprit Bumrah was benched for MI in a game or if a team opted to rotate imported cricketers, it influenced the wagering numbers.
    • Contribution of Recruits: With many incoming acquisitions in 2025, the early part of the season was difficult to judge. insiders often caution to check the first initial games to evaluate how franchises are playing with their recent line-ups before betting big. By mid-season, trends showed (like which batting orders are consistent, or which bowler is in form rhythm) that supported better wagers.
    • Play Safe & Cover Odds: A essential advice is never to wager more than you can spare. The tournament matches can swing fast – a club winning comfortably can collapse in a few overs. If you put a futures wager (say on a team to capture the championship at opening), consider offsetting if they reach a strong position. For example, if you had a prediction on the franchise to claim the trophy at 10:1 and they made the last game against the squad, you could put money on RCB in the cup decider to confirm some gain either way. Covering in eliminations is a method many long-time gamblers follow.
    • Home Advantage & Audience: The competition 2025 returned fully to venue split games with full crowds. Ground familiarity is major – teams like the squad and the Blue Army have tremendous followers and experience with their stadiums. Betting odds do count this in, but as a punter, one might offer a little advantage to stadium sides in 50-50 fixtures. However, in 2025 deciders at off-city places, that advantage was eliminated, and indeed we experienced the two finest clubs prevail.
    • Follow News on Information: Last-minute updates such as a athlete getting hurt in training or a switch in playing XI can change a game’s conclusion. For instance, if a big versatile cricketer was absent right before a event, the lines might change. Being plugged into cricket news (via Twitter, platforms) supported fans adapt quickly. In one 2025 fixture, when a leader sat out due to a knock, real-time lines shifted and quick stakeholders seized opportunity.

    In summary, the league 2025 offered engaging betting opportunities, but it also proved everyone that Twenty20 is gloriously volatile. Front-runners don’t always succeed (as shown by unexpected results throughout the Top picks don’t always prevail (as evidenced by surprises throughout the edition), so it’s essential to apply insight and also trust your judgment at times. Always bet for fun and the additional kick, not as a definite money-making method.

    Common Queries (Help) about Indian Premier League 2025

    Q: When did IPL 2025 kick off and end?
    A: The competition 2025 began on March 22, 2025 and the decider was played on June 3, 2025. The tournament went a bit longer than originally expected due to a small mid-season interruption, but all 74 contests were done by June 3rd.

    Q: Which teams played the league 2025 last game and who succeeded?
    A: The last game was held between the squad and Punjab on June 3, 2025. Royal Challengers Bangalore secured the cup 2025, defeating the franchise by 6 runs to capture their first-ever IPL.

    Q: Who will win the season 2025?
    A: Before the tournament, it was anyone’s guess who would secure the season 2025, as all teams were competitive. Many spectators speculated that powerhouses like MI or the side might take, or that the team could defend their championship. However, the series is uncertain – and indeed the unexpected win came true as the team rose as the cup winners. In hindsight, RCB’s success surprised those who believed other squads.

    Q: How many games were conducted in IPL 2025?
    A: There were 74 fixtures in total during the league 2025. Each of the 10 teams contested 14 group contests, and then 4 knockout games (initial knockout, exit match, second decider, grand finale) were staged.

    Q: What were the updated policies in IPL 2025?
    A: The main update in the competition 2025 was the adoption of the global code for athletes, aligning the competition’s disciplinary rules with worldwide standards. Otherwise, the layout and rules of play (including the Impact Player guideline launched in 2023) lasted similar to past years.

    Q: Is Jasprit Bumrah available for the competition 2025?
    A: Yes, Jasprit Bumrah played in the competition 2025 for the squad. He was returning from a back injury that had ruled out him out of the league 2023. He did miss the beginning period of the league 2025 as he was returned back to shape, but he was included in the MI club in April and played in their events subsequently.

    Q: Where can I see the season 2025 coverage?
    A: In the subcontinent, the tournament 2025 events were televised live on the sports network broadcaster (on TV) and broadcast on the web on the JioCinema app/website (Viacom18 owns the online rights).

    Q: Who were some top cricketers in the league 2025?
    A: Several stars had brilliant displays in the tournament 2025. To list a few star athletes: Virat Kohli (RCB), Sai Sudharsan (GT), Prasidh Krishna (GT), Suryakumar Yadav (MI), Shreyas Iyer (PBKS), Jasprit Bumrah (MI).


    To summarize, the league 2025 was a memorable campaign that had it all: an expanded timetable, revamped line-ups, huge sales, and an unexpected achievement. Fans appreciated not just the on-field action but also the buzz and betting excitement around each contest. The competition continues to be the most entertaining T20 series in the planet, and that is what makes it so thrilling for audiences and bettors alike. Here’s to the next edition, with its never-ending excitement and joy for cricket lovers!

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    Lusine Sirunyan

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