What year did the IPL first begin, and which team won the inaugural season?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) first began in 2008 — and what a blockbuster debut it was! 🌟

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📅 IPL Debut Season: 2008

• First Match Ever:
  🏏 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
  📍 Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
  🌟 Brendon McCullum scored a mind-blowing 158 off 73 balls* — setting the tone for the tournament forever.

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🏆 Inaugural IPL Champions: Rajasthan Royals (RR)

• Captain: Shane Warne 🇦🇺

• Final Match:

  • 🆚 Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

  • 🏟️ DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai

  • RR chased down 164 and won by 3 wickets

• Man of the Match (Final): Yusuf Pathan (56 off 39 + 3 wickets)

• Player of the Tournament: Shane Watson

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🟣 Why RR’s win was iconic:

• Considered underdogs with no big stars.

• Masterfully led by Warne — mentor + captain + wizard.

• It gave IPL its first fairytale finish.

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Want to go deeper into 2008 IPL trivia, like top run-scorers, wicket-takers, or wild moments? I’ve got all of it!