Kohli jinx to Indian talent: Five things we learned from IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) ended with debutants Gujarat Titans hammering Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in front of almost 105 000 fans at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

AFP Sport looks at five things we learned from the 15th edition of the Twenty20 tournament, which was expanded to 10 teams this year.

Kohli's jinx

Former India captain Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore's wait for their first IPL title drags on after they went down to Rajasthan in the second qualifier.

Kohli endured a tough season that including three golden ducks - out on first ball - before he scored a match-winning 73 in the team's final league game. He averaged 22.73 across the tournament, his lowest since the 2010 season.

Coach Mike Hesson says that Kohli, 33, nevertheless remains an "influential character" who brought the senior players together and took care of the youngsters in the Faf du Plessis-led side.

But former players including Brett Lee feel the usually game-changing batsman should take a break to "freshen up the mind".

Debut success

Gujarat Titans emphatically shrugged off pundits' concerns about their squad at the end of the February auction to emerge as the team to beat in their debut season.

Hardik Pandya, who was called an unlikely choice to lead the side because of his maverick ways and injury-prone career, combined with South African David Miller, Indian batsman Rahul Tewatia and Afghan spinner Rashid Khan to become champions.

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Pandya's all-round showing in Sunday's final, three wickets with the ball and 34 runs with the bat, capped a fairytale run that began by beating fellow newcomers Lucknow Super Giants