| CHARGERS | Team from the Deccan which beat RCB in the IPL final in 2009 in South Africa |
| MAXWELL | Explosive batter who helped steer the Kings to the IPL final in 2014, he is playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2021 |
| SAFINA | Dinara ...... . former WTA number one; runner-up in two Grand Slam finals in 2009 (6) |
| ROHITSHARMA | MI's five-time-winning captain, he has also won 1 IPL in 2009 while playing for the Deccan Chargers (5,6) |
| BACALL | US actress awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2009 'in recognition of her central place in the Golden Age of motion pictures' (6) |
| ACCEDE | Assent to entry in the Deccan when overthrown (6) |
| RCB | Bengaluru cricket franchise that entered the IPL final. (abbvr) (3) |
| JADEJA | Spin bowling all-rounder who hit 37 runs in an over for CSK against RCB in the 2021 IPL |
| CHINNASWAMY | Home ground of the RCB in the heart of Bangalore |
| LAUREN | & 6 Across US actress awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2009 'in recognition of her central place in the Golden Age of motion pictures' (6) |
| JAMIESON | Kiwi pace spearhead acquired by RCB in the 2021 auction |
| WATSON | CSK's Player of the Final who scored a century and helped beat SRH in the 2018 IPL final |
| PATIDAR | RCB batter who scored an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls in the IPL 2022 Eliminator, becoming the first uncapped player to hit a century in the playoffs.(Last Name) (7) |
| TANVIR | Leading wicket taker in the Royals' 2008 title run. He took 6-14 in an innings in 2008, a record for best innings bowling in the IPL which stood until 2019. |
| SHARDUL | Who went unsold in the IPL auction held last year but was selected at the start of the IPL-18 by Lucknow Super Giants team as replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan? (7) |
| SAHA | Wicketkeeper batsman who hit a century for the Kings in a losing cause in the 2014 IPL final |
| RPS | The team, in short, that lost to MI narrowly in the 2017 IPL finals. (1,1,1) |
| REES | Dai --, captain of the Great Britain Ryder Cup team which beat the United States in 1957 (4) |
| JAKATI | Goan spinner who took the key wicket of Sachin Tendulkar in the 2010 IPL final |
| VAIBHAV | Who is the youngest player in the IPL history to be picked in the auction held last year? (7) |
