Kamal Ghorui
Few teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have commanded as much attention and frustration as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). From their inception in 2008 as one of the most expensive franchises, RCB built a reputation on star power, loyal fan support and near misses. Owned initially by Vijay Mallya and later taken over by Diageo, the franchise evolved both on and off the field.
The early years were inconsistent. A Test-heavy squad struggled in the inaugural season, but the team quickly rebounded, reaching finals in 2009 and 2011. Over time, RCB became synonymous with marquee names such as Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. Kohli, in particular, became the face of the franchise, leading the side for nearly a decade and producing one of the greatest individual seasons in IPL history in 2016, when RCB reached yet another final but fell short.Despite frequent big-money signings and strong squads, the title remained elusive. Coaching changes, squad reshuffles and inconsistency often held them back. Yet, their popularity never dipped, with RCB becoming one of the most followed teams globally.The long wait finally ended in 2025. Under new leadership and a balanced squad, RCB held their nerve in the final to secure their maiden IPL title, shedding the tag of perennial underachievers and rewarding years of faith from players and fans alike.While the men’s team battled for years to reach the summit, the women’s side brought quicker success. With the advent of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women emerged as a strong force. Led by Smriti Mandhana, they clinched their first title in 2024, marking the franchise’s first major trophy. They followed it up with another title-winning campaign in 2026, underlining their dominance in the competition.
