Royal Challengers Bengaluru
 | |||
| Nickname(s) | RCB | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| League | Indian Premier League | ||
| Personnel | |||
| Captain | Rajat Patidar | ||
| Coach | Andy Flower | ||
| Batting coach | Dinesh Karthik | ||
| Fielding coach | [Richard Halsall | ||
| Owner | United Spirits | ||
| Team information | |||
| City | Bengaluru, Karnataka | ||
| Colours | |||
| Founded | 2008 | ||
| Home ground | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 35,000 | ||
| History | |||
| Indian Premier League wins |  (2025) | ||
| Official website | Website | ||
| |||
 2025 season | |||
| Seasons |
|---|
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| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), formerly known as Royal Challengers Bangalore, is a professional franchise cricket team based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, that competes in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team was founded in 2008 by United Spirits, and plays its home matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB secured its first IPL title in 2025, after having finished as runners-up in 2009, 2011, and 2016, and has reached the playoffs in ten different seasons.[1][2]
As of 2025, the team is captained by Rajat Patidar and coached by Andy Flower. RCB also competed in the Champions League Twenty20, finishing as runners-up in 2011. With an estimated valuation of $117 million in 2024, RCB is among the most valuable IPL franchises and remains one of the league’s most popular teams, following Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.[3]
History
2008–2010: Early Years
The Indian Premier League (IPL) was launched by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in September 2007, with the inaugural season scheduled for 2008. During the franchise auction on 24 January 2008, the Bangalore franchise was purchased by Vijay Mallya for US$111.6 million, the second-highest bid after Mumbai Indians.
Rahul Dravid was named the team’s icon player and captain for the 2008 season, earning 15% more than the highest-paid player at the auction. The franchise assembled a squad featuring both Indian and international cricketers, including Jacques Kallis, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Mark Boucher, Dale Steyn, Cameron White, Ross Taylor, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Virat Kohli, who was then India’s under-19 World Cup-winning captain. Venkatesh Prasad was appointed head coach.
RCB struggled in their debut season, winning just 4 of 14 matches and finishing 7th out of 8 teams. Dravid was the only player to score over 300 runs. Poor performances led to the benching of high-profile players like Kallis and to internal changes: CEO Charu Sharma was replaced by Brijesh Patel, and Martin Crowe resigned as chief cricketing officer. Head coach Prasad was later replaced by Ray Jennings.
In the 2009 season, RCB signed Kevin Pietersen for a record US$1.55 million, making him the joint most expensive player alongside Andrew Flintoff. The team also traded Zaheer Khan for Robin Uthappa and added local talent Manish Pandey. Due to the general elections, the tournament was held in South Africa. Pietersen began as captain but was replaced by Anil Kumble after a series of losses. Under Kumble’s leadership, RCB improved significantly, winning six of their last eight matches to reach the final, where they lost narrowly to Deccan Chargers.
In 2010, with Kumble continuing as captain, RCB again made the playoffs after finishing with 14 points from 14 matches. Although they lost the semi-final to Mumbai Indians, they defeated Deccan Chargers in the third-place playoff, securing qualification for the 2010 Champions League Twenty20. Kumble retired at the end of the tournament, having led the team to semi-finals in both the IPL and CLT20.
2011–2012: IPL and CLT20 Finals
On 8 January 2011, the IPL Governing Council held the player auction for the fourth season of the Indian Premier League. Franchises were allowed to retain up to four players for a total of US$4.5 million. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) chose to retain only Virat Kohli, allowing the rest of their squad to return to the auction pool. In the auction, RCB made several key signings, including Tillakaratne Dilshan, Zaheer Khan, AB de Villiers, Daniel Vettori, Saurabh Tiwary, Dirk Nannes, and Cheteshwar Pujara. Daniel Vettori was appointed team captain for the season.
RCB began their 2011 campaign with a win over Kochi Tuskers Kerala, but then suffered three consecutive losses against Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, and Chennai Super Kings. An injury to Dirk Nannes led to the inclusion of Chris Gayle as a replacement. Gayle’s arrival significantly boosted the team's performance, sparking a seven-match winning streak. RCB secured the top position in the league stage by defeating defending champions Chennai Super Kings in their final group match. However, they lost the IPL final to the same team by 58 runs. Chris Gayle was named Player of the Tournament for his outstanding performance.
Following their runner-up finish in the IPL, RCB qualified for the 2011 Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20). The team progressed to the final after a dramatic last-ball win against Southern Redbacks in the group stage and a victory over New South Wales Blues in the semi-final. In the final, they were defeated by the Mumbai Indians, finishing as runners-up once again.
Ahead of the 2012 season, RCB retained Chris Gayle and acquired Andrew McDonald from Delhi Daredevils. In the player auction, they added Vinay Kumar and Muttiah Muralitharan to their squad. The team began the season without Gayle, who was recovering from injury, but secured a win in their opening match against Delhi Daredevils, thanks to contributions from AB de Villiers and Muralitharan.
RCB won eight of their sixteen matches in the 2012 season but narrowly missed out on qualifying for the playoffs. Despite the team's inconsistency, Chris Gayle finished as the highest run-scorer of the tournament, amassing 733 runs, including a century.
2013–2015: Kohli’s Captaincy and Transitional Seasons
Ahead of the 2013 season, Royal Challengers Bangalore released several players, including Mohammad Kaif, Dirk Nannes, and Luke Pomersbach. In the auction, they signed Christopher Barnwell, Daniel Christian, Moises Henriques, Ravi Rampaul, and Jaydev Unadkat. Virat Kohli was appointed full-time captain, succeeding Daniel Vettori, and continued in the role until 2021. RCB finished fifth in the league stage with nine wins in sixteen matches, narrowly missing the playoffs. Chris Gayle was the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament, and Vinay Kumar led the team in wickets with 23.
In the 2014 auction, RCB retained Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle, and acquired players such as Yuvraj Singh (₹14 crore), Mitchell Starc, Albie Morkel, Parthiv Patel, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Daniel Vettori replaced Ray Jennings as head coach. The tournament was played in two phases, with the opening matches in the UAE. RCB finished seventh in the league table, failing to reach the playoffs. AB de Villiers was the leading run-scorer for the team with 395 runs, while Varun Aaron took the most wickets (16).
Ahead of the 2015 season, RCB traded for Mandeep Singh, Iqbal Abdulla, and Manvinder Bisla, and purchased players including Dinesh Karthik, Sarfaraz Khan, and Darren Sammy. The team won seven out of fourteen group matches, finishing third in the points table. RCB defeated Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator but lost to Chennai Super Kings in the second Qualifier. AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, and Chris Gayle were among the top run-scorers of the season, while Yuzvendra Chahal finished as the team’s highest wicket-taker and third overall in the tournament.
2016–2019: Runners-up Finish and Struggles
During the 2016 season, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) introduced home and away jerseys. Amid financial controversies involving owner Vijay Mallya, Amrit Thomas was appointed chairman of the franchise. RCB made key signings during the auction, including Shane Watson, Kane Richardson, Stuart Binny, Travis Head, and Samuel Badree, along with KL Rahul and Parvez Rasool from Sunrisers Hyderabad.
RCB began the season with a win against Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli. Despite a slow start with just one win in seven matches, the team won six of their last seven games to qualify for the playoffs. They recorded the largest margin of victory in IPL history at the time, defeating Gujarat Lions by 144 runs. Finishing second in the league stage, RCB defeated Gujarat in Qualifier 1 to reach their third IPL final. However, they lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 runs in the final. Kohli won the Orange Cap, scoring a record-breaking 973 runs, while Yuzvendra Chahal and Shane Watson were among the top wicket-takers.
In 2017, RCB’s campaign was affected by multiple injuries. Mitchell Starc parted ways with the team and was replaced by Tymal Mills. Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, KL Rahul, and Sarfaraz Khan missed significant portions of the season. Shane Watson served as interim captain. The team finished last in the standings, with only three wins. Their 49-run total against Kolkata Knight Riders was the lowest in IPL history. Kohli led the team in runs, while Pawan Negi was the leading wicket-taker.
In the 2018 season, RCB retained Kohli, de Villiers, and Sarfaraz Khan. They acquired Brendon McCullum, Chris Woakes, Colin de Grandhomme, Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock, and Umesh Yadav. Gary Kirsten and Ashish Nehra were appointed batting and bowling coaches, respectively. RCB finished sixth in the group stage. Kohli was again the top run-scorer, and Umesh Yadav led in wickets.
Gary Kirsten replaced Daniel Vettori as head coach ahead of the 2019 season. The team acquired Shivam Dube, Shimron Hetmyer, Heinrich Klaasen, and Devdutt Padikkal. During the season, Dale Steyn joined the squad but was ruled out after two matches due to injury. RCB concluded the season with five wins and finished at the bottom of the points table. Kohli and Chahal once again led the team in runs and wickets, respectively.
2020–2023: Regain in Form
In August 2019, Simon Katich was appointed as head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore, replacing Gary Kirsten, while Mike Hesson was named director of cricket operations. Ahead of the 2020 IPL auction, RCB released several players, including Colin de Grandhomme, Dale Steyn, Heinrich Klaasen, Shimron Hetmyer, and Tim Southee. Key acquisitions included Aaron Finch, Chris Morris, Joshua Philippe, Isuru Udana, and Shahbaz Ahmed. A rebranded team logo was also unveiled before the season.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 IPL was postponed and held in the United Arab Emirates. RCB qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2016, finishing fourth in the league stage. However, they were eliminated in the Eliminator by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Devdutt Padikkal was the top run-scorer for the team with 473 runs, while Yuzvendra Chahal led the bowling attack with 21 wickets.
In the 2021 IPL auction, RCB acquired Glenn Maxwell, Kyle Jamieson, and Dan Christian, among others. The season was suspended midway due to a spike in COVID-19 cases and resumed later in the UAE. During the break, Katich stepped down, and Hesson took over as head coach. RCB again reached the playoffs, finishing third, but lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in the Eliminator. Harshal Patel won the Purple Cap, taking a joint-record 32 wickets in a single season. Glenn Maxwell scored 513 runs, the most for the team. During this season, Virat Kohli became the first player to reach 6,000 IPL runs. It was also the final IPL season for AB de Villiers, who announced his retirement in November 2021.
The 2022 season marked a transitional phase. Faf du Plessis was appointed captain after Kohli stepped down, and Sanjay Bangar became head coach. RCB acquired Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, Dinesh Karthik, and Harshal Patel in the auction. With the league expanding to ten teams, RCB advanced to Qualifier 2 but lost to Rajasthan Royals. Du Plessis was the team’s top scorer with 468 runs, and Hasaranga finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 26 wickets.
Ahead of the 2023 season, RCB added Reece Topley, Will Jacks, and Avinash Singh to their roster. The team won 7 out of 14 matches and finished sixth on the points table, missing out on the playoffs. Faf du Plessis was again the highest run-scorer for RCB, while Mohammed Siraj led the bowling charts for the franchise.
2024: Dramatic Comeback to Playoffs
The 2024 IPL season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was marked by a remarkable turnaround. The team had a dismal start, losing 7 of their first 8 matches, and was widely written off from playoff contention. However, under the leadership of Faf du Plessis and inspired performances from senior players, RCB made an extraordinary comeback by winning six consecutive matches in the latter half of the league stage.
This streak propelled RCB to the playoffs, finishing fourth on the points table. In the Eliminator, RCB faced Rajasthan Royals, where they lost a close contest by four wickets, bringing their dramatic campaign to an end.
Despite the early setbacks, Virat Kohli had a standout season, scoring 741 runs and winning the Orange Cap for the highest run-scorer of the tournament. On the bowling front, Yash Dayal emerged as RCB's leading wicket-taker, finishing the season with 15 wickets.
RCB's performance in 2024 laid the foundation for their historic title run in 2025, reigniting hope and enthusiasm among fans after several inconsistent seasons
2025: First IPL Title
On 3 June 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title, ending an 18-year wait. The final was held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in a closely fought contest.
Batting first, RCB posted a total of 190 for 9 in their 20 overs. Virat Kohli, the longest-serving player in the franchise’s history, top-scored with 43 runs off 35 balls. Despite regular fall of wickets, crucial cameos from the middle and lower order helped RCB reach a competitive total.
Punjab Kings, in response, managed 184 for 7. Shashank Singh was the standout performer for Punjab, remaining unbeaten on 61 runs, but was unable to guide his team to victory. RCB’s bowlers held their nerve in the final overs, with Krunal Pandya delivering an economical spell of 2 for 17, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar contributing with 2 for 38.
The win was a landmark moment in RCB's history. Previously, the team had finished as runners-up in 2009, 2011, and 2016, but had never secured the title. The 2025 triumph was especially emotional for Virat Kohli, who had been with the franchise since its inception in 2008 and had captained the side for nearly a decade before stepping down.
RCB's victory was widely celebrated by fans across the country and marked a turning point for the franchise, often labeled as underachievers despite having star-studded squads in the past.
Jersey record
Regular kits
The official colors of RCB are red, black and gold. In 2024, a bold blue color was included in the jersey but was not continued later.
       2016–2021 |
 2022–2023 |
 2024 |
Go green kits
RCB has a tradition of replacing the red with green for the #GameForGreen matches once every season. In 2021, as a tribute to the COVID-19 frontline workers, RCB played a match with sky-blue colour special kits.
It is made of recycled material, supporting the team's support of going carbon neutral and raise awareness to plant more trees.
2016–2021 |
 2022–2023 |
 2024 |
Fan support
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) enjoy a massive and passionate fan base, particularly in their home city of Bengaluru. Known for their unwavering loyalty, RCB supporters regularly turn up in large numbers for home matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, creating an electrifying atmosphere often referred to as a "sea of red." Their passionate chants—especially "R-C-B, R-C-B" and the popular Kannada slogan "Ee Sala Cup Namde" (meaning "This year, the cup is ours")—have become synonymous with the team's identity.
To enhance the fan experience, the stadium often provides supporters with cheer kits, including RCB flags and noisemakers, adding to the vibrant match-day ambiance. The RCB fan community is collectively known as the "Bold Army", a name that reflects their fearless and energetic support for the franchise.
In a pioneering move during the 2014 IPL season, RCB became the first team in the tournament to offer free Wi-Fi connectivity to fans at their home ground. By installing 50 access points using fibre-optic technology, they enabled supporters to stay connected and share their stadium experience in real time.
Squad
- Source
- Players with international caps are in bold.
| No. | Name | Nationality | Birth date | Batting style | Bowling style | Year signed | Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain | ||||||||
| 97 | Rajat Patidar |  India |
1 June 1993 | Right-handed | Right-arm off-break | 2022 | ₹11 crore (US$1.3 million) | Captain |
| Batters | ||||||||
| 18 | Virat Kohli | India |
5 November 1988 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 2008 | ₹21 crore (US$2.5 million) | |
| 16 | Mayank Agarwal | India |
16 February 1991 (aged 34) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | 2025 | ₹1 crore (US$120,000) | |
| 37 | Devdutt Padikkal | India |
7 July 2000 | Left-handed | Right-arm off-break | 2025 | ₹2 crore (US$240,000) | |
| 99 | Swastik Chikara | India |
3 April 2005 | Right-handed | Right-arm off-break | 2025 | ₹30 lakh (US$35,000) | |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||||||
| 28 | Phil Salt | England | 28 August 1996 | Right-handed | - | 2025 | ₹11.5 crore (US$1.4 million) | |
| 55 | Jitesh Sharma | India |
22 October 1993 | Right-handed | - | 2025 | ₹11 crore (US$1.3 million) | Vice-Captain |
| All-rounders | ||||||||
| 23 | Liam Livingstone | England | 4 August 1993 | Right-handed | Right-arm off-break | 2025 | ₹8.75 crore (US$1.0 million) | Overseas |
| 25 | Krunal Pandya | India |
24 March 1991 | Left-handed | Left-arm orthodox | 2025 | ₹5.75 crore (US$680,000) | |
| 8 | Tim David | Australia | 16 March 1996 | Right-handed | Right-arm off-break | 2025 | ₹3 crore (US$350,000) | Overseas |
| 2 | Jacob Bethell | England | 23 October 2003 | Left-handed | Left-arm orthodox | 2025 | ₹2.6 crore (US$310,000) | Overseas |
| 16 | Romario Shepherd | West Indies | 26 November 1994 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2025 | ₹1.5 crore (US$180,000) | Overseas |
| 24 | Swapnil Singh | India |
22 January 1991 | Right-handed | Left-arm orthodox | 2024 | ₹50 lakh (US$59,000) | |
| 28 | Manoj Bhandage | India |
5 October 1998 | Left-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2023 | ₹30 lakh (US$35,000) | |
| 7 | Mohit Rathee | India |
13 January 1999 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg-break | 2025 | ₹30 lakh (US$35,000) | |
| Pace bowlers | ||||||||
| 38 | Josh Hazlewood | Australia | 8 January 1991 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2025 | ₹12.5 crore (US$1.5 million) | Overseas |
| 15 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | India |
5 February 1990 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 2025 | ₹10.75 crore (US$1.3 million) | |
| 42 | Rasikh Salam | India |
5 April 2000 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 2025 | ₹6 crore (US$710,000) | |
| 103 | Yash Dayal | India |
13 December 1997 | Right-handed | Left-arm medium-fast | 2024 | ₹5 crore (US$590,000) | |
| 53 | Nuwan Thushara | Sri Lanka | 6 August 1994 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2025 | ₹1.6 crore (US$190,000) | Overseas |
| 22 | Lungi Ngidi | South Africa | 29 March 1996 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2025 | ₹1 crore (US$120,000) | Overseas |
| 14 | Abhinandan Singh | India |
30 March 1997 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2025 | ₹30 lakh (US$35,000) | |
| Spin bowlers | ||||||||
| 12 | Suyash Sharma | India |
15 May 2003 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg-break | 2025 | ₹2.6 crore (US$310,000) | |
| Source: RCB Squad | ||||||||
Performance record
Indian Premier League
| Year | Matches | Won | Lost | No Result | Group Stage | Final Standing | Most Runs | Most Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 7/8 | League Stage | Rahul Dravid | Zaheer Khan |
| 2009 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 3/8 | Runners Up | Jacques Kallis | Anil Kumble |
| 2010 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4/8 | Third Place | Jacques Kallis | Anil Kumble |
| 2011 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1/10 | Runner Up | Chris Gayle | Sreenath Aravind |
| 2012 | 16 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 5/9 | League Stage | Chris Gayle | Vinay Kumar |
| 2013 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 5/9 | League Stage | Chris Gayle | Vinay Kumar |
| 2014 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 7/8 | League Stage | AB de Villiers | Varun Aaron |
| 2015 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 3/8 | Third Place | AB de Villiers | Yuzvendra Chahal |
| 2016 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2/8 | Runner Up | Virat Kohli | Shane Watson Yuzvendra Chahal |
| 2017 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 8/8 | League Stage | Virat Kohli | Pawan Negi |
| 2018 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 6/8 | League Stage | Virat Kohli | Umesh Yadav |
| 2019 | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 8/8 | League Stage | Virat Kohli | Yuzvendra Chahal |
| 2020 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 4/8 | Playoffs | Devdutt Padikkal | Yuzvendra Chahal |
| 2021 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3/8 | Playoffs | Glenn Maxwell | Harshal Patel |
| 2022 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 4/10 | Third Place | Faf du Plessis | Wanindu Hasaranga |
| 2023 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6/10 | League Stage | Faf du Plessis | Mohammed Siraj |
| 2024 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 4/10 | Playoffs | Virat Kohli | Yash Dayal |
| 2025 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 2/10 | Champions | Virat Kohli | Josh Hazlewood |
| Total | 274 | 134 | 133 | 7 | Champions-1 Runner Ups -3 Playoffs - 6 |
Virat Kohli | Yuzvendra Chahal | |
Staff record
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Team manager | Shaminder Singh Sidhu |
| Team director | Mo Bobat |
| Head coach | Andy Flower |
| Mentor and batting coach | Dinesh Karthik |
| Spin bowling coach and player identification manager | Malolan Rangarajan |
| Fast bowling coach | Omkar Salvi |
| Fielding coach | Richard Halsall |
| Head physiotherapist | Evan Speechly |
| Strength and conditioning coach | Basu Shanker |
| Source: RCB Staff | |
Reference
- ↑ https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/royal-challengers-bengaluru-end-18-years-of-wait-romp-to-maiden-ipl-title-with-smashing-win-over-punjab-kings-101748972592771.html
- ↑ https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/ipl-2025-1449924/punjab-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bengaluru-final-1473511/match-report
- ↑ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/ipl-brand-value-reaches-whopping-12-billion-here-are-the-top-10-most-valuable-ipl-brands-2024/articleshow/115964117.cms