Few teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have commanded as much attention and frustration as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). As one of the most expensive franchises since its inception in 2008, RCB has built a reputation on star power, loyal fan support and lack of closeness. The original is owned. Vijay Mallya And later in the hands of Diageo, the franchise evolved both on and off the field.
The early years were tumultuous. A Test-heavy squad struggled in the inaugural season, but the team quickly progressed, reaching the finals in 2009 and 2011. Over time, RCB became synonymous with marquee names like Virat KohliAB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. Kohli, in particular, became the face of the franchise, leading the team for nearly a decade and producing the greatest individual season in IPL history in 2016, when RCB reached another final but fell short.Despite repeated big-money signings and strong squads, the title remained elusive. Coaching changes, squad reshuffles and discontinuity often held them back. Yet, their popularity never waned, 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 to clinch their maiden IPL title in the final, shedding a perennial underachievement tag and capitalizing on years of faith from players and fans alike.While the men’s team struggled for years to reach the top, the women’s team quickly gained success. With the advent of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women emerged as a formidable force. Under the leadership of Smriti Mandhanathey won their first title in 2024, marking the franchise’s first major trophy. They followed it up with another title-winning campaign in 2026, underscoring their dominance of the competition.
