After multiple near misses and heartbreaks, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have once again ignited the hopes of their ardent fans by securing a spot in the IPL 2025 final. As they wait for their final showdown on June 3, the atmosphere among fans and players is electric, charged with the weight of history and the promise of redemption.
Reflecting the sentiments of countless supporters, Asha Sobhana’s Joy encapsulated the collective anticipation in her recent tweet.
“Nearly two decades of hopes and dreams are about to be fulfilled. They’ve been in complete control, excelling in every part of the game, every single match. Now, just one last hurdle remains. All the way, RCB …! RCB…!”
The bowling all-rounder featured for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). On 24 February 2024, she took five wickets for 26 runs, helping RCB to beat UP Warriorz by 2 runs, during the 2024 WPL. With this, she became the first Indian player to take a five-wicket haul in the Women’s Premier League. This was the same season when the RCB Women’s team ended their franchise’s wait for an elusive title.
This season, RCB has showcased unparalleled consistency and resilience. Under the new leadership of Rajat Patidar and strategic guidance of Andy Flower and Dinesh Kartik, the team finished second in the league with nine wins, four losses and one with no result. Notably, they became the first team in IPL history to win all their away games in a single season.
Virat Kohli, the stalwart of the team, has amassed 614 runs so far, making him the highest run-scorer for RCB this season. On the bowling front, Josh Hazlewood led with 21 wickets, while Phil Salt contributed significantly to the field with eight catches. RCB’s journey to the final has been marked by breaking long-standing jinxes. They secured victories against formidable opponents at venues where they previously struggled, including a win against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk after 17 years.
For years, RCB fans have been the embodiment of loyalty-supporting their team through heartbreaks in 2009, 2011 and 2016 when RCB finished as runners-up. The 2025 season has seen this passionate fanbase rally behind their team with renewed vigor, flooding stadiums and social media with chants of “Ee Sala Cup Namde”.
The emotional connection between the team and its supporters was on full display this season, especially during the tribute to Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket. Fans turned the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium into a sea of white, donning Test jerseys as a gesture of gratitude for Kohli’s iconic red-ball career.
As Asha Sobhana Joy so aptly put it, “nearly two decades of hopes and dreams are about to be fulfilled”, as RCB prepares for the final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on June 3, the team and its fans are on the cusp of potentially celebrating their first-ever IPL title. The culmination of nearly two decades of dedication and passion could finally be realized with a victory in the IPL 2025 final.
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