Royal Challengers Bengaluru: The rise, the heartbreaks and the breakthrough IPL title

For years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were seen as one of the most followed teams in the Indian Premier League without a title. Despite fielding star-studded line-ups and drawing huge crowds, the Bengaluru franchise repeatedly fell short in the final stretch of the tournament.

That narrative changed last season when RCB lifted their first IPL trophy, ending a wait that stretched back to the league’s launch in 2008. The win marked a defining moment for a team that had long been labelled as perennial contenders rather than champions.

Early years: promise and setbacks

RCB began their IPL journey under Rahul Dravid in 2008 but struggled in the inaugural season, finishing seventh out of eight teams with just 4 wins in 14 matches. The franchise quickly rebuilt and emerged as a contender the following year.


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In 2009, a side led by legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble reached the final. Kumble finished that season as RCB’s leading bowler with 21 wickets at an economy under 6, but the team lost a close contest to Deccan Chargers.

RCB returned to the final in 2011, captained by Daniel Vettori, after finishing top of the league table that season. However, they again finished runners-up after losing to Chennai Super Kings.

The Kohli era and a historic campaign

The franchise’s identity became closely tied to Virat Kohli, who has represented the team since the first IPL season and remains the highest run-scorer in IPL history with over 7,500 runs.

RCB’s most memorable run before their title came in 2016, when Kohli delivered one of the greatest individual seasons in IPL history, scoring 973 runs in 16 matches with four centuries, still the record for the most runs in a single IPL season.

That side also featured destructive hitters like Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, who together formed one of the most feared batting units in the league.

Also Read: Check out RCB's full squad here for IPL 2026

Despite dominating the tournament, RCB lost the final to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The breakthrough title

After years of near misses, RCB finally completed the journey by winning their first IPL championship last season. The victory ended a long wait for the franchise and its supporters, widely known as the Red Army, one of the largest fan communities in the league.

For Kohli, the triumph carried special significance. Having played every IPL season for the franchise since 2008, he became the only player to remain with RCB from the inaugural season to its first title.

Home fortress: Chinnaswamy’s high-scoring theatre

RCB’s home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, has played a major role in shaping the team’s identity.

The venue is known for short boundaries and high-scoring games, with teams regularly crossing 200-run totals. It was here that Gayle smashed his 175 not out in 2013, still the highest individual score in IPL history and part of RCB’s 263/5 — the highest team total in the tournament.

A refreshed squad for IPL 2026

Heading into the new season, RCB have assembled a squad that blends experienced internationals with emerging Indian players.

The batting unit continues to revolve around Virat Kohli, alongside aggressive opener Phil Salt, who has one of the highest strike rates among T20 openers globally. Power-hitting all-rounder Liam Livingstone adds middle-order firepower, while finishers like Tim David and wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma provide depth.

In the bowling department, experienced pacers such as Bhuvneshwar Kumar — one of the few bowlers to win the IPL Purple Cap twice — and Australian quick Josh Hazlewood lead the attack but it's uncertain that he will available since the start of the tournament. All-rounder Krunal Pandya brings spin control in the middle overs.

Off-field challenges: stampede and player injuries

Even as the team prepares to defend its title, RCB have faced several off-field developments. A stampede-like situation outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during celebrations after the title win drew attention to crowd management issues, highlighting the scale of fan support the franchise commands and the logistical challenges that come with it.

On the field, injuries and availability issues could complicate RCB’s campaign early in IPL 2026. Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is recovering from hamstring and Achilles injuries and may miss the opening matches as he awaits full medical clearance. Left-arm seamer Yash Dayal has been ruled out of the season due to personal reasons, removing an important Indian pace option from the attack. Sri Lankan quick Nuwan Thushara is also unavailable after failing to secure a No-Objection Certificate from Sri Lanka Cricket because of fitness requirements.

With three pace options uncertain or unavailable, RCB may have to rely more heavily on experienced bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and reshuffle their bowling combinations early in the tournament.

The challenge ahead

Winning the IPL title has changed the narrative around RCB. For years, the franchise carried the tag of cricket’s most popular nearly-men.

Now the focus shifts to consistency. With a balanced squad, a loyal fan base and the confidence of finally lifting the trophy, RCB enter the new season with a different challenge — proving that their first title was not a one-off, but the start of a sustained era.