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August 20, 2024
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), officially known as Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is a professional cricket team based in Bangalore, Karnataka, competes in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Founded in 2008 by United Spirits, the team is named after the company’s liquor brand, Royal Challenge. They play their home games at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
RCB has reached the IPL finals three times—in 2009, 2011, and 2016—and has qualified for the playoffs in nine out of seventeen seasons. The team also competed in the Champions League Twenty20, finishing as runners-up in 2011. As of 2024, RCB is captained by Faf du Plessis and coached by Andy Flower. The franchise is valued at $69.8 million, making it one of the most valuable teams in the IPL.
RCB holds two notable IPL records: the lowest total score in an innings (49 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders) and the highest total score conceded (287 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad).
In the 2024 season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru competed in their 17th year in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They finished the previous season in 6th place in the league stage. In the 2024 season, after securing their 7th win on May 18, 2024, the team qualified for the Playoffs. They ended the league stage in 4th place with 7 wins and 7 losses, earning 14 points and securing a spot in the Eliminator.
On May 22, 2024, Bengaluru lost to the Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator held in Ahmedabad, eliminating them from the tournament. Consequently, they concluded the season in fourth place. Virat Kohli was the season’s standout performer, scoring the most runs (741) and receiving the Orange Cap and a cash prize of ₹10 lakh (US$13,000).
In August 2019, Simon Katich took over as the head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), replacing Gary Kirsten, while Mike Hesson was appointed the director of cricket operations. After the 2020 IPL auction, RCB released several players, including Colin de Grandhomme and Dale Steyn, and brought in new players like Aaron Finch and Chris Morris. They also introduced a new team logo. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was delayed and played in the UAE. RCB finished fourth on the points table, qualifying for the playoffs. Still, it was eliminated by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator. Devdutt Padikkal was the leading run-scorer for RCB with 473 runs, and Yuzvendra Chahal led in wickets with 21.
In the 2021 IPL auction, RCB signed Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Azharuddeen, and others. The season was interrupted by a COVID-19 outbreak but resumed later in the UAE. Simon Katich resigned, and Mike Hesson became the head coach. RCB qualified for the playoffs but lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in the Eliminator. Harshal Patel set a record with 32 wickets and won the Purple Cap, while Glenn Maxwell scored 513 runs. Virat Kohli became the first player to reach 6,000 IPL runs, and AB de Villiers announced his retirement at the end of the season.
The 2022 season saw Faf du Plessis become the new captain and Sanjay Bangar appointed head coach. RCB made several key acquisitions, including Wanindu Hasaranga and Dinesh Karthik. They advanced past the Eliminator but were defeated by Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. Du Plessis was the top run-scorer for RCB with 468 runs, and Hasaranga was the leading wicket-taker with 26 wickets. For the 2023 season, RCB added Reece Topley and Will Jacks to their squad but finished sixth in the group stage, failing to make the playoffs.
The rivalry between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is among the oldest and most intense in the IPL. Their first clash in 2008 saw KKR win by 140 runs, with Brendon McCullum’s explosive 158* setting the tone. In the 2009 season, RCB turned the tables by winning both encounters, highlighted by Ross Taylor’s unbeaten 81, leading RCB to a six-wicket victory. The 2012 season featured memorable matches, with Gautam Gambhir’s 93 helping KKR secure a crucial win despite an intense fight from Chris Gayle. KKR’s solid performance continued with Gambhir’s innings and Lakshmipathy Balaji’s four-wicket haul.
In 2015, a rain-shortened 10-over game saw KKR’s Andre Russell score a quick 45, and despite a strong start from RCB, they lost the match. The 2017 season was marked by dramatic moments, including RCB’s record-low 49 all-out and Sunil Narine’s fastest fifty. The 2019 season was equally thrilling, with RCB posting a high score of 205/3, led by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, but KKR’s Andre Russell led his team to a thrilling chase. RCB later bounced back with a close win, thanks to Kohli’s century and Moeen Ali’s strong performance, showcasing the ongoing intensity of this rivalry.
The rivalry between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore is rooted in the long-standing Kaveri River water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This intense rivalry is often referred to as the “Kaveri Derby,” “Southern Derby,” or “South Indian Derby.” The teams have clashed many times. However, their most notable encounter came in the 2011 IPL final, where Chennai Super Kings emerged victorious over Royal Challengers Bangalore. This was the only final match between these two teams in IPL history.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has a significant rivalry with the Hyderabad franchises, first with the Deccan Chargers and now with Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Deccan Chargers won six out of their eleven matches against RCB. At the same time, Sunrisers Hyderabad leads their head-to-head with twelve wins to eleven losses. This rivalry has had a significant impact on RCB’s campaigns. In 2009 and 2016, the Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated RCB in the IPL finals. Additionally, Sunrisers Hyderabad knocked RCB out of the 2020 tournament in the eliminator round. In 2021, they beat RCB, which forced RCB into the eliminator round, where they lost to KKR.
The rivalry intensified in the 2022 IPL season when Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated RCB by nine wickets, adding pressure to RCB’s campaign. In the 2024 season, Sunrisers Hyderabad made headlines by breaking RCB’s record of 263 runs, initially set by Chris Gayle’s monumental 175 runs. SRH not only surpassed this record with a score of 287 runs on RCB’s home ground, thanks to impressive performances from Travis Head and Heinrich Klassen, but they also broke the record again by scoring 266 runs against Delhi Capitals, setting an all-time T20 record for most runs in a power-play.
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s livery is known for its striking and vibrant design, reflecting the team’s dynamic and bold identity. The primary colors are red and black, symbolizing energy, passion, and intensity. The team’s logo features a fierce lion, which signifies strength and courage. The red and black color scheme is prominently displayed on their jerseys, with bold red stripes and black accents creating a visually impactful contrast. This livery represents the team’s competitive spirit. It aligns with Royal Challenge’s brand by emphasizing a powerful and energetic aesthetic.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Batters: Faf Du Plessis, Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash S Prabhudessai, Will Jacks and Saurav Chauhan
Royal Challengers Bengaluru All-Rounders: Gleen Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Cameron Green, Swapnil Singh, Mayank Dagar, and Manoj Bhandage
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Bowlers: Akash Deep, Alzarri Joseph, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar and Vyshak Vijay Kumar
As of the IPL 2024 season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru is in 5th place in the points table. They have had a competitive season, winning 8 out of their 14 matches and accumulating 16 points. Despite a strong performance throughout the season, they are in a tight race for a playoff spot, with their final position depending on the results of the remaining matches and the performance of rival teams.