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Introduction
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is one of the most popular franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Known for its passionate fanbase, star-studded line-ups, and thrilling performances, RCB has been a key part of the IPL since its inception in 2008. Despite not winning an IPL title yet, RCB remains a team with immense love and loyalty from fans worldwide.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is one of the most iconic franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite not winning an IPL title yet, RCB has a massive global fanbase due to its star-studded line-ups and thrilling matches.
In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into RCB’s history, including their performances over the years, key players, records, and memorable moments.
In this detailed guide, we’ll cover:
✔ When and where RCB was founded
✔ Who founded RCB
✔ Current and past owners
✔ Full list of captains over the years
✔ 2024 squad and key players
1. When and Where Was RCB Founded?
- Founded in: 2008
- Home City: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- Home Stadium: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Capacity: ~38,000)
- First Match: April 18, 2008 (vs Kolkata Knight Riders)
RCB was one of the original eight teams when the IPL was launched in 2008.
2. Who is the Founder of RCB?
The IPL was founded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), but RCB as a franchise was purchased by United Spirits Limited (USL), a subsidiary of Diageo.
- Original Owner (2008-2015): Vijay Mallya (via United Spirits)
- Current Owner (Since 2016): Diageo (through United Spirits)
Vijay Mallya was the public face of RCB until financial troubles led to Diageo taking over.
3. Who Are the Owners of RCB?
| Owner | Period | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Vijay Mallya (United Spirits) | 2008-2015 | Bought RCB for $111.6 million |
| Diageo (United Spirits) | 2016-Present | Took over after Mallya’s financial issues |
Current CEO: Prathmesh Mishra
4. RCB Captains Over the Years (2008-2024)
| Year | Captain | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rahul Dravid | 7th Place |
| 2009 | Kevin Pietersen / Anil Kumble | Runners-up |
| 2010 | Anil Kumble | 3rd Place |
| 2011 | Daniel Vettori | Runners-up |
| 2012 | Daniel Vettori | 5th Place |
| 2013-2021 | Virat Kohli | Runners-up (2016) |
| 2022-2024 | Faf du Plessis | Playoffs (2022) |
Longest-Serving Captain: Virat Kohli (9 seasons)
5. RCB 2024 Squad & Key Players
Batters:
- Virat Kohli (Legendary batsman, highest IPL run-scorer)
- Faf du Plessis (C) (Consistent opener)
- Rajat Patidar (Emerging star)
- Glenn Maxwell (Explosive all-rounder)
Wicketkeepers:
- Dinesh Karthik (Finisher)
- Anuj Rawat (Backup keeper)
All-rounders:
- Cameron Green (Power-hitter + bowler)
- Will Jacks (Aggressive middle-order)
Bowlers:
- Mohammed Siraj (Lead pacer)
- Reece Topley (Left-arm fast)
- Karn Sharma (Spin)
- Alzarri Joseph (Death overs specialist)
Full Squad (2024):
| Player | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Faf du Plessis (C) | Batsman | South Africa |
| Virat Kohli | Batsman | India |
| Glenn Maxwell | All-rounder | Australia |
| Cameron Green | All-rounder | Australia |
| Rajat Patidar | Batsman | India |
| Dinesh Karthik | WK-Batsman | India |
| Anuj Rawat | WK-Batsman | India |
| Will Jacks | All-rounder | England |
| Mahipal Lomror | All-rounder | India |
| Suyash Prabhudessai | Batsman | India |
| Mohammed Siraj | Bowler | India |
| Reece Topley | Bowler | England |
| Alzarri Joseph | Bowler | West Indies |
| Karn Sharma | Bowler | India |
| Mayank Dagar | Bowler | India |
| Vijaykumar Vyshak | Bowler | India |
| Akash Deep | Bowler | India |
| Rajan Kumar | Bowler | India |
| Himanshu Sharma | Bowler | India |
| Swapnil Singh | All-rounder | India |
6. Why Hasn’t RCB Won an IPL Yet?
Despite having legends like Kohli, Gayle, and AB de Villiers, RCB struggles due to:
❌ Weak bowling in crunch matches
❌ Over-reliance on top-order batting
❌ Inconsistent middle-order performances
7. RCB’s Fanbase & Social Media Presence
- Instagram: 12M+ followers
- Twitter (X): 6M+ followers
- Facebook: 15M+ likes
The #RCBarmy is one of the most passionate fanbases in cricket.
8. Future Prospects for RCB in 2024
With a strong batting lineup (Kohli, Faf, Maxwell, Green) and improved bowling (Siraj, Topley, Joseph), RCB has a chance to finally win their first IPL title.
Key Factors for Success:
✅ Consistent bowling in death overs
✅ Better middle-order contributions
✅ Smart captaincy from Faf du Plessis
RCB’s IPL Journey: Year-by-Year Performance
Below is a table summarizing RCB’s performance in each IPL season:
| Season | Captain | Position | Win/Loss Record | Playoffs? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rahul Dravid | 7th | 4 Wins, 10 Losses | No |
| 2009 | Kevin Pietersen/Anil Kumble | 2nd | 9 Wins, 7 Losses | Runners-up |
| 2010 | Anil Kumble | 3rd | 7 Wins, 7 Losses | Semifinal |
| 2011 | Daniel Vettori | 2nd | 9 Wins, 5 Losses | Runners-up |
| 2012 | Daniel Vettori | 5th | 8 Wins, 7 Losses | No |
| 2013 | Virat Kohli | 5th | 9 Wins, 7 Losses | No |
| 2014 | Virat Kohli | 7th | 5 Wins, 9 Losses | No |
| 2015 | Virat Kohli | 3rd | 8 Wins, 6 Losses | Playoffs |
| 2016 | Virat Kohli | 2nd | 8 Wins, 6 Losses | Runners-up |
| 2017 | Virat Kohli | 8th | 3 Wins, 10 Losses | No |
| 2018 | Virat Kohli | 6th | 6 Wins, 8 Losses | No |
| 2019 | Virat Kohli | 8th | 5 Wins, 8 Losses | No |
| 2020 | Virat Kohli | 4th | 7 Wins, 7 Losses | Playoffs |
| 2021 | Virat Kohli | 3rd | 9 Wins, 6 Losses | Playoffs |
| 2022 | Faf du Plessis | 4th | 8 Wins, 6 Losses | Playoffs |
| 2023 | Faf du Plessis | 6th | 7 Wins, 7 Losses | No |
Key Takeaways from RCB’s Performance:
- Best Season: 2016 (Virat Kohli’s record-breaking 973 runs, but lost in finals).
- Worst Season: 2017 & 2019 (finished 8th).
- Playoff Appearances: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022.
- Finals Reached: 2009, 2011, 2016 (but never won).
RCB’s Iconic Players Over the Years
1. Virat Kohli – The Face of RCB
- Years Played: 2008–2023
- Role: Batsman
- Records:
- Most runs in IPL history (over 7,000 runs).
- Highest run-scorer in a single season (973 runs in 2016).
- Only player to represent a single franchise for 15+ seasons.
2. AB de Villiers – Mr. 360°
- Years Played: 2011–2021
- Role: Batsman/Wicketkeeper
- Records:
- Fastest 50 for RCB (in 17 balls).
- Over 4,500 runs for RCB at a strike rate of 158+.
3. Chris Gayle – The Universe Boss
- Years Played: 2011–2017
- Role: Batsman
- Records:
- Highest individual score in IPL history (175* in 2013).
- Fastest century in IPL (30 balls).
4. Yuzvendra Chahal – Leading Wicket-Taker
- Years Played: 2014–2021
- Role: Bowler
- Records:
- Most wickets for RCB (139 wickets).
- Only RCB bowler to take a 6-wicket haul.
5. Glenn Maxwell – The Big Show
- Years Played: 2021–Present
- Role: All-rounder
- Key Contributions:
- Match-winning performances in 2021 & 2022 playoffs.
RCB’s Memorable Matches & Records
1. Chris Gayle’s 175 (2013 vs PWI)*
- Score: 175* (66 balls, 13 fours, 17 sixes).
- Result: RCB scored 263/5 (highest IPL total at the time).
2. Virat Kohli’s 4 Centuries in 2016
- Kohli became the first player to score 4 centuries in a single IPL season.
3. AB de Villiers’ 129 (2015 vs GL)*
- One of the greatest IPL knocks, with a strike rate of 248.
4. RCB’s 49 All Out (2017 vs KKR)
- Lowest total in IPL history at the time.
Why Hasn’t RCB Won an IPL Title Yet?
Despite having some of the best players, RCB has struggled due to:
- Inconsistent Bowling Attack – Over-reliance on batting.
- Middle-Order Collapses – Frequent batting failures under pressure.
- Lack of Strong Finishers – Struggles in death overs.
RCB’s Fanbase & Social Media Presence
- Official Instagram: 12M+ followers.
- Twitter (X): 6M+ followers.
- Facebook: 15M+ likes.
RCB’s fanbase, known as the #RCBarmy, is one of the most passionate in cricket.
Future Prospects for RCB
With players like Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj, RCB has a strong core. The team needs:
✅ A stronger bowling unit.
✅ Better middle-order stability.
✅ Consistent performances in knockout matches.
Conclusion
RCB’s journey in the IPL has been a roller-coaster of emotions. While they haven’t lifted the trophy yet, their never-give-up attitude and star power keep fans hopeful every season. With the right balance, RCB can break the jinx and finally win their maiden IPL title.
