April 8, 2025: Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu has praised Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for their impressive start to the IPL 2025 season. After RCB secured a massive win over Mumbai Indians (MI), Rayudu was full of admiration for the franchise, highlighting their consistent brand of cricket. He went as far as to say that this could very well be RCB’s year to win the IPL.
RCB has been rewriting narratives in IPL 2025, with standout victories against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on their home turf. They followed it up with an extraordinary win over MI at Wankhede Stadium, a venue where they had not triumphed in the past decade. This victory marked RCB’s third win in four matches, showcasing their strong start to the season.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, Rayudu noted that RCB is one of the few teams in the tournament with a settled squad, a key reason for their success so far. He emphasized how, unlike other teams still searching for the right combinations, RCB has found their groove early in the season. “If you see the teams that are not doing well in the IPL, they are still trying their combinations. But RCB is one team, along with Delhi [Capitals (DC)] and Punjab [Kings (PBKS)] to some extent, who have got their combinations well set for the season,” Rayudu said.
Rayudu further acknowledged RCB’s attacking and fearless brand of cricket, which has often led to them being labeled as potential champions, only to fall short in previous seasons due to internal shortcomings. He noted that while fans often joke about RCB’s inability to clinch the title, it’s mainly because they possess the squad that can go all the way but are let down by occasional lapses.
“I have always enjoyed their cricket. We have fun at their expense, only because nobody talks about DC or Punjab. Only because RCB always has a team that can win the IPL. But somehow, they come short because of their own shortcomings. Nobody else defeats them, it’s them,” Rayudu said.
However, Rayudu is optimistic this year, especially with Rajat Patidar leading the team. “But this year, with Rajat Patidar as captain, ee sala cup RCB de (this year, the cup is RCB’s),” Rayudu concluded, suggesting that the team’s leadership and performance could finally bring them their first IPL title. RCB’s recent performances and the growing support around Patidar as captain have given fans hope that this could be their breakthrough season.