As the curtains fell on the IPL 2025 final, a familiar silence settled over the Royal Challengers Bengaluru fanbase. It wasn’t the silence of disbelief — we’ve been here before. It was the silence of hearts trying to process another almost, another end without a trophy, another year of the same chant echoing hollow in our chests:
“Ee sala cup namde?”
Maybe not yet. Maybe not again.
But this year felt different. And that’s what made it hurt more.
The Season That Sparked Hope
RCB’s 2025 campaign wasn’t flawless but it was full of fire. Virat Kohli found his rhythm, not just in runs, but in presence. Every boundary, every fist pump, every “come on!” was a signal — the King was back.
Faf du Plessis, calm and composed, led a team that finally seemed balanced. Cameron Green’s aggressive middle-over bursts, Dinesh Karthik’s fairytale finishers, and Mohammed Siraj’s pace with purpose made the side feel like contenders, not just crowd favorites.
The playoffs were electric. Nail-biters, comebacks, and that sense of momentum — RCB wasn’t just reaching the final. They were charging into it.
The Final: A Familiar Ache
Come the final day, the energy was unmistakable. Social media painted timelines red. Chinnaswamy echoed in spirit, even if the final was held elsewhere. Fans everywhere braced themselves, half in hope, half in fear.
The team put up a fight. The batting was steady, not explosive. A total that looked decent, not unbeatable. And for the first few overs of the second innings, it felt like RCB might just pull it off.
But then — the unraveling. A missed catch here, a mistimed over there. Momentum shifted, slowly at first, then all at once.
By the 18th over, it was clear. The game had slipped. Not spectacularly, not tragically — but in that slow, suffocating way that RCB fans know too well.
Just like in 2016.
A Legacy of Almosts
RCB is a team of moments. Iconic ones.
- Chris Gayle’s 175* — is the stuff of legends.
- AB de Villiers’ 2016 playoff knock — pure cinematic drama.
- Virat Kohli’s 973-run season — a record untouched.
And yet, no silverware.
But that’s what makes this franchise so special. They may not always win, but they always give you something to believe in. RCB doesn’t just play cricket. RCB lives in your chest. They make you scream at your screen, cry on your couch, punch the air in joy — and sometimes, sit in stunned silence at 11:30 pm wondering how it slipped again.
The Fans: Cricket’s Most Loyal Tribe
Let’s be honest — it’s easy to support a winning team. But it takes heart, madness, and unwavering love to stand by one that hasn’t won, year after year.
And RCB fans do it with style.
The memes, the chants, the heartbreak jokes — it’s all part of the culture now. This is not a fanbase. It’s a movement. Red jerseys worn like armor, tweets typed like war cries.
We mock ourselves before anyone else can. But we also love harder than most ever will.
So, will RCB ever win an IPL trophy?
We don’t know. Maybe next year. Maybe in three.
But one thing is certain: we’ll keep showing up.
Because every heartbreak is still a story worth telling. Every loss adds fuel to the next fight. Every time we say “Ee sala cup name”, we don’t just predict — we manifest.
This year was a reminder: the dream is still alive.
Just… not yet.
But we’ll be back. Louder, prouder, and always red.