Cricket opinion: Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s top five IPL moments
With the 2026 Indian Premier League starting soon, all eyes will be on the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Sports News Blitz writer Dejan Johal takes a trip down memory lane, as he looks at RCB’s top five moments in the history of the IPL
Against all odds, De Villiers delivers again
In what has gone down as one of the most emotionally-driven nights in the franchise’s history, the first entrant on this list goes back to May 24, 2016.
After staring down the barrel of elimination, RCB made an unlikely comeback to qualify for qualifier one of the 2016 IPL.
They are up against the Gujarat Lions, who finished top, at RCB’s home ground in Bengaluru.
It was a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium that saw the Lions make 158 runs in their first innings, on the back of Dwayne Smith’s 73.
However, the stadium was silenced as RCB lost half their wickets for only 29 runs, with big names like Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle being dismissed.
With the Lions looking now the clear favourites to win, step forward RCB’s superman.
AB de Villiers played arguably his best IPL knock scoring 79 runs off 47 deliveries, with support from others to drag them to victory on their home ground.
This superhuman effort from one of the all-time greats to drag the franchise to the IPL final is the first entrant on this list.
Chris Gayle’s love affair with RCB
Our second moment on this list takes us back to mid-way through the 2011 IPL season, when one of the most celebrated partnerships formed.
Chris Gayle had spent three difficult seasons previously with Kolkata Knight Riders, struggling to make an impact which led to him not getting picked by anyone in the 2011 IPL auction.
The Universe Boss, sitting in a bar in Jamaica, receives a call telling him that he has been selected as a replacement player for a fast-bowler.
Gayle flies out to Bangalore to play a game instantly and takes his spot in RCB’s team.
And guess what happens?
Gayle has a 600-run season, which helps RCB qualify for the knockouts.
He then scores back-to-back 700-run seasons and becomes an RCB legend.
The Universe Boss had to be on this list, but incredibly his glittering RCB legacy all started in a bar in Jamaica.
RCB vs CSK - 2024
Number three on our list, goes back to May 18, 2024.
RCB had a terrible start to the season, losing the majority of their early matches in the League phase.
However, despite all odds they turned it around and now have a chance of qualifying for the knockouts after winning five in a row.
They have to face the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at a packed out Chinnaswamy, however due to net-run-rate calculations they have to win the match by at least 18 runs.
Batting first, RCB scored 218 runs thanks to great contributions from Faf Du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell, however CSK only needed 200 runs to qualify.
Despite losing a wicket of the first ball, CSK stayed around the run rate and got it to 17 runs in the last over to qualify.
Yash Dayal concedes a six off the first ball from MS Dhoni, but manages to hold his nerve and defend the target to help RCB qualify and win six games in a row.
From where they were at the beginning of the season, to then qualify after an incredible qualifying match means this victory has to be on this list.
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IPL 2016 - King Kohli’s fantasy season
The final two are the most obvious and predictable, but they are by far the most incredible moments in this franchise’s history.
IPL 2016 may have proven to be heartbreaking for RCB after losing in the final, however, IPL 2016 will always be associated with one man, Virat Kohli.
RCB’s captain and greatest ever player scored 973 runs, the most in a single season, along with four 100s and seven 50s.
He averaged over 80 and had a strike rate over 150, and showed consistency that has never been seen in any edition of the IPL.
Yes, they may have lost in the final, however, Kohli’s consistency and quality in 2016 has never been replicated and may never will.
IPL Champions - 2025
And of course, number one had to be the most recent edition of the IPL.
After 18 years of heartbreak, pain and suffering, RCB’s victory in the 2025 IPL has to take the number one position.
Throughout the season, they relied on certain performances from an array of players to win this tournament.
Whether it was Kohli’s 657 runs, or Josh Hazelwood’s quality with the ball, or everyone else who contributed massively throughout.
The final proved to be tough against the Punjab Kings, with certain players struggling.
But in the end, RCB managed to win the final and tournament for the fans that have stuck with them through all the pain over the years.
And rightfully, the IPL victory in 2025 takes the number one spot on the list.
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