Captain: Rajat Patidar
Coach: Andy Flower
Home ground: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
IPL titles: 0
Owners: Diageo India Private Limited
Coach: Andy Flower
Home ground: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
IPL titles: 0
Owners: Diageo India Private Limited
High on the popularity charts but with nothing to show for it in their trophy cabinet, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) have been runners-up three times. Bought for Rs 464 crore (about US$111.6 million), they were the second-most-expensive franchise in 2008. The team ownership changed hands from Vijay Mallya, chairman of United Breweries Limited, to Diageo India in 2015.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru history
The team was branded a Test XI in 2008, when they went big on picking players with experience in the hope that they would adjust quickly to T20 too, but RCB managed to only cobble together four wins. The next three seasons, however, they turned things around with two runners-up finishes.
Over the years, the franchise spent big on some players at the auction – Yuvraj Singh (2014), Dinesh Karthik (2015) and Chris Morris (2020) – but they have seldom backed these big buys for a second season if they didn’t impress first time around. However, despite their fluctuating fortunes, the franchise continued to keep faith in Virat Kohli as captain, before he stepped down after the 2021 season. In 2023, his first season in charge, Faf du Plessis led RCB to a fourth-place finish, and he reprised the feat the following year.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru highs
Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble helped RCB rise from near rock bottom in 2008 to runners-up in 2009. Chris Gayle orchestrated a magic run in 2011, almost single-handedly taking them to the final. Similarly, in 2016, Kohli transformed what was shaping up to be a mid-table finish into a sensational late dash to the final by scoring a record number of runs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru lows
In 2008, RCB’s squad, heavy on Test veterans, found themselves chasing 223 in their first IPL game, and sent in Dravid and Wasim Jaffer, two doyens of red-ball cricket, to open. Midway through that season, their CEO, Charu Sharma, was sacked after a string of failures, director Martin Crowe resigned, and the franchise installed a new set-up. After 2016, they changed coaches every season till Mike Hesson was appointed ahead of the 2020 edition.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru season by season
2024 – fourth
M15 W7 W% 46.7
In a season of wildly contrasting halves, RCB campaign’s began disastrously, with just one win in their first eight games. They turned it around at the halfway point of the tournament, emphatically winning their next six matches, which took them from the bottom of the table to the playoffs, where they lost narrowly against Rajasthan Royals. Virat Kohli was the top-scorer of the tournament with 741 runs.
M15 W7 W% 46.7
In a season of wildly contrasting halves, RCB campaign’s began disastrously, with just one win in their first eight games. They turned it around at the halfway point of the tournament, emphatically winning their next six matches, which took them from the bottom of the table to the playoffs, where they lost narrowly against Rajasthan Royals. Virat Kohli was the top-scorer of the tournament with 741 runs.
2023 – sixth
M14 W7 W% 50
A misfiring middle order and lack of bowling support for Mohammed Siraj meant RCB missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. They won more away than at home, with narrow defeats to CSK and LSG at the Chinnaswamy proving to be the difference. Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis made 1369 runs between them, and with Glenn Maxwell, they contributed 70% of the team’s runs in 2023.
M14 W7 W% 50
A misfiring middle order and lack of bowling support for Mohammed Siraj meant RCB missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. They won more away than at home, with narrow defeats to CSK and LSG at the Chinnaswamy proving to be the difference. Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis made 1369 runs between them, and with Glenn Maxwell, they contributed 70% of the team’s runs in 2023.
2022 – fourth
M16 W9 W% 56.2
After five wins in seven games they lost steam and by the end were in the familiar territory of having to win all their games and hope for the stars to align. They squeezed into the playoffs as the fourth qualifying side and beat Lucknow Super Giants to get past the Eliminator before being knocked out by Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2.
M16 W9 W% 56.2
After five wins in seven games they lost steam and by the end were in the familiar territory of having to win all their games and hope for the stars to align. They squeezed into the playoffs as the fourth qualifying side and beat Lucknow Super Giants to get past the Eliminator before being knocked out by Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2.
2021 – third
M15 W9 W% 60
RCB were within one hit of securing a top-two finish, but collapsed against Sunrisers Hyderabad to finish third, going into the Eliminator, where they came up against a resurgent KKR, who had won six of seven games to make it to the top four. RCB lost a tight game and Kohli bowed out of the side’s captaincy without a title under his belt.
M15 W9 W% 60
RCB were within one hit of securing a top-two finish, but collapsed against Sunrisers Hyderabad to finish third, going into the Eliminator, where they came up against a resurgent KKR, who had won six of seven games to make it to the top four. RCB lost a tight game and Kohli bowed out of the side’s captaincy without a title under his belt.
2020 – fourth
M15 W7 W% 50
With seven wins in ten games, a top-two finish loomed, but they lost the next four games and only managed to get into the playoffs on net run rate. In the Eliminator, they ran into their bogey team – Sunrisers Hyderabad – and fell short. They ended the tournament with five losses on the trot.
M15 W7 W% 50
With seven wins in ten games, a top-two finish loomed, but they lost the next four games and only managed to get into the playoffs on net run rate. In the Eliminator, they ran into their bogey team – Sunrisers Hyderabad – and fell short. They ended the tournament with five losses on the trot.
2019 – eighth
M14 W5 W% 35.7
Kohli took on most of the batting load again, with little support from the other batters. Death bowling remained a problem, the spinners struggled, and it left RCB with too much to do in the second half of the competition. Kohli was vocal about his frustration and helplessness and it led to a full overhaul of the coaching staff ahead of the 2020 season.
M14 W5 W% 35.7
Kohli took on most of the batting load again, with little support from the other batters. Death bowling remained a problem, the spinners struggled, and it left RCB with too much to do in the second half of the competition. Kohli was vocal about his frustration and helplessness and it led to a full overhaul of the coaching staff ahead of the 2020 season.
2018 – sixth
M14 W6 W% 42.85
No Gayle, so Kohli and de Villiers shouldered the run-making responsibility and scored 530 and 480 respectively. The next best among the middle-order batters was Mandeep Singh, with 252 runs. RCB’s inability to zero in on an ideal XI early cost them. They had a small chance of qualifying in their final game, against Rajasthan Royals, but crumbled.
M14 W6 W% 42.85
No Gayle, so Kohli and de Villiers shouldered the run-making responsibility and scored 530 and 480 respectively. The next best among the middle-order batters was Mandeep Singh, with 252 runs. RCB’s inability to zero in on an ideal XI early cost them. They had a small chance of qualifying in their final game, against Rajasthan Royals, but crumbled.
2017 – eighth
M13 W3 W% 23
Miserable batting performances defined this dismal year. Kohli, Gayle and de Villiers had injury concerns, and the latter two made just 416 runs between them at an average of under 25. There was simply too much pressure on the middle order, who succumbed. The end result was three wins in 13 games; the nadir was a 49 all-out against Kolkata Knight Riders.
M13 W3 W% 23
Miserable batting performances defined this dismal year. Kohli, Gayle and de Villiers had injury concerns, and the latter two made just 416 runs between them at an average of under 25. There was simply too much pressure on the middle order, who succumbed. The end result was three wins in 13 games; the nadir was a 49 all-out against Kolkata Knight Riders.
2016 – runners-up
M16 W9 W% 56.25
Kohli made a little short of 1000 runs in the season, single-handedly turning the team’s fortunes around. After racking up five losses in their first seven games, they got all the way to the final, where they came up short against SRH in a big chase: Gayle and Kohli laid a good platform, but the middle order unravelled in the face of intense pressure.
M16 W9 W% 56.25
Kohli made a little short of 1000 runs in the season, single-handedly turning the team’s fortunes around. After racking up five losses in their first seven games, they got all the way to the final, where they came up short against SRH in a big chase: Gayle and Kohli laid a good platform, but the middle order unravelled in the face of intense pressure.
2015 – third
M16 W8 W% 50
Dinesh Karthik was the big-ticket name this season, but he made only 141 runs in 11 innings and was promptly released. The bowling impressed, with good performances from Chahal, Starc, Harshal Patel and S Aravind. The batting continued to revolve around Gayle, Kohli and de Villiers, and they couldn’t pull off a win on a square turner in the qualifier against CSK.
M16 W8 W% 50
Dinesh Karthik was the big-ticket name this season, but he made only 141 runs in 11 innings and was promptly released. The bowling impressed, with good performances from Chahal, Starc, Harshal Patel and S Aravind. The batting continued to revolve around Gayle, Kohli and de Villiers, and they couldn’t pull off a win on a square turner in the qualifier against CSK.
2014 – seventh
M14 W5 W% 35.7
Ray Jennings left as head coach and Vettori took his place. In the auction, RCB broke the bank for Yuvraj Singh, but he failed to deliver. Kohli had an ordinary season, Gayle worse, and RCB struggled, with just five wins. Still, Mitchell Starc’s arrival was something of a silver lining, and Yuzvendra Chahal emerged as a breakthrough star.
M14 W5 W% 35.7
Ray Jennings left as head coach and Vettori took his place. In the auction, RCB broke the bank for Yuvraj Singh, but he failed to deliver. Kohli had an ordinary season, Gayle worse, and RCB struggled, with just five wins. Still, Mitchell Starc’s arrival was something of a silver lining, and Yuzvendra Chahal emerged as a breakthrough star.
2013 – fifth
M16 W9 W% 56.2
Another 700-plus-runs year for Gayle, including 175 not out against Pune Warriors, the highest individual score in T20 cricket. The season also marked a shift in leadership, with Kohli taking over during the season from Vettori, but the title continued to elude Royal Challengers.
M16 W9 W% 56.2
Another 700-plus-runs year for Gayle, including 175 not out against Pune Warriors, the highest individual score in T20 cricket. The season also marked a shift in leadership, with Kohli taking over during the season from Vettori, but the title continued to elude Royal Challengers.
2012 – fifth
M16 W8 W% 50
A topsy-turvy season came down to RCB needing a win in their final league game against the Deccan Chargers to make the playoffs, but they imploded in a low-scoring chase, taken apart by former RCB man Dale Steyn, who took 3 for 8. Gayle breached the 700-run mark this season and remained their best performer.
M16 W8 W% 50
A topsy-turvy season came down to RCB needing a win in their final league game against the Deccan Chargers to make the playoffs, but they imploded in a low-scoring chase, taken apart by former RCB man Dale Steyn, who took 3 for 8. Gayle breached the 700-run mark this season and remained their best performer.
2011 – runners-up
M16 W10 W% 62.5
Daniel Vettori took charge as captain but RCB started poorly again, with the batting failing to click. Then Gayle came into the side as a replacement for Dirk Nannes and made a bruising century against Kolkata Knight Riders, the franchise that released him. The top run-maker that year, he took RCB to the final, where they were blown away by Chennai Super Kings.
M16 W10 W% 62.5
Daniel Vettori took charge as captain but RCB started poorly again, with the batting failing to click. Then Gayle came into the side as a replacement for Dirk Nannes and made a bruising century against Kolkata Knight Riders, the franchise that released him. The top run-maker that year, he took RCB to the final, where they were blown away by Chennai Super Kings.
2010 – third
M16 W8 W% 50
RCB got to the semi-finals but then faltered against Mumbai Indians in a tall chase – though they then dismantled Deccan Chargers, the side they lost to in the 2009 final, in a third-place playoff. Robin Uthappa broke through with a run of consistent scores this season, but it proved to be his last year with the franchise.
M16 W8 W% 50
RCB got to the semi-finals but then faltered against Mumbai Indians in a tall chase – though they then dismantled Deccan Chargers, the side they lost to in the 2009 final, in a third-place playoff. Robin Uthappa broke through with a run of consistent scores this season, but it proved to be his last year with the franchise.
2009 – runners-up
M16 W9 W% 56.25
New captain Kevin Pietersen did little to change the notion of RCB being slow starters. By the time Kumble took over as captain, RCB had lost four games out of six, but he inspired a terrific turnaround, and the team made it to the final. Manish Pandey emerged as a star, scoring the first century by an Indian in the IPL.
M16 W9 W% 56.25
New captain Kevin Pietersen did little to change the notion of RCB being slow starters. By the time Kumble took over as captain, RCB had lost four games out of six, but he inspired a terrific turnaround, and the team made it to the final. Manish Pandey emerged as a star, scoring the first century by an Indian in the IPL.
2008 – seventh
M14 W4 W% 28.57
The team lacked depth, and the captain, Dravid, seemed under pressure all the time. Tactically they had a strong board but they lacked the personnel to challenge tall targets or set up scores. They ended a poor seventh, with just four wins in 14 games.
M14 W4 W% 28.57
The team lacked depth, and the captain, Dravid, seemed under pressure all the time. Tactically they had a strong board but they lacked the personnel to challenge tall targets or set up scores. They ended a poor seventh, with just four wins in 14 games.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru key players
Virat Kohli
RCB jumped at the opportunity when Delhi passed up the chance to acquire the 2008 Under-19 World Cup-winning captain. Sixteen years on, Kohli remains the only player to have played for only one IPL franchise. In 2016 he scored a record 973 runs to inspire RCB’s run to the final. In 2023, he was one of four players to make six or more fifties, and the following year he topped the run-scorers’ table again, chalking up over 8400 runs in all for the side.
RCB jumped at the opportunity when Delhi passed up the chance to acquire the 2008 Under-19 World Cup-winning captain. Sixteen years on, Kohli remains the only player to have played for only one IPL franchise. In 2016 he scored a record 973 runs to inspire RCB’s run to the final. In 2023, he was one of four players to make six or more fifties, and the following year he topped the run-scorers’ table again, chalking up over 8400 runs in all for the side.
AB de Villiers
AB joined the franchise in 2011 and became an integral part of the leadership group. He kept wicket until 2013, after which back injuries made him give up the gloves. Also He often had to man an inexperienced middle order along with Kohli. When Aaron Finch was introduced into the mix, de Villiers was freed up to play the role of a finisher. He finished with 4522 runs for RCB over a decade.
AB joined the franchise in 2011 and became an integral part of the leadership group. He kept wicket until 2013, after which back injuries made him give up the gloves. Also He often had to man an inexperienced middle order along with Kohli. When Aaron Finch was introduced into the mix, de Villiers was freed up to play the role of a finisher. He finished with 4522 runs for RCB over a decade.
Chris Gayle
Gayle’s rise in the world of T20 leagues began in the 2011 IPL, when he joined RCB as a replacement player. He was the top run scorer in the league that year and the next. Back injuries affected his performances towards the latter part of his stint, and he was released at the end of the 2017 season – by when he had scored 3420 runs for them at a strike rate of just under 155.
Gayle’s rise in the world of T20 leagues began in the 2011 IPL, when he joined RCB as a replacement player. He was the top run scorer in the league that year and the next. Back injuries affected his performances towards the latter part of his stint, and he was released at the end of the 2017 season – by when he had scored 3420 runs for them at a strike rate of just under 155.
Harshal Patel
Harshal first played in the IPL for RCB in 2012. But it wasn’t until 2021 that he truly made a mark, with a record-equalling 32 wickets in the season, which got him an India call-up at the age of 31. The following season he took 19, finishing among the top ten in the wickets table. He did slightly less well in 2023, with 14 wickets from as many games.
Harshal first played in the IPL for RCB in 2012. But it wasn’t until 2021 that he truly made a mark, with a record-equalling 32 wickets in the season, which got him an India call-up at the age of 31. The following season he took 19, finishing among the top ten in the wickets table. He did slightly less well in 2023, with 14 wickets from as many games.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Having spent three years largely on the fringes at Mumbai Indians, Chahal was bought for Rs 10 lakh (about $16,000) in 2014 and went on to become RCB’s leading wicket-taker. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament in 2016.
Having spent three years largely on the fringes at Mumbai Indians, Chahal was bought for Rs 10 lakh (about $16,000) in 2014 and went on to become RCB’s leading wicket-taker. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament in 2016.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad
- Rajat Patidar
- Abhinandan Singh
- Jacob Bethell
- Manoj Bhandage
- Swastik Chikara
- Tim David
- Josh Hazlewood
- Virat Kohli
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Liam Livingstone
- Mohit Rathee
- Lungi Ngidi
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Krunal Pandya
- Rasikh Salam
- Phil Salt
- Jitesh Sharma
- Romario Shepherd
- Suyash Sharma
- Swapnil Singh
- Nuwan Thushara
- Yash Dayal
Highest totals For Indian Premier League – Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Highest totals