The Rise of Royal Challengers Bengaluru
After 18 years of waiting, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally claimed their first IPL title in 2025 by defeating Punjab Kings in the finals. The emotional moment was captured as Virat Kohli was seen in tears, but the question on everyone’s mind was whether the team could repeat their success. Before this, only Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians had managed to win back-to-back titles. RCB proved that they could do it again by beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets to secure their second consecutive title. It seemed almost effortless for the Bengaluru-based side as they walked to victory.
Rajat Patidar looked thrilled as he and his players gathered around the podium with the trophy. Amidst the celebration, four players played a crucial role in the team’s rise to the top. Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, batter Devdutt Padikkal, young pace sensation Rasikh Salam Dar, and veteran all-rounder Krunal Pandya were instrumental in the team’s success.
Rasikh Salam Dar – A Rising Star
In 2019, a young seamer from Jammu and Kashmir made his league debut for Mumbai, playing just one game. This was followed by a move to the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022, where he played two games and went wicketless, similar to his performance with MI. Moving to Delhi Capitals saw Rasikh Salam Dar play eight games and take nine wickets.
His move to RCB didn’t start well, as he played two games last season and took just one wicket. However, this season, the right-arm pacer picked up 19 wickets with an economy rate of 9.45 runs per over. He delivered a crucial three-wicket performance in the finals, breaking the back of the Gujarat Titans’ batting.
Devdutt Padikkal – A Key Batsman
The left-handed batter started his IPL career with his hometown franchise, playing 29 games and scoring 884 runs with one century and six fifties. Devdutt Padikkal then moved to Rajasthan and Lucknow, managing just 35 games and scoring 675 runs with three fifties. During his time with Lucknow Super Giants, he scored a mere 38 runs from seven games, with a best of 13 runs.
However, his return home last season transformed him into a key member of the team. He scored 711 runs from 26 games with five fifties. His aggressive approach has complemented the dangerous opening batters well this season.
Krunal Pandya – A Veteran All-Rounder
Unlike his brother Hardik, the 35-year-old Krunal Pandya didn’t have a great time after leaving the Mumbai Indians at the end of the 2021 season. He had won three IPL titles with MI during his six-year stint with the Men in Blue and Gold. After being released, the all-rounder moved to Lucknow and played 43 games, picking up 25 wickets and scoring 504 runs with the bat.
The move to Chinnaswamy Stadium gave him a new lease of life. With the bat, Pandya has scored 335 runs from 31 games with two fifties. His first fifty came in his debut season, but he has already scored two successive fifties. Even with the ball, the veteran star has found himself once more, taking 31 wickets.
Not just his impact with the bat and ball, it is the variations that the senior Pandya has brought to the table that have left batters flummoxed. The bowler has added a deadly bouncer that has made the batter’s life miserable and, on many occasions, left the team owners shocked.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – A Veteran Pacer
In 2009, a young pacer from Uttar Pradesh made his way to the IPL but didn’t manage to make his debut. It wasn’t until 2011 that Bhuvneshwar Kumar got to make his league debut for Pune Warriors India, where he played three seasons and took 24 wickets. Moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad paid rich dividends as the seamer found a permanent home.
In his 11 years with the Hyderabad side, Kumar picked 157 wickets and played a key role in their sole title win in 2016. SRH incidentally beat RCB in the finals, with Bhuvi bowling four overs for 25 runs without taking a wicket. Veteran seamer managed to pick just 11 wickets during the 2024 season, where the Men in Orange reached the finals and lost.
Kavya Maran and her side decided to release the fast bowler, who then moved across the border to Karnataka and became a huge figure. In the last two seasons, the man from Meerut has managed to claim 45 wickets from mere 30 games, with 28 scalps coming this season.
Smart Management and Team Support
All four of the aforementioned players were either released, thinking they had passed their prime, or were released due to their bad performances. IPL is known to be driven by data and records; it was Dinesh Karthik who wanted his former India teammate back at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Karthik called the fast bowler the best T20 bowler in India after Jasprit Bumrah while speaking to Mo Bobat, the director of cricket, and coach Andy Flower.
One team’s baggage became another team’s charm, and the ignored pacer is a perfect embodiment of that. Each and every player seems to have his role defined, but it is these four players that have done the most this season and perhaps have gone under the radar. With strong management and team support, the Royal Challengers could very well create their own dynasty, like how CSK and MI had in the years gone by.
