Based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, also known as RCB (formerly Royal Challengers Bangalore), is one of the most popular franchises in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). RCB, which plays its home games at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, was founded in 2008 by United Spirits, a Diageo Group company.

In March 2026, RCB ownership changed hands, as it was sold to a consortium comprising the Aditya Birla Group, The Times Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone in a record $1.78 billion (approx. INR 16,660 crore) deal. This 100% all-cash buyout saw the franchise transition away from Diageo, which had owned the team since its inception.

RCB has been coached by Ray Jennings, Daniel Vettori, Gary Kirsten, and Simon Katich in the past. At present, the former Zimbabwe legend Andy Flower is the head coach of the franchise, with former India veteran Dinesh Karthik as mentor and batting coach.

The legendary Indian batter, Virat Kohli, has been the undisputed face of the franchise since the inaugural season in 2008. He is one of the very few players in IPL history to represent a single franchise throughout his career.

In IPL 2016, the then-captain Virat Kohli and the franchise had a year to remember. The maestro batter came close to reaching the milestone of 1,000 runs, registering four centuries. Meanwhile, RCB reached the final against all odds after losing five of their first seven games but lost to eventual winners SRH.

The season remains a bittersweet memory for RCB fans. The franchise pulled off one of the most remarkable resurgences in the history of the league. Having won only 2 games in their first 7 matches, they reached the final. The team came within a sniff of its first IPL title, but the trophy remained elusive.  

Thus, despite his immaculate efforts, under Kohli’s leadership the ‘Red and Gold’ army never won a title. In the finals of 2009 and 2016, they lost to Deccan Chargers (DC) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) respectively, and in 2011, they suffered a defeat at the hands of Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Also, RCB once held the record for both the highest and the lowest totals in the IPL (263/5 and 49 all out, respectively).

Notably, after an 18-year wait, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their maiden IPL title in 2025 under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, who was famously brought into the squad during the 2022 IPL season as a replacement for the injured Luvnith Sisodia.

In 2026, Rajat Patidar’s men became the only third team to defend their title, winning the IPL 2026. They achieved the feat by defeating a consistent Gujarat Titans in the final at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.