Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are just few steps away from lifting their first-ever IPL title. RCB have been force to reckon with in the IPL 2025 season, and are now standing just two win away from ending their 17-year-long drought of winning IPL title. RCB's most significant performance came in 2016, when, propelled by Virat Kohli's extraordinary 973 runs, the Bengaluru-based franchise made it to the final, only to narrowly lose by eight runs to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). While they have experienced the disappointment of finishing at the bottom of the table, they have also made multiple playoff appearances, yet the coveted trophy has consistently eluded them.
However, Australia's legendary all-rounder Shane Watson firmly believe that year 2025 is RCB's and they will end up winning the title this season. He not only predicts RCB's title triumph for the first time in 18 years but also boldly forecasts Virat Kohli to be named the Player of the Match in the final, placing his full confidence in his former franchise.
"The winner of IPL 2025, and I’ve been thinking long and hard about it, is RCB. And the Man of the Match for me is Virat Kohli, the great man. And here's the reason why. I just get a feeling that this is the time for RCB. They have had a few blips in the back end of the tournament, but with Josh Hazlewood coming back for the Playoffs, I get a feeling this is the year," Watson wrote on X.
Last year, the RCB women's team brought home a trophy by winning the Women's Premier League, and while the men's team fell short in the Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals, this season has been one of their best ever for several compelling reasons. Firstly, Virat Kohli has once again been a dominant force in batting, accumulating 602 runs, including eight half-centuries. Secondly, RCB has achieved an unprecedented feat by winning all their away matches this season, becoming the first team ever to do so. Lastly, the return of Josh Hazlewood significantly strengthens their bowling attack, making them an even more formidable unit. Given these factors, Watson is confident there's no way RCB won't win the IPL this year.
"With everything that's happened with Virat Kohli, announcing his retirement from Test cricket – amazing Test career that he had – I just think things are coming back up together. They are going to have to because Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians are going to be so hard to beat. I just feel MI are going to be the team RCB are going to have to play incredibly well against. They haven't got any weaknesses at all. Still, I think it’s going to be RCB's time. No. 18… we all know what that means. I think Kohli is going to be the man to finally get RCB to win their first IPL trophy," Watson concluded.