Vijay Mallya's Vision for RCB: Four Indian Stars He Wants to See
Vijay Mallya's Aspirations for RCB
Vijay Mallya, the former owner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, recently engaged in a discussion with Indian YouTuber Raj Shamani on his podcast, Figuring Out With Raj Shamani. During the conversation, Mallya shared his hopes of including four Indian cricketers in the RCB lineup alongside Virat Kohli. His passion for the team remains strong, and he expressed a desire to see Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and KL Rahul join the squad. Mallya confidently stated that with these players, he would have secured the trophy.
"If dreams could come true, I would want Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul on my team. With these four, I wouldn't need anyone else and would definitely win the trophy," Mallya remarked on the podcast.
Mallya established the RCB franchise in 2008, and after 18 years, he finally witnessed his team clinch the IPL trophy for the first time. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru triumphed over Punjab Kings in a nail-biting final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, winning by just 6 runs.
Rishabh Pant's Performance
Rishabh Pant faced challenges during the 2025 IPL season. Despite being acquired for a record transfer fee, he struggled to meet expectations, scoring only 19 runs in 4 matches with an average of 4.75 and a strike rate below 60. His only notable performance came in the last match against RCB, where he scored a remarkable century.
KL Rahul's Contribution
KL Rahul emerged as the top run-scorer for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, amassing 539 runs across 13 matches. While his batting statistics were commendable, his strike rate of 136.13 raised concerns regarding its suitability for T20 format. This, coupled with discussions about his leadership, led to uncertainty about his future with the team, which ultimately decided not to retain him for the next season.
Jasprit Bumrah's Impact
Jasprit Bumrah had a solid season, taking 18 wickets in 14 matches. His ability to bowl effectively while maintaining a low economy rate proved invaluable for the Mumbai Indians. One memorable moment was when Shreyas Iyer managed to hit a long shot past Bumrah's yorker, showcasing the challenge of facing him.
Suryakumar Yadav's Record-Breaking Season
Suryakumar Yadav had an outstanding season, scoring 717 runs and breaking the record for the most runs by a non-opener in a single IPL season, previously held by AB de Villiers. His exceptional performance earned him the title of MVP for the season.