After 18 long seasons of the Indian Premier League, RCB has finally done it. They've won the IPL, Ei Sala Cup NamDe, at last. And watching Virat Kohli all teary-eyed in the final over, it was an emotional moment for many of us. I might add the fact that even though I am not a huge supporter of Royal Challengers Bangalore Franchise I also felt their passion.
But here's the thing, RCB's been Winning long before this trophy, not as a team but as a brand. Early on, they picked up Vijay Mallya's flamboyance and turned themselves into a lifestyle brand, bold and always in the spotlight. While most franchises are visible for just two months a year, RCB became a year-round phenomenon.
Like RCB Insider with Danish Seth, a funny behind-the-scenes series that made stars like Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers feel real and relatable. Then their Puma collaboration turned jerseys into merchandise. They even opened the RCB Bar and Cafe in Bangalore, a space for fans to connect beyond match days.
And guess what? In 2023, they launched the RCB Innovation Lab to grow India's sports tech ecosystem. Maybe that's why they now rank among the top five global sports teams on Instagram, right behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.