Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has thrown his weight behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to lift their maiden IPL trophy in 2025, ending an 18-year title drought. Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar praised RCB’s consistency and all-round strength, especially in away games, while expressing doubts about the Mumbai Indians’ recent surge.
RCB’s Road Dominance in IPL 2025
RCB currently sit second on the IPL 2025 points table, having won 7 of their 10 matches, all away from home. This impressive run has been key to their strong playoff contention. However, Gavaskar noted a possible concern—RCB’s home form, as three of their remaining four league matches will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where they’ve been less effective.
“RCB have batted well and fielded superbly too. They look like the most balanced team,” Gavaskar said.
A Team Effort, Not Just Kohli
What makes RCB a top contender this year, according to Gavaskar, is their shift from individual brilliance to team performance. No longer solely reliant on Virat Kohli, the team has seen contributions from Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Devdutt Padikkal, and Josh Hazlewood, strengthening both their batting and bowling departments.
MI’s Late Surge Faces Tough Tests
While Mumbai Indians have shown signs of resurgence in the second half of the season, Gavaskar warned that their toughest tests are still to come.
“They’ve only just started their surge. The real test will be how they perform against the top teams in their next three games,” he remarked.
Next Up: CSK vs RCB
RCB will host a struggling Chennai Super Kings this Saturday. CSK, already out of the playoff race, are expected to test their bench strength as MS Dhoni focuses on team rebuilding for future seasons. RCB, on the other hand, will aim to continue their momentum and secure a top-two finish.
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