Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finally won their first IPL title in 2025, ending an 18-year wait. Former owner Vijay Mallya expressed happiness but also made a surprising revelation about how he bought the team.

• How RCB Was Bought:
  Vijay Mallya revealed in a podcast that it was Lalit Modi who persuaded him to buy an IPL team. Mallya bought RCB for approximately $111.6 million (around Rs 476 crore), which was the second-highest bid after Mumbai Indians.

• Why the Name ‘Royal Challengers Bangalore’?
  At the time, Mallya was the head of United Spirits Limited (USL), and the team was named after their famous liquor brand Royal Challenge. After Mallya left USL in 2016 amid legal troubles, control of RCB shifted to Diageo, and Mallya had no rights over the team since then.

• Mallya’s Message After the Win:
  He congratulated the team and fans, saying it was his dream to bring the IPL trophy to Bangalore. He proudly mentioned having selected legends like Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers, who shaped RCB’s history.