A die-hard Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fandom in Belagavi, Karnataka, has asked state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to proclaim a public holiday across the state if the team wins their first Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy this year. The handwritten note went viral following RCB’s remarkable eight-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1, which earned them straight passage into the IPL 2025 final, which would be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Aside from a one-day break, Shivanand Mallannavar, a fan, has encouraged the government to legally commemorate the date as the
“RCB Fans’ Festival,” proposing statewide celebrations comparable to Karnataka Rajyotsava, a regional celebration.
He also recommended that the RCB victory day, if it happens, be remembered and celebrated every year, making it an annual honour for fans who have remained loyal through the franchise’s ups and downs over the years.
RCB ಫೈನಲ್ ಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ, ಕಪ್ ಗೆದ್ದರೆ ರಜೆ ಘೋಷಣೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಆ ದಿನವನ್ನು “ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯ RCB Fans ಹಬ್ಬ” ಅಂತಾ ಆಚರಿಸಿ ಎಂದು ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆದ ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಗೋಕಾಕಿನ RCB ಅಭಿಮಾನಿ. #belagavika #belagavi pic.twitter.com/KHEhqXvV6g
— Belagavi – ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ (@BelagaviKA) May 29, 2025
In the game, the team crushed the Punjab Kings in a one-sided victory at New Chandigarh. RCB’s bowlers demolished PBKS for 101 runs in just 14.1 overs. Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma were the highlight of the bowlers, both taking three wickets, while Yash Dayal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also contributed.
After winning the toss and deciding to bowl, RCB began their magic right away, with Dayal removing Priyansh Arya in the second over. Bhuvneshwar then dismissed Prabhsimran Singh, while Hazlewood took the crucial wicket of PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer. Punjab never recovered from the collapse, as Suyash’s twin strike ended their hopes in the contest.
Chasing a small target, RCB made the run chase appear simple. Despite losing Virat Kohli early to Kyle Jamieson, English opener Phil Salt hit an undefeated 56 off 27 deliveries. His knock, which featured six fours and three sixes, helped RCB reach the goal in just ten overs. Rajat Patidar closed out the game with a six off Musheer Khan. This is the RCB’s first IPL final appearance in nine years. They had previously made it to the final in 2009, 2011, and 2016, but the trophy never came their way.
India
