As the IPL 2025 nears its conclusion, with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) facing Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday at Ahmedabad’s massive Narendra Modi Stadium, the most pressing question is who will finally break their title jinx. When asked who he is rooting for in the final, former India opener and ex-PBKS captain Virender Sehwag responded hilariously.
RCB and PBKS were two of the founding franchises from the IPL’s first season in 2008, although neither has won a championship. RCB has lost three finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016, while PBKS failed in their sole final appearance in 2014 against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Meanwhile, when questioned about his predictions for the final, Sehwag gave an intriguing theory about the club he supports.
“I believe RCB will win. I’ve returned to my former form because I’ve watched the teams I support lose, whether it’s GT versus MI or Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 against RCB. Today, I cheered on MI against PBKS in qualification 2, but they lost. This is likewise the situation for the Indian team.
When I openly supported them, they lost that match.” Virender Sehwag
The former revealed that any team he supports always loses, and implied that he is rooting for PBKS but using RCB’s moniker to ensure that they lose the summit showdown. The Bengaluru-based franchise advanced to the final after a clinical win against PBKS in Qualifier 1. Later, in Qualifier 2, Shreyas Iyer guided his team to a victory over the Mumbai Indians, setting up a dramatic rematch.
The approaching final might be historic for RCB, as Virat Kohli, who has carried the franchise’s ambitions and ideals for nearly two decades, is only one step away from ending the wait. Meanwhile, PBKS has discovered a hero in skipper Iyer, who has led from the front.
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