RCB’s title defence sparked celebrations across the cricket world, and one of the loudest cheers came from former owner Vijay Mallya. After Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Mallya took to social media to congratulate the franchise on securing back-to-back titles. The victory made RCB only the third team in IPL history to successfully defend the trophy, with Virat Kohli leading the charge through an unbeaten 75 in the chase.
Vijay Mallya Congratulates RCB After Historic Title Defence
Sharing his excitement online, Mallya wrote, “RCB RCB….Congratulations Double back to back IPL Champions. Namma dodda Simhagulu roared loudly and made us all very proud. Very well done you beauties.” His message quickly caught the attention of fans as celebrations continued following another memorable night for the Bengaluru franchise.
RCB RCB….Congratulations Double back to back IPL Champions. Namma dodda Simhagulu roared loudly and made us all very proud. Very well done you beauties.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) May 31, 2026
Vijay Mallya’s connection with RCB has remained strong long after his time as owner ended. Having founded the franchise in 2008, he has often spoken about his affection for the team and continues to follow its journey closely. Even from the UK, Mallya regularly celebrates the franchise’s successes online, sharing messages with fans and proudly cheering on the side he helped bring into the IPL.
His admiration for Virat Kohli has also been a recurring theme over the years. Mallya has frequently highlighted his pride in backing a young Kohli during the inaugural IPL season and often points to the batter’s long-standing loyalty to the franchise as one of RCB’s greatest success stories. Whether through congratulatory posts, Kannada slogans, or references to popular fan chants, Mallya has consistently shown that his support for RCB remains as passionate as ever.
How Did Royal Challengers Bengaluru Retain the IPL Crown?
RCB capped off another memorable season by successfully defending their IPL title, beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Led by Rajat Patidar, Bengaluru finished atop the league standings, overcame GT in Qualifier 1, and then repeated the feat in the title clash to become only the third franchise after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to win back-to-back IPL crowns.
The foundation of the victory was laid by a disciplined bowling display. After choosing to field first, RCB’s pace attack consistently troubled Gujarat with short-pitched deliveries, preventing the Titans from building momentum. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck early, while Rasikh Salam played a crucial role through the middle overs to help restrict GT to 155/8 despite Washington Sundar’s unbeaten half-century. In reply, RCB came out aggressively, with Impact Player Venkatesh Iyer smashing a quickfire 32 and helping the side register the fastest team fifty ever recorded in an IPL final.
Once Gujarat threatened a comeback with a few quick wickets, Virat Kohli took control. The star batter produced another match-winning knock, remaining unbeaten on 75 from just 42 deliveries to guide Bengaluru home with two overs to spare. The triumph highlighted how far RCB have evolved as a unit under the guidance of Andy Flower, Mo Bobat, and Dinesh Karthik, combining Kohli’s consistency with valuable contributions across the squad to establish themselves as one of the league’s dominant teams.
Who Owns RCB Now?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru entered a new era in March 2026 when the franchise came under the ownership of a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group. The business giant completed a landmark all-cash acquisition from United Spirits Limited (Diageo), taking control of both the IPL and WPL teams. Valued at ₹16,706 crore (approximately $1.78 billion), the deal set a new benchmark as the biggest franchise sale in IPL history.
Why Vijay Mallya Remains Closely Associated With RCB Despite Exiting The Franchise
Vijay Mallya’s name remains closely tied to RCB because he was the architect behind the franchise’s early identity and growth. As the founder who launched the team in 2008, he played a key role in shaping its brand, including bringing in stars like Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers, who became central figures in RCB’s rise and popularity over the years.
Even after stepping away from the franchise, Mallya has continued to publicly support the team and celebrate its achievements on social media. His long-standing association with RCB, combined with the franchise retaining the “Royal Challengers” name that originated from his business empire, has ensured that fans still connect him with the Bengaluru-based side despite changes in ownership.
