RCB and PBKS Set Their Sights on Breaking Drought
By Crick tv
Created at Oct 05, 2025 01:03 PM
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been the backdrop of awe-inspiring rivalries, memorable moments, and innumerable memories for cricket enthusiasts around the world. However, even with their die-hard fan support, powerful teams, and moments of brilliance, two teams—Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS)—still bear the onus of an elusive IPL title. With the 2025 season looming, both teams are again looking to shatter this long history of drought and rewrite their tales in the tournament.
RCB: Star Power With Unfinished Business
Few sides in the IPL create the same sort of buzz as RCB. With stars such as Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers previously, and a side usually featuring world-class players, RCB has always been a focus point. However, their tale is that of almost-but-not-quite. Three times they have made it to the final—2009, 2011, and 2016—before falling at the final hurdle.
In the past couple of years, RCB has improved significantly in consistency. Young Indian players have been invested in by team management, as well as international stars such as Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, and Mohammed Siraj. In the 2024 season, there were moments of brilliance, but middle-order inconsistency and pressure in knockout matches came at a price.
For 2025, the challenge remains the same: building a squad that can not only qualify for playoffs but also hold its nerve in high-pressure matches. Kohli’s hunger for an IPL trophy continues to inspire his teammates, and with Bengaluru recently ending their title drought in 2025, the sense of belief is stronger than ever. Fans are eager to see if this momentum can finally push RCB to lift the silverware.
PBKS: In Pursuit of Consistency
While RCB has been famous for having star-packed teams, Punjab Kings’ history has mostly been one of unpredictability. Their sole appearance at an IPL final was back in 2014, when they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders despite Glenn Maxwell’s explosive season. Since then, PBKS has been consistently failing to get into a rhythm, ending mid-table and missing playoffs most often.
One of the most pressing concerns for PBKS has been imbalance of the squad and the failure to seal close matches. In spite of possessing some of the largest hitters such as Chris Gayle in the past and lately Liam Livingstone and Shikhar Dhawan, the franchise has not managed to channel individual excellence into team success.
In preparation for IPL 2025, PBKS is counting on an even balance of seasoned leaders and bold young ones. The team’s main ploy is to establish stability at the top-order while honing
their bowling attack—something that has tended to betray them in the final moments. With the ardent Mohali crowd supporting them, the Kings are set to convert underdog vibes into a credible title threat.
Shared Journey of Heartbreaks
What unites RCB and PBKS is not just their loyal fan bases but also a shared history of heartbreak. Both franchises have produced some of the most memorable moments in IPL history—Chris Gayle’s record 175*, Virat Kohli’s magical 2016 season with four centuries, and PBKS’s nail-biting chases in Mohali. Yet, those highlights haven’t been enough to end the trophy drought.
Each season, these sides come in with new hope, only to have the fans go through the familiar combination of excitement and despair. Such has been the emotional investment, though, that their fans are among the league’s most ardent ones. RCB’s “Ee Sala Cup Namde” and PBKS’s never-say-die anthems are still sounds that stick in the minds of IPL cricket fans.
The Road Ahead
The IPL 2025 season offers a new lease of life. RCB and PBKS have both overhauled their auction plans, prioritizing balance and depth over over-concentration on individual stars. Fitness, team balance, and withstanding pressure will be the key drivers.
If RCB can keep their attacking batting going while being disciplined in the death overs, they may finally move on from their previous record. PBKS, however, will require their seasoned campaigners to win games and young guns to deliver in crunch situations.
The rivalry Is cutthroat, with the likes of CSK, MI, and KKR already having two trophies to their name. But for RCB and PBKS, this season is not merely about chasing wins—it is about breaking narratives, removing the “chokers” label, and finally repaying their fans who have supported them year in and year out.