Vijay Mallya shuns Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma!! Picks 4 Indian players for new RCB

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) may have finally broken their 18-year jinx by lifting their first trophy in IPL 2025, but former team owner Vijay Mallya has opened up on building the ultimate dream squad.

Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic title triumph over Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final, Vijay Mallya revealed the four players he wishes he could have in the team today.

The former owner has named KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav as his dream players whom he wants to see in the red and gold if the auction allows.

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Vijay Mallya reveals dream RCB squad after long-awaited IPL triumph

KL Rahul had already represented the RCB in the tournament, but Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rishabh Pant never did. Bumrah and Suryakumar have been mainstays of the Mumbai Indians, while Pant has switched to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) this season after representing Delhi Capitals for seven years in the lucrative T20 league.

Read Also: Virat Kohli to be arrested? FIR filed against RCB giant, fans in shock

Sharing his dream IPL team on Raj Shamani’s podcast, naming Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul as his ideal picks. Mallya believes that RCB would win the IPL trophy easily with Bumrah, Rahul, Pant, and Suryakumar.

Notably, these players played an important role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year.

Vijay Mallya names 4 stars he wishes played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Vijay Mallya on Raj Shamani’s podcast: “If dreams could come true, Jasprit Bumrah. If dreams could come true, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul. If I had these four, I wouldn't need anybody else and would definitely win the trophy.”

Well, it was a familiar face who helped RCB lift the trophy earlier this week, and he is none other than Virat Kohli. Mallya’s early trust in Kohli back in 2008 has paid off in a big way.

In 2025, Kohli was once again Royal Challengers Bengaluru's top run-scorer and the backbone of the team and helped the team to end their title drought.

Read Also: BCCI planning to ban RCB from IPL after stampede? Secretary vows to..

The story behind RCB's ownership

Meanwhile, RCB was owned by Vijay Mallya, who was then head of United Spirits, back in 2008 when the IPL was launched. He bought the team for INR 476 crore, making it the second most expensive franchise after the Mumbai Indians at the time.

Under Mallya, United Spirits’ popular brands like Royal Challenge, McDowell’s No.1, and Kingfisher were major sponsors of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The franchise name "Royal Challengers" came from the Royal Challenge whiskey brand, and Bengaluru came from his roots.

After Mallya stepped away from United Spirits in 2016 due to legal issues, the franchise came fully under the control of United Spirits Limited, with Diageo now managing the team. But Royal Challengers Bengaluru has yet again found itself in legal troubles.

A tragic stampede broke out outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and left several injured during RCB’s much-anticipated victory parade on June 4. The Karnataka Government and High Court are investigating the tragedy, and RCB is in hot water.