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Vijay Mallya’s Dream IPL Wishlist for RCB
Vijay Mallya, the former owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), recently shared his dream wishlist for the franchise to continue their strong form in future IPL seasons. After RCB finally clinched their long-awaited IPL title, Mallya revealed the marquee players he would love to see don the RCB jersey. His dream team includes some of the best talents in world cricket: Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav from Mumbai Indians, and KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, who have starred for Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants.
“If dreams could come true, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul. If I had these four, I wouldn’t need anybody else and would win the trophy,” Mallya stated on Raj Shamani’s podcast. His words show how highly he rates these players and how they could transform any franchise.
Why These Four Players?
While Mumbai Indians stars Bumrah and Suryakumar are the backbone of their team, and Rishabh Pant now captains the Lucknow Super Giants, Mallya’s connection to KL Rahul runs deeper. Rahul, who had two stints with RCB in 2013 and 2016, played a vital role in the franchise’s past campaigns. During the 2016 season, he was one of the standout performers, scoring 417 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 145.3. Despite his injury setback before IPL 2017, Rahul went on to have a successful run with Punjab Kings and later with Lucknow Super Giants.
Mallya’s Historic Bet on Virat Kohli
During the podcast, Mallya also took a trip down memory lane, recalling his historic decision to invest in the potential of a young Virat Kohli, who was just emerging from the Under-19 World Cup circuit. Mallya’s gut feeling about Kohli proved to be a game-changer for RCB. Kohli has since become the face of the franchise and led RCB through many highs and lows, eventually helping the team lift their first IPL trophy.
Mallya proudly mentioned, “I handpicked players who could make RCB a powerhouse. My biggest pride was spotting Virat Kohli, a youngster from the Under-19 World Cup team. My inner instinct told me he was special, and I bid for him.” Kohli’s continued success has been integral to RCB’s rise as one of the most popular franchises in IPL history. In IPL 2025, Kohli finished as the third-highest run-scorer with 657 runs, just behind Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan (759 runs) and Mumbai Indians’ Suryakumar Yadav (717 runs).
Conclusion
Vijay Mallya’s wishlist for RCB is a testament to his passion for building a winning team. With players like Bumrah, Yadav, Pant, and Rahul, it’s easy to imagine how RCB could further enhance their already potent squad. As RCB’s fortunes continue to rise, the influence of legends like Mallya and Kohli remains significant. Cricket fans are certainly eager to see what the future holds for this iconic franchise. Stay updated with more exciting IPL news at Cricket Army.
