Bengaluru: Former India captain and legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble offered a dual-toned message ahead of the IPL 2025 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings, backing RCB when speaking to Kannada media, while maintaining a more neutral stance in his English-language interaction with reporters.
In a heartfelt message to Kannada channels, Kumble said, "Let me say this, please, I've been part of both teams. I was with RCB, and I was with Punjab too. So, one thing that's definitely a happy thing is that we're going to have a new IPL winner—one of the two will win it for the first time. But I feel like it should be RCB."
Reflecting on RCB’s earlier title attempts, he recalled leading the team to the 2009 final and added, "It didn’t happen back then... not everything worked out. But maybe today... today might just be the day."
Clarifying that his remarks were not intended as a prediction, he said, "This isn’t some prediction. We don’t do predictions. It's just that whatever is in our heart, whatever we truly feel—it should come true, right? So don’t ask me to make a prediction. Let’s talk about it after it happens."
Praising the team’s consistency, Kumble remarked, "They are playing really well, very well. They’ve been consistent. That’s why these two teams are in the final, they’ve been the two best teams."
He also highlighted the form of RCB star Virat Kohli: "Virat Kohli has played well. Scored over 600 runs—I don’t even know how many exactly—it should be more than 600. They’ve played brilliantly. Reaching the final is not easy. And yes, I’ve been part of both teams."
However, speaking to the English media, Kumble took a more balanced line. "I’ve been involved with both franchises. It’s good that there’ll be a new winner," he said. "Hopefully both the teams will play well. It'll be a really good game."
When asked about the toss, he diplomatically responded, "I can't say all that. It depends — whoever plays better will certainly win the game."
Meanwhile, across Karnataka, anticipation is running high as RCB fans brace for what could be a historic night. From Mangaluru to Mysuru, supporters have taken to the streets with celebratory marches, red-and-black fan gear, and community screenings. For the long-suffering fanbase, the final is not just a match—it is the culmination of nearly two decades of hope, heartbreak, and unwavering support for a maiden IPL title.
