Bengaluru, June 1
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) prepare to take the field for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final on Tuesday, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. From generous auto drivers offering free rides in Bengaluru, to passionate fans hosting screenings in Nepal, to supporters in Delhi planning celebrations, the RCB faithful are united in hope and belief that this could finally be their year, according to a release from RCB.
Parshuram Shetty, an auto driver in Bengaluru, has been celebrating RCB in a unique way by offering free rides to passengers wearing the RCB jersey. Along with his friend Ajmal Hussain, he has completed numerous rides this season.
"This is definitely our year and so we are very excited. I've been supporting RCB for as long as I can remember - matchdays are a big deal at home. I have three children and even their moods are tied to the team's performance," he said, according to a release from RCB.
"The team is in form, and we're backing them all the way," he added.
From across the border, 25-year-old Samagra Adhikari, who founded the RCB Fan Club Nepal, shares that the group will be represented at the final.
"While I won't be able to travel for the match as we're hosting screenings in Nepal, a few of our members will be there in Ahmedabad, cheering the team on," he said.
"Over 20 of us had travelled for the CSK game in Bengaluru and the atmosphere was incredible. What's beautiful is how other fan clubs, like RCB Fan Army and Namma Team RCB, have helped us grow. We may be in Nepal, but we feel part of something big," he noted.
The RCB Nepal fan club currently boasts a strong following on social media. "The passion for RCB here is real and it's growing every day," he added.
In Delhi, superfan, Abhimanyu Rao marked RCB's league-stage win over Chennai Super Kings earlier in the season by feeding 1,000 people.
"We were originally planning for 500, but it turned into a celebration," he shared.
"If we win the final, we're planning to double that number," he added.
Allen Abhishek, who founded the RCB Fan Army back in 2009, will be in Bengaluru for the final.
"While a huge number of us will be in Ahmedabad to cheer the team on, I wanted to stay in Bengaluru because it's going to be special here," he opined.
"We've got our flags and banners ready, and we're planning a march through the city right after we win," he added.
Among those making the trip to Ahmedabad for the final is Yashas MT, who has been supporting RCB since 2009.
"I've been connected to the team since the days of Dravid and Kumble," he says.
"I actually booked my tickets before we had even confirmed our place in the final, maybe I manifested it in some way," he joked.
"We've been consistently reaching the playoffs in recent years. This will be the year," he noted.
- ANI
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