RCB has not won any IPL title despite reaching the final thrice in 2009, 2011 and 2016.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), featuring Virat Kohli was called ‘gareeb’ (poor) by former India opener Virender Sehwag despite them topping the IPL 2025 table after winning their first two games in the tournament.
Apart from them, Delhi Capitals have also won both of their first two games and are at the second spot due to inferior net run rate to RCB. However, Virender Sehwag’s comments on RCB have sparked a debate on social media, as he clearly mocking the Kohli-starred franchise.
Sehwag's comments come following RCB's impressive start to the season, which has propelled them to the top of the IPL standings.
In a statement aimed at the Bengaluru team, Sehwag stated that poor sides like RCB should be allowed to enjoy such high positions on the points table, as they had never tasted the success of winning an IPL title.
"Gareebon ko bhi toh rehne de, photo le le thodi der. Pata nahi kitnin der gareeb log upar rahenge. (Let the poor be on top of the IPL points; let them click photos. Who knows for how long they will be at the top)," Sehwag said in a chat on Cricbuzz.
Sehwag, who captained franchises like Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings during his days in IPL, never won the IPL title as well. However, he said that his ‘gareeb’ dig was at the franchises who haven't won IPL titles, as monetarily, every team is wealthy.
"What do you think I was talking about, money? No. They are all wealthy in terms of money. Franchises earn 400-500 crore every season. I'm not talking about that. The ones who haven't won a single trophy, I'm calling them gareeb," he added.
Here is the video:
From the current lot of IPL teams, only RCB, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants haven't won an IPL title. But LSG only became a part of the T20 league in 2022.